Homophobia and You:

[sweetnpetite]

I found this online today, so I am posting it here.

Homophobia and You:

I am the girl kicked out of her home because I confided in my mother that I am a lesbian.

I am the prostitute working the streets because nobody will hire a transsexual woman.

I am the sister who holds her gay brother tight through the painful, tear-filled nights.

We are the parents who buried our daughter long before her time.

I am the man who died alone in the hospital because they would not let my partner of twenty-seven years into the room.

I am the foster child who wakes up with nightmares of being taken away from the two fathers who are the only loving family I have ever had. I wish they could adopt me.

I am one of the lucky ones, I guess. I survived the attack that left me in a coma for three weeks, and in another year I will probably be able to walk again.

I am not one of the lucky ones. I killed myself just weeks before graduating high school. It was simply too much to bear.

We are the couple who had the realtor hang up on us when she found out we wanted to rent a one-bedroom for two men.

I am the person who never knows which bathroom I should use if I want to avoid getting the management called on me.

I am the mother who is not allowed to even visit the children I bore, nursed, and raised. The court says I am an unfit mother because I now live with another woman.

I am the domestic-violence survivor who found the support system grow suddenly cold and distant when they found out my abusive partner is also a woman.

I am the domestic-violence survivor who has no support system to turn to because I am male.

I am the father who has never hugged his son because I grew up afraid to show affection to other men.

I am the home-economics teacher who always wanted to teach gym until someone told me that only lesbians do that.

I am the man who died when the paramedics stopped treating me as soon as they realized I was transsexual.

I am the person who feels guilty because I think I could be a much better person if I did not have to always deal with society hating me.

I am the man who stopped attending church, not because I don't believe, but because they closed their doors to my kind.

I am the person who has to hide what this world needs most, love.

I am the person who is afraid of telling his loving Christian parents he loves another male.

Re-post this if you believe homophobia is wrong. Please do your part to end it.

 

[human_male]

I blame christians.

 

[Boxlicker101]

I blame christians.

I blame those who profess to be Christians but do not actually act in a Christian way.

 

[Guest]

I blame christians.

I think I blame your AV.

 

[human_male]

I blame those who profess to be Christians but do not actually act in a Christian way.

Yeah them. Not the ones who actually follow the teachings of Jesus.

 

[blondi84]

I blame all the people of the world, regardless of what "group" they fit in who are just looking to cause a problem. The people who walk into a crowded room, and scream fire, those are the people I blame.

BTW Boxlicker, your AV makes me hot!

 

[Boxlicker101]

I blame all the people of the world, regardless of what "group" they fit in who are just looking to cause a problem. The people who walk into a crowded room, and scream fire, those are the people I blame.

BTW Boxlicker, your AV makes me hot!

You're right but, being Americacentric, I blame the main religion in the USA.

It makes me hot too.

 

[4degrees]

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a121/curtis46n2/homophobia_sucksLarge.gif

 

[matriarch]

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a121/curtis46n2/homophobia_sucksLarge.gif

What he said.

With bells on.

I don't want to blame anyone or anything.
I just want it all to stop.
I just want everyone to be able to live openly and truthfully as themselves, and be accepted for WHO they are, not WHAT they are.

You think Santa can put that under the tree for me??

 

[RebeccaLeah]

What he said.

With bells on.

I don't want to blame anyone or anything.
I just want it all to stop.
I just want everyone to be able to live openly and truthfully as themselves, and be accepted for WHO they are, not WHAT they are.

You think Santa can put that under the tree for me??

I think the true Christmas Spirit (or Fairies or God or Goddess or both or whatever you believe) has been trying for that one for centuries. At least it's finally coming into the open.

 

[The_Darkness]

I about hauled someone at work out to the parking lot the other day because they wanted to kick the hell out of a guy for being a little less than straight. Don't get me wrong, I've smacked him in the shoulder a couple of times for grabbing my nipples after I told him to never do that again....

Gay folks are folks just like the rest of us....they have all the things that every other person on the face of the Earth has. Period.

That being said and whole-heartedly believed, I still tell jokes about gays (I haven't graduated through enough Political Correctness to call 'em Homosexuals yet) and I still laugh at them, though some get acknowledged as inherently wrong. However, in my mind, that's laughing at the stereotype, not an individual, and with my twisted sense of logic, that's okay enough for me to do it.

 

[Liar]

That being said and whole-heartedly believed, I still tell jokes about gays (I haven't graduated through enough Political Correctness to call 'em Homosexuals yet) and I still laugh at them, though some get acknowledged as inherently wrong. However, in my mind, that's laughing at the stereotype, not an individual, and with my twisted sense of logic, that's okay enough for me to do it.

I think that's perfectly ok. What you laugh at is not really a person's sexuality, but that slice of the gay culture that is, in all honesty, a tad bit silly. And I say that as a non-straight person with a very straight face.


When asked about my sexual preference, I tend to answer "as much as possible, please".

 

[Guest]

gay people scare me.
honestly, who needs to be so happy all the time?
*grin*

 

[Guest]

gay people scare me.
honestly, who needs to be so happy all the time?
*grin*

But you know what? (all smart-ass aside)

The fact that the two of you are so happy now makes the rest of us in the AH smile.

 

[Guest]

But you know what? (all smart-ass aside)

The fact that the two of you are so happy now makes the rest of us in the AH smile.

ok, that made me smile.
thank you, gorgeous.
(for your wonderfully generous heart)

 

[Guest]

ok, that made me smile.
thank you, gorgeous.
(for your wonderfully generous heart)

Right back at ya.

 

[lucky-E-leven]

I'm not sure about the rest of you, but I still haven't heard any good reasons to be so anti-gay. I mean, I know fairly certainly that people are distrustful and/or afraid of the lifestyle because they're unable to understand it, but I have honestly never once heard someone say that.

I've had people I've known all my life (that never attend church or practice religious customs) explain their distaste away with, "The Bible says it's wrong."

It's sad, but I'm more proud of the moron that says, "I just think it's gross," than the person that says, "It goes against nature."

This board's pretty open and accepting, so I doubt I'll get any good feedback but I would really like to know what's so frightening about the whole thing. On second thought, maybe it doesn't matter if I know or not. I still can't wrap my mind around discriminating for any reason...and yes, I was the kid that befriended all of the 'slow' kids or rejects in my grade...they turned out to be better friends than the 'cool' kids, by far.

~lucky

 

[cloudy]

I'm not sure about the rest of you, but I still haven't heard any good reasons to be so anti-gay. I mean, I know fairly certainly that people are distrustful and/or afraid of the lifestyle because they're unable to understand it, but I have honestly never once heard someone say that.

I've had people I've known all my life (that never attend church or practice religious customs) explain their distaste away with, "The Bible says it's wrong."

It's sad, but I'm more proud of the moron that says, "I just think it's gross," than the person that says, "It goes against nature."

This board's pretty open and accepting, so I doubt I'll get any good feedback but I would really like to know what's so frightening about the whole thing. On second thought, maybe it doesn't matter if I know or not. I still can't wrap my mind around discriminating for any reason...and yes, I was the kid that befriended all of the 'slow' kids or rejects in my grade...they turned out to be better friends than the 'cool' kids, by far.

~lucky

"Other" is frightening. That's the only explanation I have. It's ignorance, pure and simple, because once you get to know someone who is gay, and you find out that other than their sexuality they're just like you, the bigotry melts.

It's a bit simplistic, maybe, but from what I've seen, that's the basics.

Ignorance. Pure ignorance.

 

[Guest]

"Other" is frightening. That's the only explanation I have. It's ignorance, pure and simple, because once you get to know someone who is gay, and you find out that other than their sexuality they're just like you, the bigotry melts.

It's a bit simplistic, maybe, but from what I've seen, that's the basics.

Ignorance. Pure ignorance.

And also stubbornness.

Many have the strong desire to remain ignorant.

 

[lucky-E-leven]

It's ignorance, pure and simple, because once you get to know someone who is gay, and you find out that other than their sexuality they're just like you, the bigotry melts.

This is so true, though. I'd love to hear Carson and Mat and Min and Vella's thoughts on this because that's exactly what I've found, in most cases. I'm really laid back and have always gotten along with people, pretty much all people. I've been torn lately about whether or not to just be less guarded and more 'out' about things, but I always wind up acting the same. I just get to know people one on one and when a bond has developed I tell them the last little thing they don't know about me. There has only been one person that turned their back on me at this point, so I tend to stick with it. Anyway, I'm not naive enough to think that people should just knuckle down and change their minds, but I do believe that when those same people are faced with the situation of having a friend and learning that they're gay later gives them quite a bit to think about. Surprises the hell out of them at first because I guess most people think they can just tell.

Doh.

~lucky

 

[Blackie Malone]

I'm not sure about the rest of you, but I still haven't heard any good reasons to be so anti-gay. I mean, I know fairly certainly that people are distrustful and/or afraid of the lifestyle because they're unable to understand it, but I have honestly never once heard someone say that.

I've had people I've known all my life (that never attend church or practice religious customs) explain their distaste away with, "The Bible says it's wrong."

It's sad, but I'm more proud of the moron that says, "I just think it's gross," than the person that says, "It goes against nature."

This board's pretty open and accepting, so I doubt I'll get any good feedback but I would really like to know what's so frightening about the whole thing. On second thought, maybe it doesn't matter if I know or not. I still can't wrap my mind around discriminating for any reason...and yes, I was the kid that befriended all of the 'slow' kids or rejects in my grade...they turned out to be better friends than the 'cool' kids, by far.

~lucky

Perhaps its displacement in some folks. The probability that they harbor those same feelings internally but what they were brought up to believe keeps them from understanding what it's all about. It could be religion, society or culture.

Some people fear the sexual part of it, they just feel its wrong...period. We fear what we don't know. I fear heights...so I won't go bungee jumping off a bridge, but I'm not against those who do it. Its the thing that makes them happy so who am I to say they are wrong?

People who hide behind the sheild of the bible are the ones I detest. The priests that molested altar boys would not be considered gay in their own minds, most same sex molesters dont'....but what is the difference really?
How can people brought up to believe that God is the ultimate source of Love ridicule anyone for loving another human being. It's so very simple. Love is bigger than the bible, it's bigger than any law, it's bigger than anything we can imagine and it gives us the strength to live and laugh. That's what life is all about, not finger pointing or hatred.
Human + Human + Love = Life.
Simple.

 

[Guest]

Perhaps its displacement in some folks. The probability that they harbor those same feelings internally but what they were brought up to believe keeps them from understanding what it's all about. It could be religion, society or culture.

Some people fear the sexual part of it, they just feel its wrong...period. We fear what we don't know. I fear heights...so I won't go bungee jumping off a bridge, but I'm not against those who do it. Its the thing that makes them happy so who am I to say they are wrong?

People who hide behind the sheild of the bible are the ones I detest. The priests that molested altar boys would not be considered gay in their own minds, most same sex molesters dont'....but what is the difference really?
How can people brought up to believe that God is the ultimate source of Love ridicule anyone for loving another human being. It's so very simple. Love is bigger than the bible, it's bigger than any law, it's bigger than anything we can imagine and it gives us the strength to live and laugh. That's what life is all about, not finger pointing or hatred.
Human + Human + Love = Life.
Simple.

Don't confuse molestation with homosexuality.

Those are separate issues.

 

[Blackie Malone]

Don't confuse molestation with homosexuality.

Those are separate issues.

You're correct and my intentions were not to do so.

 

[Guest]

You're correct and my intentions were not to do so.

I do think I understand where you were going, though.

Priests claim homosexuality is wrong, yet they molest children and somehow find a way to excuse that felonious behavior.

Hiding behind their Bibles, calling for their own sins to be magically taken away while they abuse innocents and denigrate others.

(And adding to the rampant homophobia.)

 

[lucky-E-leven]

Perhaps its displacement in some folks. The probability that they harbor those same feelings internally but what they were brought up to believe keeps them from understanding what it's all about. It could be religion, society or culture.

Some people fear the sexual part of it, they just feel its wrong...period. We fear what we don't know. I fear heights...so I won't go bungee jumping off a bridge, but I'm not against those who do it. Its the thing that makes them happy so who am I to say they are wrong?

Human + Human + Love = Life.
Simple.

I agree with everything you've said here, but have you ever heard anyone outright say that the idea scared them? I haven't. I see lots of posturing and justifying secondary points. I guess I just want to hear a person's true feelings on the matter. I think it's then and only then that the education can begin.

That said, I still have a hard time justifying the 'fear what you do not know' thing. When I run into things that I do not understand, my first reaction is not to fear it but get to the bottom of it and see if it's something I should be afraid of or not.

~lucky