Sky Dancer
Rookie
- Jan 21, 2009
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- Banned
- #1
In the fight for equality based upon sexual orientation, an unfortunate consequence has been that many of our well-meaning but misguided brothers and sisters mistakenly believe that by being more like "the rest of the world" (meaning heterosexuals), we can achieve our goals of equality faster, and also gain acceptance by straights.
A classic example is gay men who believe that drag queens aren't "good" for our community, or gay men and lesbians who refuse to believe that some of us can actually be bisexual. This sad aspiration of conformity to limited views of sexual identity and gender expression is echoed by the "conditional acceptance" of many narrow-minded straight people who'd like us to remain in the closet, or whose "tolerance" of us is based upon how passive, quiet, "well-behaved," and "straight-acting" we are.
Assimilation into the "mainstream"-- whatever that is-- does not necessarily equate with tolerance, acceptance, or equality. Prejudice is prejudice.
It won't matter whether you're dressed in work clothes or in leather; whether you vote Republican or Democrat; or whether you march in the parade or stay home and watch Martha Stewart on TV from your closet. Prejudice and homophobia are problems with the individual who's prejudiced, not with us. No individual or group-- gay or straight-- should dictate how you should act, look, live, or vote in the name of "what's best" for either you or the GLBT community as a whole.
As if anti-gay bigots who state that our marching in parades is "flaunting our sexuality" weren't bad enough, some members of our community have argued that marching in the parade or wearing gay pride accessories is just shallow symbolism, or a "novelty" that is more important when someone first comes out.
In other words, our community's gains in one area don't necessarily translate to equality in terms of our rights as citizens. We pay just as much tax, even more in many cases, as the average American, but we're treated as second-class citizens. We are gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgendered 365 days a year, and we are deserving of self-love and self-esteem 365 days a year-- not just in June and not just in the safety of a large group. More importantly, our self-esteem and even safety is threatened 365 days a year.
Certainly, anti-gay activists-- with their direct-mail anti-gay campaigns, web sites spouting slanderous information, and violent acts against us-- don't pick just one month out of the year to attack us.
Pride: The Meaning is in the Mind by Jed Ryan - LICK
A classic example is gay men who believe that drag queens aren't "good" for our community, or gay men and lesbians who refuse to believe that some of us can actually be bisexual. This sad aspiration of conformity to limited views of sexual identity and gender expression is echoed by the "conditional acceptance" of many narrow-minded straight people who'd like us to remain in the closet, or whose "tolerance" of us is based upon how passive, quiet, "well-behaved," and "straight-acting" we are.
Assimilation into the "mainstream"-- whatever that is-- does not necessarily equate with tolerance, acceptance, or equality. Prejudice is prejudice.
It won't matter whether you're dressed in work clothes or in leather; whether you vote Republican or Democrat; or whether you march in the parade or stay home and watch Martha Stewart on TV from your closet. Prejudice and homophobia are problems with the individual who's prejudiced, not with us. No individual or group-- gay or straight-- should dictate how you should act, look, live, or vote in the name of "what's best" for either you or the GLBT community as a whole.
As if anti-gay bigots who state that our marching in parades is "flaunting our sexuality" weren't bad enough, some members of our community have argued that marching in the parade or wearing gay pride accessories is just shallow symbolism, or a "novelty" that is more important when someone first comes out.
In other words, our community's gains in one area don't necessarily translate to equality in terms of our rights as citizens. We pay just as much tax, even more in many cases, as the average American, but we're treated as second-class citizens. We are gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgendered 365 days a year, and we are deserving of self-love and self-esteem 365 days a year-- not just in June and not just in the safety of a large group. More importantly, our self-esteem and even safety is threatened 365 days a year.
Certainly, anti-gay activists-- with their direct-mail anti-gay campaigns, web sites spouting slanderous information, and violent acts against us-- don't pick just one month out of the year to attack us.
Pride: The Meaning is in the Mind by Jed Ryan - LICK