Any Other Gay & Lesbian Kivans out there?

[Guest]

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[Peter S]

In some African countries, there's a belief that AIDS can be cured by having intercourse with a virgin. Thus many very young children are infected.

...and recently "the head of the Catholic Church in Mozambique has told the BBC he believes some European-made condoms are infected with HIV deliberately.  Maputo Archbishop Francisco Chimoio claimed some anti-retroviral drugs were also infected 'in order to finish quickly the African people' ".   read it here   Unbelievable...  Martin Luther King's remark seems apposite: “Nothing in the world is more dangerous than a sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.”

As the CIA World Factbook grimly notes in regard to the population figure for Mozambique, "estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected"

Peter

[Steff]

I recently saw an interview with women in Panama who stated that gays would be killed if their identity were known.  And a Muslim gentleman of my acquaintance said the same thing, he was originally from Lebanon.  Unfortunately the same thing sometimes happens in the States.  It is hard to know how to change such an ingrained belief, especially as some base this attitude on what their religion teaches.  I would hope no Kiva lenders were so misguided but as for the partners and the entrepreneurs I assume that at least some of them reflect the majority belief of their country.

[wcj1]

Hi, my name is Bill, and I am a homo.

Ha.

Anyway, apologies for not seeing and replying to this thread sooner. I tend to read FlyerTalk more than KivaFriends, and I had been trying to avoid Kiva lately since I have already funded more loans than I should have. Oops.

I know I saw one other gay couple on a loan somewhere... Ah, there they are:
http://www.kiva.org/lender/AndyEdric

I posted about my desire to fund a loan from a gay man (I currently only fund women) way back when, but that did not get much play:
http://www.kivafriends.org/index.php/topic,226.80.html

Oh yeah, my boyfriend has 1 Kiva loan since I gave him a gift certificate as part of his birthday present and harassed him to finally pick a loan. But we do not mix all of our finances, let alone our CD collections, so we are not the types to do a joint Kiva account.

As for us loaners being gay, I really think most loan recipients do not know where the money is coming from, so it is moot. While the Grace/Nathan bit on the Frontline story was cute, that just does not happen. Loan recipients may know that the money generally comes from Kiva, but I do not think they get to the individual Kiva loaner level.

It is sure interesting to read all the majority responses on here wondering what the gay angle is. Trust us, there is always a minority angle, but if you are not part of that minority angle, you can probably not understand it, although I am happy that you ask. 

BillJ

[Steff]

Hi, my name is Bill, and I am a homo.

Hi Bill, my name is Steff, and I am straight.  So stupidly straight that I had to laugh at myself after I read your post.  I actually had read your wish to fund a gay man but I have no gaydar at all and did not connect from that that you were gay yourself.  On rereading it seems obvious but I will just have to use the excuse that I am an old midwestern woman who is not always quick on the uptake.  I have gay guy friends but we don't really discuss sexual preference, either mine or theirs.  We have other interesting things to talk about.

As for an entrepreneur presenting himself as gay I am sure it will never happen.  So I think you will just have to guess, using your gaydar, to find the loan you want.  If I see one I think qualifies I will let you know but as I have already said, I am not the brightest bulb in the lamp when it comes to picking up on things like that.

[ScottandMark]

Hey Bill,

Great to hear from you on here... I knew there had to be more of us out there.  My partner and I do combine finances (happens after 15+ years sometimes) but so far the Kiva investment is mine from Birthday money.

I do plan on asking for kiva gift certificates for xmas, and look forward to getting enough paid back so I can start to reinvest in other loans.  I had to pass on one that looked like probable "family" in the Middle East because Mark wouldn't let me fund any more loans yet.

Anyhow, welcome to the gay ghetto of Kiva Friends!

--Scott (& Mark)

[Peter S]

Scott & Bill

when I'm trying to wake up I overdose on caffeine & Google, so here you go

http://www.kiva.org/lender/don9661 in San Jose CA

http://www.kiva.org/lender/gaybuddhistfellows4032 in SF (Oli already mentioned these)

http://www.kiva.org/lender/jameson7551 near Boston
with a link to Jamie & Clinton's web site . . . It's probably obvious from the pictures and writings on our site that we're a couple. But I guess since the rest of our nation hasn't come around yet to embracing the full freedom of religion that allows for civil marriage equality, it's still worth proclaiming that . . . we're married. . . .

http://www.kiva.org/lender/jacqueline7912 in Milwaukee

http://www.kiva.org/lender/heather1846 in Cincinnati
with a link to her very charming blog which makes my heart go out to her . . .I did it. It's done. I hit send, and my uncle knows I'm gay. So, I suppose, does his lovely wife, my aunt. That's not the whole extended family, but it's a start, and the couple out of the whole family who are the most likely to not be horrible. Bear in mind, that doesn't mean they're entirely unlikely to be horrible. It's all very frightening, but what a relief it'll be when it's done . . . and . . . I was feeling pretty glum yesterday. I was wondering if I should have spent Easter with my family, even though I badly wanted to spend it at a church that doesn't, you know, actively wish me dead. . . .

just my hunch, but see if your gaydar pings for this Kivan in New York
http://www.kiva.org/lender/mark4252

It's not many, but hey it's a few more for your collection.   Quality over quantity - Jamie/Clinton and Heather especially.

 

[jacobjmorris]

Hi Scott and Mark!

My name is Jacob. I'm gay, new to Kiva, and I absolutely love this program.

[ScottandMark]

Hey Jacob,

Welcome.   Very cool to have another gay member on this site.  How did you find Kiva?

My partner Mark and I funded a number of folks in the first few days on the site, but for the next round, I'd love to find some (apparently) gay folks to loan to.  It's sometimes hard to tell, but I have my gaydar turned way up.

There are a few other GLBT folks here, and many straight friends, but it's great to have you.



--Scott & Mark

[jacobjmorris]

I heard about Kiva from a co-worker.

As for loaning to gay individuals, I would encourage you to continue to keep your focus broad when it comes to lending.

The best way the gay community can continue to break down barriers around homosexuality is by showing our support and commitment to social responsibility across the globe, especially where it would be least expected, and including those places where it may even be unwelcome...


Jacob

[Diane R]

The best way the gay community can continue to break down barriers around homosexuality is by showing our support and commitment to social responsibility across the globe, especially where it would be least expected, and including those places where it may even be unwelcome...

Along those lines.... I might suggest considering Novruz Babayev, whose store selling "religious articles" in Azerbaijan appears to feature copies of the Qur'an and prayer rugs along the walls.

And welcome, Jacob.

--Diane.