How many gay people do you truly know?

Question

Do you realize, we are just like you....we eat, sleep, work, spend time with friends and family, go to church, work on our careers, work on our homes...and basically want to be the best people we can be and make a small contribution to the world in some way. The only real difference between you and I, is that I sleep next to someone of the same sex...

Why is that so threatening? Why do you categorize my life as a lifestyle? It is just like yours...sure you can cite instances of people on the fringe of gay culture who participate in wild, salacious acts...but, they have many heterosexual counterparts that do the same thing.

I have been in a monogamous relationship for 17 years...and most of my circle of friends have long term partnerships too...we are no different than any other "old married couple"...so why are you so threatened...?

Please don't quote the scripture...this is not a Biblical question...we all know the Adam and Steve analogy, etc...but, philosophically?

Answer 1

Philosophically, they don't care to understand homo/bisexuality due to popular belief(i.e. they just choose to listen to what other people have told them about the subject, be it their parents, friends, teachers, etc.).

Just as nobody is born racist, nobody is born homophobic. Though the preference and orientation may seem strange to them, they don't understand that God made homo/bisexuals that way, and it's not a 'disease'.

Humanity has to grow up as a whole. It's futile to call homo/bisexuality a sin simply because a misinterpreted(and more than likely corrupted) verse in a book which has lost credibility and respect 'commands' you to.

Perhaps hypocrisy also plays a bigger role when a fundamentalist and close-minded Bible/Qur'an-toting Christian/Muslim gives a homo/bisexual a look as if they just realized they just kissed their own mother French-style when their books command them 'Judge not lest ye be judged' and 'All things Allah creates are excellent'.

Seek knowledge for knowledge is power; power is freedom; freedom is peace...

Peace be upon you...

Answer 2

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! I am glad that someone has finally said it. I am not gay but I have 3 very close friends (1 girl and 2 guys) who are. One of my friends believed that he had to hide it from me for 12 years (however another dear and trusted friend had already told me. I never said anything because I felt that when he was ready that he would tell me). Anyway, when he finally came out 2 years ago, I said "So, what", the only difference between you and me is who you sleep with at night and I don't care about that. He was relieved. I was raised by parents who taught me to get to know a person before you judge them. My 3 gay friends are some of the most loyal friends that I have therefore their sexual orientation doesn't matter to me. I know quite a few gay people and guess what? As long as the continue to treat me like a human being. I will treat them as such. I do not care who someone else loves as long as they are happy and the world would definitely be a better place if others stop judging people and really got to know them. I don't care what others or the scriptures say. I show love and respect to everyone who shows it to me. I have black, white, and friends of many different nationalities and I would be friends with an alien as long as they were a friend to me. i will end this by saying that although I don't know you. If we were to ever meet you would have a friend in me. I wish you and your partner the best and kudos to you because there aren't many hetero couples who could hold it together as long as you have, so that goes to show the power of your love.

Answer 3

My closest friend from college is a gay male. He was afraid to tell me until he finally came to his senses and realized I'd always accept him just as he is. He is no different than I am and my husband and I have had him and his partner come stay with us many times (he and his partner have been together 20 years - longer than a lot of marriages last!).

I find nothing threatening about gay people, in fact I've gotten to know quite a few and made some really good friends.

Answer 4

I work with 4, two women and two men. You are right, everyday people. We are all human, we put our pants on the same way, one leg at a time.

I don't shun people who choose differently than I do. I don't quote scripture either. That only drives people away from God. I live my life as an example for God. People should see how a christian lives. Because that's what they look at, not what one says. Words are empty without action behind it.

Answer 5

Three. My aunt, my cousin (though he's not fully out of the closet yet), and one of my sister's friends.

And me, if you count bisexuality.

I very recently asked a question about the "gay lifestyle". I STILL don't understand why people feel the need to label your life as such since there is no drastic difference between the typical life of a homosexual (such as yourself) and the typical life of a heterosexual.

Mostly people feel threatened by what they don't understand and by what makes them uncomfortable. If they don't "get" being gay and the thought of same sex relations makes them queasy, you bet they're going to fight it tooth and nail. People revel in their complacency. Rattle the cage and the beast inside snarls. That's what you get when you try to tell people the truth about homosexuality: that it's a normal, natural, healthy sexual orientation. They get mad because you're tearing apart their comfortable little world view.

Answer 6

it's funny that they don't realize how many gay people that they know. this also applies to me, as a pagan. most people just assume that i'm chrisitian based on my morals, values and manners. when they hear about someone in the community being pagan, they are shocked and can't believe that "one lives here" meanwhile, if they knew where to look, or what to look for, they would see what i see - we're everywhere! people come into contact with pagans daily, and just don't know it.

from what my gay friends have said, it's very similar to what they experience.

blessed be!

Answer 7

Have you tried to pray the gay away?

Of course, that was very sarcastic. My best friend is bisexual. Who anyone else falls in love with is none of my concern. The only reason I would care who a friend loved was if he / she was being abused by that person. Or if that person is an @$$h0le. But gender? bah... if you love each other, go for it! Be happy! :-)

Answer 8

I know quite a few, and I happen to like gays as much as I do straights: on a one-to-one basis. There are complete schmuck gays that I know. There are complete schmuck straights.

I personally find nothing wrong with what gays do in the privacy of their own home with people of the same sex, so long as it's consensual and legal. Otherwise, it's fine by me. It's got nothing to do with me.

Only idiot Christians will go off on a rant and come up with some stupid line in Leviticus to justity their hatred of gays. Never mind that it's un-American to do so. Just think about the fact that, with the advent of the New Testament, Jesus tells us all that we are to hate the sin, but not the sinner. He doesn't tell the Christians of the world to deprive gays of legal rights that heterosexual married couples have. He doesn't say to marginalize them. He doesn't say to hate them, hurt them, abuse them, heap scorn upon them, and he definitely tells you under no circumstances that you are to judge them.

But, I just think they can't read.

Answer 9

I know five. Three are good friends of mine and two are family members.

I love them all.

We watch the L Word and I loved it so much that I brought the first season dvd. I'm not a lesbian, but that show is cool.

Answer 10

In my lifetime I've known three-two men and a women. I've remained close friends with the two men. Personally I have no problem with gay couples or gay marriage.
Sexuality is just one part of who a person is-and like he said, gay people are no different than anyone else. They just want to live their lives in peace and freedom.