Why would some one want to compare Black History, or any race's history to the Gay issues? Please read below

Question

I was walking out of the store last night this guy asked me to sign a Petition in regards to Gay Marriage. My response Not my world. Not My Fight. Not my problem. Good luck. He says Given your history as a black man you should really be in our corner. It irratated me a lil, Slavery and genocide doens't compare to Gays not have political favor. I know that some gay people are beat up or killed but there is a law, Hate Crime and you go to jail for a long A** time if your convicted of this, there was no such thing as a hate crime when my great grand daddy was a kid. I don't walk around with slavery on my mind every day (he brought it up). For this guy to say something like that was rude and insulting. What every race fought for in this country doens't compare to Gay people trying to catch a tax break and to be tolerated. I don't hate yall but I don't care either it's not my problem or my business. Why would you tell me that given my history I would sympathise with your plight?

I gave the straight community a chance to answer now I'll listen to your POV. I don't walk around with slavery on my mind every day. I really thought it was rude for him to bring that up to get me to sing something and I think it's like compareing Apples and Oranges. Two Completely differnet things

Randy I didn't mean to come off as a Ahole but it just blind sided me that he would even say that. So I wanted to see if this is a popular opinion on this site. I'm just asking questions.

Answer 1

You have made an error. You assume equal rights is only a matter of skin color. I can understand why you might think that way. You are, however, incorrect.

Equal rights, are just that EQUAL RIGHTS.

Equal rights should be your fight... no matter who the offended party is.

If some white people hadn't fought for YOUR cause, you would still be picking cotton.

I am glad all white people didn't have your attitude when your grandfather and great grandfather fought for THEIR equal rights.

Equal rights is a matter for ALL people, not just the ones that are being discriminated against.

The way we all will RETAIN equal rights is to continue fighting for ALL people to have equal rights. When we say discrimination is ok for one thing... it sets precedent for discrimination everywhere.

Take a step outside your little world for a moment and see things from a broader perspective. It will help you in all areas of your life.

Answer 2

This has been discussed many times here. civil rights are civil rights. The issues are different yet the similarities are there. If it offends you I am sorry but you need to develop a tougher skin. Also having a hate crime law on the books doesn't make the person less dead. I am not trying to get you riled up, but I hope that was not your intent by posting this here.
Live and let live if it offends you then be offended but please don't try to make us defend ourselves because you are upset about something someone said on the street. OK

Edit sorry didn't mean to imply that you where being insensitive. I know that as a Native American/Caucasian mix that I have no idea what it is like to be a black man just like as a straight man you have no idea what it is like to be bisexual or homosexual.

I meant to only say that discrimination is discrimination regardless of the reasons for it.

I do not mean to imply that the discrimination in this country toward homosexual is as bad as the racism toward blacks once was. In the USA as bad as discrimination against homosexuals is it is not as bad as Saudi Arabia where you can be put to death just for being homosexual.

Answer 3

You are, of course, entitled to be pro-, anti- or, in your case, apathetic to the whole gay marriage thing. And I wouldn't dream of removing that entitlement from you.

You can see it as crass or (justifiably) not equivalent to the struggle your forbears went through and fought for.

There is a similarity between the two - equal rights to be afforded to a minority population. Perhaps this is what the petition guy was alluding to?

And then there's the saying "If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem" which, some say, is attributed to Eldridge Cleaver...

...although I can understand your not wanting to be involved.

Answer 4

Gay marriage and gay equality is a fight just as your ancestors went through. When your ancestors were slaves they were not allowed to wed, or have choices regarding death, religion and so forth. This was decided by their owner on how much freedom they had. They were beaten if they attempted to speak out. It took them generations, lots of lost lives and many battles in the courts to change their standing. They wanted equality. Martin Luther King's wanted equality for all men. His widow was on of the strong proponents for Gay rights till she died.

She as many others understand we are being beaten and killed. We are being unfairly taxed and don't even have the right to visit our loved ones in a hospital if their family decides they don't want us there. We can not bury our loved ones or even attend a burial if their family decides this as well. How would you fell if the person you loved died and you could not attend their funeral.

We can not adopt in most states, we can not marry in most states. Up until recently most states did not even protect us from hate crimes. Most states still do not have laws to protect us against discrimination even at the work place. Does all of this sound familiar. It is the same problems your ancestors had in the past. We only want equality nothing more.

For the record. Gays have been killed for being gay through out history. just ask those who were held just like the jews in concentration camps.

Answer 5

I think it was really racist on his part to say that you should think a certain way because of your skin color! I disagree with you--I am bi and in love with another woman. However, you and I both have the right to think what we want, and to live by our beliefs.

I also dislike it when people tell me what I "should" think as a bi person or as a woman.

If you had time, I'd tell you that this can touch your world, if a friend or a relative comes out. I'd tell you that nobody wants to keep you from marrying. I'd explain that adult citizens have the right to find someone to care for, who cares for them, and to trust their bodies and property with the person of their choice. Your skin color and mine would not enter it at all.

I'm sorry this guy brought your skin color into it. He probably thinks he's not racist at all, that's the sad part.

Answer 6

Do I think that he should have said that to you? No, it was tacky.

Do I think he was wrong? No.

Regaurdless of what kind of poorly treated numerical minority we were born into (racial, religious, sexual orientation, ethnic) we should be compassionate to those around us and work together to fight oppression in all forms. You (seem to) be a black male, I'm a bisexual Wiccan female. You get the sh*t stick on race, I get it on sexual orientation and religion. As people who gets treated shitty by majority groups on a regular basis, we both know how much it sucks. We don't have the excuse (or privledge) of not having to see racism or heterosexism or religious discrimination. We see it because we have to see. We see it because it affect us.

Which is why I think we have more responsiblity then the average straight upper class white Christian male to fight oppression against ALL, because we know what it feels like.

If you disagree, you disagree. But I feel like its pretty shitty of you to say "not my fight". Who gives a sh*t whose fight it is? Is it ok for other people to be treated poorly as long as those people are not you? I don't think so.

Answer 7

Yes yes, we know, we know - no one has ever suffered as bad as the black man, ever. And since y'all have invested all of your political capital in the idea of "black people as perpetual victims" you get offended at the idea that someone else may have had it bad. So rest assured that no one, ever, has been victimized as badly as you, and since nothing compares to the heart wrenching (sob sob) black experience, you can ignore anyone who hasn't had it as bad. You can sit on your hands and not do anything about other social problems. You can remain an ostrich with your head selfishly in the sand for all eternity.

If it weren't for white liberals you'd all still be in chains anyway, so why worry about other people, you selfish cretin?

Answer 8

Both groups are discriminated against, and have had to put up with ignorance and hates crimes. Maybe this person thought you would be a little more supportive.

Answer 9

at the end of the day it all comes down to equality.
Do you know that people are killed in certain countries for being gay?

Answer 10

ok then septmeber 11 not the rest of the worlds fight but bush didnt mind getting other people involved.so when something bad happens to you then i hope people just say its not their problem.havent you heard of the BANK OF KARMA?