It seems to me that just wishing or condeming them all away isn't going to work. They are a big part of this society and should be accepted and treated as any other couples- or single gay Americans.
What I cannot figure out is why it bothers so many people? I'm not gay and I couldn't care less if someone is or not. I have friends and some family members that are very dear to me and what kind of relationship they are in matters not about what kind of human beings they are.
Why does it bother so many people?
2007-08-14 02:41:01 · 10 answers · asked by Cindy P 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender
Those people that it bothers are just single minded.
If you cut us don't we all bleed? Isn't our blood the same color? Are our bodies not created the same (all men with men and all women with women)? We're all created equal, the only thing that changes us, is our sexual preferences, the color of our skin, and our different personalities.
Some people can't handle change, or people that are different. Those are the people that need to get over it and realize that we're all different.
2007-08-14 06:10:04 · answer #1 · answered by sam 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There are closer to a million in many states, I'm sure, than in the US as a whole.
QforU - the 1 million at SF Pride included a lot of straight people, too! It's a San Francisco event as well as a Pride event! My dad goes most years, securely straight and happy to be in an equally self-aware crowd.
We're all raised afraid of differences that we can label and differentiate ourselves from. Race, religion, orientation, ability - these are all boundaries we see, or think we see, and imagine to be important. They're built into our language, and our language structures our thoughts.
As I've mentioned in other forums, all Americans are racists because we grew up here, even if our parents carefully taught us the values of equality and fairness and nondiscrimination. We still learned that in the language of us and them. And most of us haven't been raised consciously combatting prejudice at all times.
[Gochefs7777 - I think it's ingrained in all of us, but you and some others are better able at overcoming it.]
Unfortunately, homophobia is still widely acceptable. Racism has declined over the decades (but seems to do will on the 'net), so maybe there's hope about overcoming homophobia as well.
It takes each one of us consciously reflecting on our prejudices (there are gay and black and Jewish bigots, as well as straight and white and Christian ones) to overcome them in ourselves and weaken them in our communities.
Good luck, all.
2007-08-14 15:45:50 · answer #2 · answered by umlando 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have to agree with Loftitright. 22 million from a study of insurance company's or something on that line. There are over 1 million at San Francisco's yearly pride.
umlando you make a great point in 2004 thre were 1.3 million people at SF Pride. I dought that much over 300,000 of them were straight.
2007-08-14 10:55:28 · answer #3 · answered by QforU For Da Ben Dan 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
There's more than that! About 15% of the population is LGBT-that makes about 45 million people (based out of 300 million). I don't know why this bothers people...it's just plain irritating!
2007-08-14 12:30:51 · answer #4 · answered by Dominic 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think the number is actually much, much higher than that, but I do appreciate your question.
People are uncomfortable with what is different from themselves. They fear that if they get close to this difference, they may "catch it". My GF's father was like that, always insisted that "I gave his daughter gay". Fortunately, he has come around. Given the chance to actually be around different things, in a non-threatening situation, most people can become comfortable and accepting of differences.
2007-08-14 10:48:24 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
It's hard to say, being on this side of the argument. I think it is fear, like hunterhous said, fear of the unknown - but I think it is something passed down from generation to generation, just like a racist quality, that makes the prejudice etched into these people.
It's a shame, really.
2007-08-14 09:55:06 · answer #6 · answered by gochefs (Geo) 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Actually, there are about 22 million people that would be considered "gay". 10% of men, and, 5% of women.
2007-08-14 10:01:47 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
Re: figure. I woudn't doubt that. Remember the famous lines of Margarettie Cammemayer in her rally speech? "Gays, lesbians,...We are your mothers, grandmothers, sisters, nieces, aunties,doctors, teachers, etc....." They are in every part of our society....Straight people are just INSECURE!
Cheers n' nun bless, Parolee
2007-08-14 10:42:40 · answer #8 · answered by nun_on_parole 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think it's fear. But you make a great point....we are here and are a large growing population....
I starred this question.
2007-08-14 09:52:00 · answer #9 · answered by Oberon 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
1 million people is only 1/300th of the population. I think we also have to focus on the other 299 Million first.
2007-08-14 09:49:15 · answer #10 · answered by Dr Jello 7 · 0⤊ 8⤋