Are we complacent? Are we too quiet in our demands for total equality?

Question

The following comment comes from an online discussion forum. As a GLBT individual, do you agree? What are you doing to further our fight for equal status under the [US] law?
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"Many American gays have a very narrow view of the world, one in which should be labeled the "American conservative-gay" mindset (Said mindset is that of "Primetime Televsion & Fox News, chat rooms, and DVD rentals")!! Most NEVER see past their shallow box of entertainment, and they are egarly brainwashed by right-wing and heterosexual programming. Thus, they don't speak out, mainly because they choose NOT to COME OUT! They remain locked in isolated closets of shame and they LASH out at uncloseted gay men and women who have PRIDE in their sexuality. They use OUTDATED machoisms and heterosexual references to "gay men" as "SISSIES" and "EFFIMINENT"..... Those gay people are at the helm of the gay communities destruction. While they choose to stay silent and IGNORANT of politics and the effect...

"...political actions play upon the lives of LGBT Americans, some of us SISSIES are bold enough to speak out. Us "SISSIES" know when to wreak havoc on those politicians and legislation which will permenantly destroy GLBT equality in our lifetimes. I'd rather FIGHT BACK with smashing chairs, and screaming till my lungs burst, than to be as they and sit back and say or do nothing. When letter writing, phone calls, web-sites, and countless debates aren't enough, it becomes time to stand up and FIGHT BACK against the PAT ROBERTSON'S & GEORGE BUSH'S of our world! No civil right movement has acomplished anything by being quite and sitting in atonement! EVER! I am increasingly saddened by American gays lack of momentum in our plight to equality. It seems as if only 30 percent of the American gay community seem to actually give a damn about the path to equality. The rest sit in complacent coma's awaiting Christs return. Perhaps he missed his train?...

"I have been "TOLERANT" of the church LONG ENOUGH. I have wittnessed the destructive behavior of the religious community and the HATE it slings towards us as gay men for YEARS. I, myself, have been the victim of a bloody nose, bruises, kicks to the abs, spit into the face, and slander of my reputation, all by "God-fearing" Christians. It's okay for them to treat me (the lowly homosexual) that way, because they are "Forgiven"..... I'm "Tolerant" of religion when religion is "tolerant" of ME! Stand up---FIGHT BACK!"

PLEASE NOTE: As is inevitable, the 'phobes will throw in their opinions. This question is of no concern of theirs and I'd ask that GLBT persons and our Friends NOT respond. Don't be PHOBE-O-BAITED.
Thanks.

SILENCE GIVES CONSENT!

I stopped at a Taco Bell for a quick lunch recently. There were few patrons and two of the staff were on break seated directly behind me. Another employee stood next to me.
The male, standing next to me, asked the two female employees if they'd heard about Boy George's recent legal issue. One hadn't and asked about it. He described the incident while freely using "******" to describe Boy George. During their discussion the word was used repeatedly by all three.
I finished my lunch and after bussing my table, I approached the two females who remained seated and firmly informed them that I didn't appreciate them using "******". I said that I'm Gay and I find the term offensive & insulting. The male who had left to finish his work came back and I confronted him as well. The manager stepped up by this time and was listening. She said absolutely nothing.
I later notified their corp. offices of the incident, providing names of the employees and the Mgr.

Answer 1

Yes, we are far to quiet, too mild, too gentle. NOthing is going to change until we actually scare the hell out of straights, just as blacks scared whites in the 60's. Straights respect might, and we have the ability, for we look and act just like them..we are hidden INSIDE their culture and poised to do great harm...we need to do just that. It will take very little time for respect through fear. And respect, no matter how it is gained, is just fine with me. I have respect because I demand it. I actually dare people to say something unkind towards me, almost confrontational in demeanor...no body bothers me, and I suspect they ain't gonna start tomorrow. People like Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson preach killing us...I think the time of turnabout is here...need I say more...no talking, just doing. There are so many of us that are actually dying of AIDS...well why not go out with a bang! Literallly!

Answer 2

I think the shallowness the writer speaks of applies to many American groups. Gays are little different than the rest of society. We do have some powerful activists.
About the condemnation of religion, I just spent the weekend in a joint action at our LGBT Pride Festival with 9 local churches. All of them affirm, uplift and welcome gays and lesbians. I want to think they we are part of a queer people's movement to take back churches and our access to God.
Great strides have been made in almost every major country in the world to assure the liberties of lesbians and gays. We Americans live in a backwater culture. Change will come.

Answer 3

I am straight and a Christian, but have been good friends with gay men and women. I am especially attracted to gay men- b/c I like their creativity, sensitivity, sense of humor, and style. I am fortunate to have found a husband who has these qualities (but is not gay).

However, as much as I like gay people and see them as no different from me, I cannot support the gay agenda. But, even as I say this, I think I have a little bit of an idea of how it feels to be misunderstand. I have a disease that few have heard of. When I tell people the symptoms, they give me lots of simplistic, unhelpful advice that shows me that they do not understand.

To be beat up b/c you are gay- no wonder you are angry! It is hard for me to believe that it could really be Christians who did that to you. To get to the place of deciding to be a Christian is very humbling- admitting you are a sinner and that you need God in your life. Violence and hatred are not who Jesus is, nor who his followers are suppose to be. A homosexual person is just as divinely and wonderfully made in the image of God as a heterosexual! I have never heard a Christian leader or any Christian, for that matter, talk about killing or even harming a gay person. Yes, I have heard a little insensitivity, but where I have heard the most insensitive, unkind comments is not from heterosexual Christians, but from heterosexual, non-Christians . I for one have never bashed or made fun of a gay person, b/c I have absolutely no disdain for gay people. How could I when I have a gay aunt who I love, and, being in the arts and theatre, have had many wonderful gay friends. It was unnatural to my own instincts, after becoming a Bible-believing Christian, to have to accept that homosexuality is a sin. Now when I say "sin", I do not mean "you bad" and "me good".

Homosexuality is a complex issue and it is a strong desire in some people- I do not judge that or judge someone for being homosexual. It is not my place to judge. But God does say that His ways should be taught. I know that His ways our higher than our ways and that are all on level ground before the cross.

If the Bible is true, then its ways should be taught. If it is not, and something else is more true, then that should be taught. And if we cannot find that anything is true for certain, than we should proselytize relativism (live and let live), b/c the sooner you can get Christians to deny their faith, the sooner they will accept homosexuality, b/c as long as we read our Bibles and attend our churches, and preach about Jesus- we will also be teaching its commandments. Tolerance as it is understood today (never presuming to know or teach anything to anyone else) is not possible. Everyone wants to share what they believe is true- atheists, too! Christians want to share Jesus, because it is only logical that if He had to die to take the punishment for my sins, then He must have to die for yours too. If this is true, then it is a universal truth, not just a personal truth.

Answer 4

I do communicate regularly with my representative and senators in Washington. While my senators are supportive democrats, they aren't as out front with their support as I'd like and I tell them so. My rep is Denny Hastert, and while he replies with hateful homophobic rhetoric every time, I just write him back and scold him for spouting the party line, which I don't believe is reflective of the communities where he and I live, and which I don't believe is even his true feelings. So far no cracks in his armor.

Answer 5

People will only usually work in their own self intrest. When we reach out an help other for no better reason than they need help we are at our best as humans. It has happened but usually only after a major crisis.