Do you think that you have to be gay or lesbian to support their rights?

Question

I'm a heterosexual, but I think that people should be able to love and marry who they want no matter what sex they are. I have been ridiculed by some gays and lesbians for speaking out for them. They say I couldn't uinerstand what they are going through. Should I keep my mouth shut or keep speaking out?

Answer 1

Cuss them out, they're wrong on this one, not you.

Ask them if they stick up for black people if they see one being persecuted. It's the same thing. If they don't, then they're awful individuals.

So tell them you don't have to walk a mile in their shoes to understand their perspective. And tell them they're awful people for turning down help from a kindhearted person.

When your heart is in the right place, you should never get put down for it, it's disrespectful.

Your heart is in the right place, I personally am gay and very proud of you for being so forward-thinking. Thank you, it's much appreciated.

Answer 2

I am GLAD we have heterosexual allies. It's great to see others standing up for the rights of HUMANS, not just GLBT people. Equality is equality afterall.

However...it may have been the WAY you showed your support. I see this a lot. I'm a HUGE GLBT and human rights activist. What I see though sometimes is people with such fervor about about their opinions that they get very passionate about their stance, yet they don't really know all the details about what they're protesting or supporting.
For example, the GLBT community has their "pride" parade every year, and as always, there's tons of GLBT people out waving rainbow flags, ect..but, do you probably a good 80% don't even know the history of the rainbow flag, the Stonewall Rebellion or any kind of gay history? How can you promote for where you want to go, when you don't know where you came from?
Maybe their biggest complaint of you as a supporter is that you don't know the background. When you start screaming at the top of your lungs about how things "aren't right", a lot of people are only going to give you credibility if you SHOW that you are credibile and know what you're talking about. Otherwise, you look kinda like an idiot.
I mean honestly, it's that extremist and "off the wall" stuff that the media LOVES to show about GLBT people. For example, look at the pride parades. It's not often that you see the media focusing on the upstanding, conservatively dressed GLBT doctors and lawyers and stuff in the parade..no, instead they're going to focus on the person running around topless, skipping along waving a huge rainbow flag, screaming "PRIDE" at the top of their lungs. How does this put the GLBT community in a good light?
I don't want to give you the wrong idea that you are not welcome. I welcome ANYONE who supports equal rights. But, if you're going to take the initiative to want to get involved, then you need to take the initiative to be educated about what you're getting yourself into as well. That is just my opinion.

Answer 3

Nope, It's great to help with the rights of others even if they are not your own because the issues do affect you. Many straight people support GLBTQ rights and talk about the issues, they are called straight allies (or friends.) Every lesbian, bisexual, or gay person has a Mother, Father, friend, sister, brother, so on and they love them and want their rights protected. It's also just a good thing to stand up for what is right as a good human being.

It's the same as people standing up for animals rights. Yeah you're not a Polar Bear but you see what is happening to the places they live and so on and you care, so you speak up and act. It's a good thing.

Answer 4

I support gay rights and I'm not a lesbian. If you've been ridiculed by some homosexuals for supporting gay rights, just accept that as an anamoly. I've never had it happen myself, and I don't think it's a typical reaction you'll encounter. Supporting gay and lesbian rights is the same as supporting human rights---it's a universal thing.

Answer 5

Sometimes some have a little too much pride, especially when it keeps them from excepting help from others. Also, some might see you as patronizing, because so many have done so before. However, you don't let a few stop you from supportung Gay rights, if you heart is really in it, then it's in you...So do what U feel is right...and support out community. We have to support everyones rights for our own to have a firm grounded amongst opposers.

Answer 6

Please, keep speaking out! As with any group, there are those that are selfish and would prefer not to rock the boat unless there's something in it for them personally. I don't "understand" what blacks and hispanics deal with; do they think I should keep my mouth shut when someone makes a racist comment? Do it for committed gay couples struggling to raise families in a hostile environment where they don't have access to the same legal protections, financial support, surviving spouse benefits, and access to a parner's retirement plan as every married couple.

Answer 7

Pehaps the below is a nice reminder and confirmation that the LGBT needs you and more people like you. Thanks.

Here's a list of MEN who fought for Women's Rights:

George W. Putnam
Hency C. Wright
Frederick Douglass
Theodore Parker
Horace Greeley
Henry ward Beecher
Webster and Thomas Nash

Here's a list of WHITES who fought for Black's Civil Rights;

A. Lincoln
John Brown
Willaim Lloyd Garrison
Earl Warren
JFK
LBJ

Answer 8

I agree with your position. I'm straight and married and I support gay marriage. Go ahead and help out if you want. They are such a small minoriy, only 5-10% of the population is gay, that they couldn't muster the people power of the Civil Rights Marches of decades past, and they could use extra help.

Answer 9

Don't EVER feel like you have to keep your mouth shut because close minded people feel as though the world should only have one set of rules. Hopefully one day the world will see that love sees no color, gender, or religion. Thank you for seeing that and I hope you continue the fight with us all to ban the minds of people who don't see what I see when I look in my girlfriends eyes of 5 years and wait for the day we can marry. Even though you may not be able to relate with that personally, it's the fact that you are trying to.
Thanks again!!!!

Answer 10

You can add my name to the list of straight people who support equal rights for gays and lesbians! DON'T YOU ABANDON ME GIRL!!!! You hang in there and keep fighting for justice! Hint; We can never make a valid argument for gay MARRIAGE because the very concept of marriage is religious, having it's roots in the Bible. I favor civil unions with all normal spousal rights and privileges!