This baffles me...?

Question

Why does it seem to be okay in our society for homosexuals and supporters to be prejudiced against people who do not approve of the behavior, but the people who are against it (even though they're perfectly nice people and don't treat the PEOPLE who are homosexual any differently) are not allowed to utilize their right of free speech to say no to homosexuality?

I just don't understand it.

I want to know because I am against it, and do not think it is genetic, but still have very good gay friends. We kind of agree to disagree in that area.

I'm not even Christian at all, btw. No religion, actually. Not Atheist, either.

I believe what common sense, my gut feelings, and hard evidence tells me.

Answer 1

The anti-gay movement wants everyone to believe that Christians are being discriminated against. One of the ways they try to sell this idea is by saying that any gay person or supporter who speaks out against them is intolerant of Christianity. This is a way of trying to turn the table and make the intolerant person seem to be the victim. It also is a scare tactic anti-gay groups use to get you to send them money.

When Martin Luther King spoke out against racism, does this mean he was being intolerant of racists? When women protested because they were not allowed to vote in the US, did this mean they were intolerant of those [males] who would not let them vote? When Gandhi spoke out against British colonialism, was this because he was intolerant of the British?

When you see gay people attacking heterosexuals for holding hands. Or when you see gay people trying to pass laws to prevent heterosexuals from marrying, or adopting children, or seeing their dying partner in the hospital, or serving their country in the military, then maybe you will have a valid reason to say gays are intolerant or trying to restrict someone's rights. For now, you need to look at who is trying to restrict the rights of whom to see on which side the intolerance really lies.

Answer 2

Where you are wrong is that it is genetic, and if not then definitely not a choice. honestly if you have a valid point I'm open to it but when people start getting immature about it (Such as Dr Dorris) THEN I won't take them seriously. If you don't approve, I respect that, as long as you (or whoever I'm talking to) respects that I am homosexual. Everyone is entitled to an opinion, some don't handle it maturely, but people can be friends even if they disagree on some things.

EDIT: I also don't view opinions as discrimination, that's when you treat someone differently. You say you have gay friends, and obviously you are an accepting individual. I cannot honestly claim to be without bias, but don't let that cloud my judgment. Obviously, neither do you.

Answer 3

I think you may be confusing freedom of speech with freedom from consequences. Admittedly, I am assuming that you have not been fired from your job, or denied housing, or beaten, or imprisoned for expressing your views on homosexuality (and if I'm wrong, then by all means, ignore the rest of this). All that freedom of speech entitles people to is the freedom from threats to one's person or livelihood. It doesn't protect people from other people not liking them. And no matter what qualifiers you put on it about "not treating people any differently", the moment you relegate the most important relationship in a person's life to some sort of ill-advised perversion, that person -- and I dare say anyone who cares for that person -- will cease to want to be your friend. If that's not something you can deal with, then it's up to you to decide if speaking out on such issues is worth the consequences.

Answer 4

Ah, but that is the heart of the issue. There are far too many people who do treat homosexuals differently (as in a negative way). What gays are advocating is the right to feel safe from abuse based on sexual orientation. I'm not even gonna address the nature vs nurture issue. All I'm saying is gays just don't want to be bashed and called f**s any more than blacks want to be whipped and called n*****s, or how women don't want to be raped and called b****es

Answer 5

No one says that they are not allowed to voice their opinions, it is just that many of us has had enough being discriminated against that we felt the same way towards others who does not tolerate or accept us.
I'm not telling you that you can't be against homosexuality, I just want the same treatment, being treated the same as every one else.
Do I not pay the same taxes? Do I not breathe the same air? Hell, I even joined the military and fought in Afghanistan and Iraq and still I can't be who I am? What I do in my bedroom is none of your bussiness and certainly none of the government's bussiness.
If straight people can adopt a child with out geting married why can't I? If straight people who are not married and are living together can share their benefits, why am I and my boyfriend can not do the same or get the same treatment?
WHY?

Answer 6

last time I checked you had freedom of speech,
then again so did they.
if you are going to go tell a supporter that they're 'wrong worng wrong"
(which is what my friend did to me)
and if ur gonna speak out against it,
then yes people will get pissed at you.
but if i go up to a non supporter,
and say my stuff,
then yes,they will also get pissed at me.
its the same way on both sides.
you will say we're wrong or sinners,and we will call you homophobes.

if you go against someone in an argument its a given that people on the other side will get angry.
alot of the media is supporters though,which is why the against side feels like they cant express thier views.

Answer 7

You have a flawed arguement above..."do not think it is genetic.." You are straight, have NO way of understanding what gay people go through, period. WE were gay before we knew what sex was...it was not a choice to have sex with men or women...we didn't even know what that meant.
Think about your statements ("still have very good gay friends..) How can you be friends with someone you do not believe? You do not believe them when they say they were born gay, so .... you do not believe them. I cannot be friends with someone I do not believe.
You can say, "I am not Gay." You can say, "I don't understand why people are Gay." But, you cannot say "I do not think...." any thing, because you have no frame of reference.
"Even though they're perfectly nice......" I find this sentence all but comical..I know you didn't mean it to be, but really, what did you expect us to be...perfectly awful?
Please re-read your question, it really show a great amount of prejudice, even if you don't realize it does. I know you are trying, but....you ain't there yet. Sorry to be blunt about this, but...the only really real statement above is "I just don't understand it."
What's to understand? I have no problem understanding that you like to have sex with women (I don't ). So why do you have a problem understanding that I like having sex with men.? This isn't understanding, it is a fact.

Answer 8

It is disapproval and discrimination of people as people. That's a real problem.

The thing is you are allowed to discriminate against whomever you want. Free speech allows for that. I don't know who you think is being oppressed, but I'm not seeing anyone on your side facing oppression of any sort.

Answer 9

I do not know.
I think it is fine to respectfully express your opinion.
I think it is like everything else. It is because the people who are covered by the media are generally those who are extreme.
I do understand opposition to those who are threatening violence etc., and those are the sorts who are most often shown on TV. To those who aren't very close to an event, it may seem as though things are more black and white than they are.

Answer 10

Homosexuality is NOT a *behaviour* it is a STATE OF BEING, just like growing to the adult height of 5'9".
How is being 5 feet and 9 inches tall a *behaviour*?

The way in which I EXPRESS my homosexuality is a form of style and NOT a behaviour.

My ability to project and receive ROMANTIC INTIMACY is a GIFT and not a *behaviour*.

I don't give a crap whether or not you think my homosexuality is genetic.

Your silly insights into MY world, of which you are NOT a part of, have NO effect on the quality of MY LIFE!