I Hate Love VDay Video 2012

Thank you Garbage for including my baby Aric Sky and I's photo in your "I Hate Love" Valentine's Day Video 2012. You put such an amazing smile on my baby's face today which I oh all the world to. 

I hope you all have an amazing day. =)

Ciao

Stop The Hate

     When I was deciding what I should write in this blog I came to a wall. Something that many writers and artists come to once in a while. A block tends to linger for whatever the reason is. Some people say it is simply because our minds get tired. Others may agree that maybe inspiration just didn’t thrive them enough to express them selves. For me, it was because I had nothing to say.

     Then I turned on the TV. Began listening to friend’s stories that shared their recent events. I watched a clip on bullying, suicide, and listened to sorrow coming from places that should never be felt again. The hatred of those that prey on men, women, and children alike because of being Who They Are. This is a touchy subject for me, because I have been through the same hatred. Not because I was causing any form of dilemma for anyone, but simply because of being gay.

 I am older now and my situations dealing with ill minded people have mostly deceased, but hearing that this heartache still has to be experienced baffles me. Today should be so much different. It should be filled with more self-awareness and respect not hate. We are not in the stone ages of knowledge. We are in an Era where almost every truth of our history is recorded and is able to be seen right at our fingertips if we chose to search. And by this gift those that were once ignorant would be able to find solitude and remember that even their own people were in the line of prejudice. I would hope that in doing so they would come to realize that their injustice should never be repeated onto another, because that is not the way.

    We live in a melting pot of culture and religion. We are lucky enough to walk out our doors and speak with confidence, why choose to go back steps. History has proven that these attacks will be overturned because deep inside we all know that they are wrong. But you have to open your eyes now. Have to change the idea of love that some still hold as a truth.
     It doesn't matter if you are Christian, Muslim, Catholic, Islamic, Hindu, Atheist, or of any other affiliation you connect with, you do not have the right to attack someone because of who they choose to love. That is beyond the power of judgment. Especially ours.We are here to LOVE. As corny as that may sound to some. We are here to live, to love, and to find our way back to love if we get off track. I am not a preacher nor am I someone who claims to know everything, but I do know this. I have understood this since I was a little kid, and I know everyone of you knows this too.

    If you are reading this blog and come to find that you disagree with what I am saying then do me a favor. Remember. Go to your memories; go to when you were just a little kid, before anyone started to fill your mind with their knowledge and opinion. When the sound of your heart was stronger than that of only your mind. Did you judge with negativity? Did you try to make others feel inferior? Did you try to use hatred for things you didn’t comprehend? Or were you just curious of everything. Asking every question that your mind and heart could come up with. Trying just to be happy and share that happiness with others. With everyone. With full acceptance of who they are. With out a care from those who may just not understand.

                                           

                              What Changed? 

Turned Away For Being Gay!

     Blood drives through out the United States are not accepting blood donations from homosexual men sexually active with other men because of a policy passed by The Food and Drug Administration in 1983. In certain cases, donors who were not homosexual were turned away because the assumption was made that they were.

     Today, all blood donated is tested extensively for HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Syphilis, and other transmitted diseases before being released to any hospitals.

     The policy made by The Food and Drug Administration was created because of the AIDS outbreak in Los Angeles and the rest of the United States. During interviews for prospective donors a questionnaire is given deciding rather one is eligible to participate or not.

Picture of the FDA Questionnaire 1

The actual question added in 1983 (at left) to The Food and Drug Administration questionnaire asks, “Male Donors: From 1977 to present have you had sex, even once, with another male?” It leaves a bubble as well for female applicants to pass to the next question. “We certainly see this as a discriminatory issue,’’ said Nathan Schaefer, director of public policy for the GAY MEN’S HEALTH CRISIS. “It unfairly singles out gay men.” On the New York Times website published by Jacqueline Mroz an interviewee stated, “I work in a nonprofit sector, and it’s important for me to give back. You can’t participate in a work place event. I have to explain that my government thinks my blood is tainted.”

     Such places as the Red Cross do agree with gay activist in overturning the policy but still turn away male blood donors who bubble in that they do have sex with other men. According to the New York Times Bebe Anderson, H.I.V. Project Director for Lambda Legal said, “Turning away perfectly good donors gives an incorrect and harmful message. This is screening donors based on sexual orientation, not on risk. It also stigmatizes people who wish to donate.”

     In particular cases men have been turned away merely on the appearance of homosexuality when they have explained they are not. During a recent interview by Jerry Davich from the Chicago Sun-Times on July 15, 2011 a 22-year-old male was handled in this manner by Bio-Blood Components Inc. in Gary, Ind.  The young guy said, “ I was humiliated and embarrassed. It’s not right that homeless people can give blood but homosexuals can’t. And I’m not even homosexual.” Bio-Blood had no comment when Davich tried to contact them.

University of Texas
Photo by Jana Birchum

     Maybe someday the United States can follow in the footsteps like the United Kingdom who allow everyone to donate blood with a one-year deferral. It first starts with bringing this awareness to the forefront not just other parts of the United States but right here in Santa Clarita Valley and Los Angeles. It begins with people standing up and asking questions. The University of California, Los Angeles found that over 219,000 more pints of blood could be donated annually each year if this ban was changed to the one-year deferral process. The HIV virus is not only transmitted through men, but it is unbiased when in comes to gender so the policy is inaccurate. Researchers have proven that blood is tested thoroughly with modern day technology. With leading nations already using new methods for processing donors the United States can see it works. We must put ourselves in everyone’s shoes before judgment and stigmas are made on a group of people who are only trying to help humanity.

Christmas Time w/o phone

Ok...I told you I would be posting another soon. lol.. I came on to post this "Christmas Time" thing and went off on a rant that had to be discussed anyway. I have been living w/o a phone for for the last 2 weeks, and at first it was 'HELL ON WHEELS,' but it slowly became a blessing. I am usually a guy that "GETS THE BIGGER PICTURE" but hey I am human and "SHIT HAPPENS." With my phone gone I was able to be more in the moment then I have ever been able to. Yes I do need a phone for my business, and honestly like everyone else, "I'M NOT SPECIAL." But during the Holidays it has been ok. I spent time with some of my great family friends ( Regina Lopez, Caroline, Brit, and Jessica) going Ice skating the other day, and yesterday saw a movie with someone who is and has always been special to me, why it didn't work out, no idea. ACTUALLY, I lied , I know exactly why it didn't, but it was out of my hands. lol....=) But sorry, that was not my point. You will discover as I write future blogs that i am very scatter brains, but usually it's for a good reason..lol..Right now I am listening to "IMOGEN HEAP"- 'First Train Home'. Her voice really calms me down, but anyway, SHIT, LOL,....."The Holidays" thats right, um...lets back track. ..lets see ..umm....thats right...

THE PHONE THING- with out my phone during this holiday , with the phone being gone, I think I enjoyed the moments with my great friends even more. I didn't have any annoying ringing, sounds of missed calls, STUPID- text messages of "WHAT AM I DOING RIGHT NOW"- when they know exactly where I am. lol...it was really nice. I didn't ask for any Christmas gifts, because that's not how i am, but that was a definite gift from God. Thanx. Now heading to get ready for the family 'EVENT OF THE YEAR" and what i mean by that is "MY AUNTS HOUSE, WHERE THE SOUNDS OF BABIES OF ALL AGES, COME TOGETHER'". LOL...haha I' m  telling the truth, but I STILL LUV IT.- Merry Christmas Eve.........!!!!@#$%^&*;)

HASTA

Nicilija

W/O A PHONE AND INTRO

I thought it would have been difficult and out of the ordinary being without a phone for the last week. Sounds strange, I know, but if you knew my life you would understand that "ME" without one- DOESN"T MAKE SENSE. I am part of the VVV Group as well as a company called "Bungalow 118". There will be a much further description later, but for now lets just talk a little about "VVV Group". The Leaders of the group are Jose Ledesma, Laura Lopez, Munee Duran, and Myself. We just did our first Charity event for the "Flower Child Foundation" for "Fashion with a Cause". It was  success in its own right. What I mean by that is it was a great hit in "PRESS" but not in Profits- for the Charity. You know things happen, they always do, and they always will. It depends on the person on which way they take it. Ya I could be crying about it, and believe me I did a little, =), but I was happy that the Charity and the "VVV Group" got exposure. And Did I tell you I did all this without a phone. lol. It's impressive how life decides to be FUNNY when "SHE or HE" decides to test you even when you don't feel like being tested. lol.. What can I say " All you can do is giggle inside, and say 'HEY WHAT THE FUCK,' then move on."

A short intro about myself. I live around Hollywood,  and my name is Nicholas Guerra (Nicilija). My acting name is "Nicolas Guerra", old friends call me "Nick," new friends call me "Nico, " and my writer's name is  "Nicilija". There is a long pressing story about how I created that name, because believe me it wasn't that easy. It took years, new experiences, and fazes to understand the strength behind this name. I promise I will talk about it later. I am a struggling actor,singer, model, Poet, as well as a few other things that I will explain in detail as we get to know each other. A short portion of the extra is , I am a gay male, whoop whoop,- "YES ANOTHER GAY BLOGGER", lol...but the interesting thing is I was planning on being a priest right before I graduated High School at "Alemany High School". I came out when I was 18yrs old in 2005, things didn't quite go as I wanted them to and ended up here. "In the Fashion and Entertainment Business. My whole goal for this "BLOGGING THING", is simply- I am going to write - THE TRUTH- the dirt, the needy greedy, the shit that probably other people would be to scared to talk about. Hey I have nothing else to loose, and I try to be as honest as I can in my life, so why not here with you. I am not going to have any format, sometimes my spelling could be wrong, and grammar will be a "HOOT", but honestly  "I DON'T GIVE A SHIT." lol. I'm going to talk about my philosophies, my life, my relationships sometimes, sometimes I will write in metaphor, most of the time I will tell it straight, I 'll talk about my business and the advice I can give to you from someone that is in the "HOT SPOT OF THE DAMN THING', and everything else in  between. But for now there it is, take it how you like, and I will be blogging about the next topic "VERY VERY SOON'. Have a great one. Hasta