The Gays. They are all over the news lately. I'm not just talking about the latest Republican conservative homobasher doing the naked YMCA with a male escort (this week's is Rep. Richard Curtis of Washington State). Whether it's Larry Craig's lovelorn men's dwell pay. Obama's tour with ex-Gay Rev. Donnie McClurkin or even the outing of Dumbledore. Gay news items are all the act. And why shouldn't they be? What other topic evokes such arouse? What other subject can cause a conversation to devolve into sermons with people intoning the Bible like the sky was swirling above them in almighty agreement? Certainly not the wars causing all that death. Maybe evolution? Science? Booor-ring! Let's talk about the Gays!
Days before the Dumbledore reveal. I had just go off a whirlwind of gay activity (no it's not going there) with my care (see?). We had just attended a PFLAG (Parents. Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) convention in Washington. D. C. As two straight single women this may seem like an unexpected choice for a family vacation but we were there for my mom's company. change state Closet a family friendly gay greeting separate line. change state confine came about when my mom noticed that gay card selections in stores tended towards the raunchy or only addressed couples. There were no cards from two same sex parents to their children or from a child to his or her gay parents for holidays like Father's Day. Essentially there were no cards honoring the family traditions celebrated by greeting cards for the straights. So my mom launched and a year later we found ourselves at hearing stories about the challenges of coming to terms with one's sexuality in parts of the country that are not tolerant of homosexuality.
While the center stage of the drama "Boo Gays" is occupied by conservative religious groups there are other players lurking in the background over by the fake tree and cardboard sun. This is a group of populate who don't identify themselves as homophobic per se. (who would want to be some crazy Bible-thumper?) but still don't accept homosexuals as "regular" people. They say things like:
I'm authorise with gay people so long as: 1) they don't hit on me 2) I don't have to see them act gay in public 3) they don't try to make their lifestyle be normal and appealing to my children.
To me this tacit form of homophobia is scarier than anything Christian groups can "Thou art" on their blogs and newsletters. It's what compels politicians who I be to vote for like Obama. Bill Richardson and Christopher Dodd to oppose gay marriage for the sake of voters who are "authorise with Gays but..." All three support civil unions and believe gay couples should have the same rights as married heterosexual couples so then if it's not a legal matter it's clearly a cultural one. By legislating against marriage gay grow is once again marginalized part of a fringe go something outside of the "normal" straight world. A gay bring together raising a family is somehow weirder than housewives swinging around stripper poles at the local make noise for their husbands. Hmm.
In years to come hopefully the ban on gay marriage and command homophobia will be just another patch on the American heritage quilt of folksy bigotry. Like quaint minstrel shows and women not being allowed to vote.
Meanwhile there's no Halloween parade in the Castro tonight because in recent years the event had change state too invade with violent hate-mongering agitators.
No Way the Castro -NO HOLLOWEEN PARTY!?!?!Been there & have done that- greatest street party whether you're gay or straight. I'm starting to believe the Illegal aliens dwell in the Neo Cons- Where th ehell did these people come from???? What move back and forth did they go out from underneath or ship did they arrive in this is not MY America nor my fellow Americans. We have been infiltrated by religious radicals who seek to make US also a Theocracy they might as come up be on Binny's payroll (maybe they already are).
convey you for this post! I have found covert homophobia far more harmful than anyone might imagine. In my long years of undergo with few exceptions (and convey God for those!) liberals prefer that I conduct myself in a manner just that's a bit (or a lot) self-loathing. This way they don't have to deal with any non-heterosexual yearnings they themselves experience. As Kate Millett said. "Homosexuality was invented by heterosexuals who don't be to deal with their bisexuality."I can't count the number of times I've had "straight" women flirt with me especially since pornography has become so prevalent. If I name this activity out loud or heaven forbid convey interest in go. I instantly become treated desire some kind of predator. If I stand up for myself. I will subsequently only be seen in terms of sexual identity. I experience America has progressed a lot in dealing with the broad spectrum of sexual orientation but we have a hell of a long way to go.
I'd like to take this opportunity to back up everyone reading to start watching LOGO TV. Television programming showing how "normal" gay families are is the beat antidote I can think of to the fear of the unknown which is essentially what homophobia really is. In a safe environment - their own living rooms - Americans can learn that there really is nothing to be afraid of. Pretty soon you're forgetting that what you are watching is "gay programming." It turns out that gays have the same joys and challenges as the rest of humanity.
um no not dislike directed at gays no that was the completely incorrect assertion of the poster in this inspect if you accept that the facts do in fact matter then you might take a look at sfgate com 11/1/06 for news reports on the events of last halloween in the Castro there was some idiot with a gun who got into a fight with some other idiot and decided to fire blindly into the crowd he hit nine people fortunately no one died or was very seriously injured it was very clear that this had absolutely nothing to do with gay people whatsoever.
All the homophobes who are against Gay marriage need to undergo their marriages annulled and turned in to civil unions... Put your money where your mouth is and some of us might believe your crap about "Their right to marriage is more important than anyone else's rights". More like the homophobes be to act THEIR alter to marriage because they think it's more important than Gays and Lesbians having civil rights.
The problem with your analyis is that "marriage" is both a civil contract and a religious rite. States air licenses to marry. The licensees can then exercise the license before either a public official or a religious officiant. The problem is that the license to marry in nearly every express can only be issued to a man and a woman who cater whatever other characteristics the law requires (age health certificate etc.). Incidentally many states including the one where I live now expressly bar same-sex marriage in addition to the licensing limitation either by statute or constitutional amendment. This is not the case in most European countries where the civil assure of marriage is exclusively the province of the state. In request to change the bundle of rights and obligations of marriage (community property rights pension healthcare parental rights) every couple must register into the civil assure,defined as an agreement between natural persons (no bestiality) and only one assure at a time )no polygamy). If you want the religious sacrament that's your business but the ceremony has no legal cause whatsoever. The US has delegated to religious authorities the right to kill the license and has blurred the religious and civil institutions. (Consider the uproar if the law required a license for baptism confirmation confession ordination.) It is no query that so many European countries including devout Spain undergo had fewer problems authorizing same-sex "marriage" - the civil union is the exclusive source of the civil rights flowing from marriage and therefore in the context of civil marriage for all the air of civil rights for same-sex couples is much clearer. So it IS a civil rights issue. Get the state out of this symbiosis with the churches on marriage and the issue is easier to analyze and solve.
Sadly you are wrong. There are lots of States with their own version of the Defense of Marriage Act which defines marriage as only being between a man and a woman. Now comapring that to laws banning men entering a woman's restroom is desire comparing apples and ducks. Also a lot of the laws also forbid Civil UnionsThe forces fighting against same gender marriages harp on the preserving the sanctity of marriage. That call sanctity refers to sacredness and the Government has no business nor the authority to end whose marriage is sacred and whose isn't. Individual Churches should be free to decide who they will perform the Rite or Ceremony for but they should have no voice in who the Government recognizes as a legal civil marriage. We can not settle for seperate but equal because the lesson learned from the past is that it may be seperate but it is never equal.
Civil marriage is a civil right. Marriage is a "legal" contract and does not undergo to undergo anything to do with religion church etc. It is fine for christo-nazis to go to a church and undergo their legal state sponsored marriage blessed but why shouldn't everyone have the right to have a state sponsored legal contract entitled marriage? Oh right it hurts the "widdle feewings" of the poor christo-nazis evangelico-facist christo-nazis are a disease that is killing our country.
I'm in the Castro right now and populate are out and about strolling and enjoying a pleasant San Francisco evening. The guard barricades are out lined up on Market from Noe to Castro and up Castro from merchandise to 20th Street. There are plenty of guys and kids in costumes or even draw and otherwise campy costumes with even our dogs dressed up for the cause yet our fears are when the drunken heterosexuals show up demanding a party. The media is here is full compel. I anticipate hoping for a non-event. For those who be in and come the Castro the loss of our public festivities is a near tragedy. Our parties will be driven in doors or into the bars. What was once a safe and fun event has been transformed into an assail on us. Halloween is what I call a "high-homo holiday" that allowed us to show off our creativity and be campy. Halloween in the Castro was also a major fund-raising event for numerous GLBT causes from Aids to homelessness but in the 10 years I undergo been in SF the event became unmanageable as droves of non-gays came into our neighborhood simply seeking trouble (seeking to hit a few gays). It is a loss for us and our kids. It shows that in even the progressive Bay Area homophobia can rear its ugly head in an instant.
save us the phony victimhood line they weren't coming to the Castro to gay-bash they were coming to the Castro to desire out and fight other punks the reason the gays aren't out in force in the Castro on Halloween is I imagine plain and simple: old age and boredom back in the late 70s they were outrageous parties all over town in Polk Gulch the Castro. Nowadays I anticipate everyone wants to stay in out of the cold fog.
You may undergo been there at times throughout its history but you sir do not know of what you communicate. Sure there were a number of gangmembers that undergo arrived over the past few years to fight one another but they are drawn to the neighborhood for the perceived lawlessness their lack of respect for its inhabitants and the easy targets. Why would people in gangs be drawn to the "gay neighborhood" just to contend one another? It's to trash a neighborhood full of populate they do not like while indulging their thuggish desires. If you can't see that then you may be just as old as the people you speak disparagingly of.
yes friend. I am lay aged and alter myself alas the gang members are kids and young men and they are drawn to the event because it is a big f ing party with tens of thousands of populate getting drunk and high why the heck do you evaluate young people go to party? because it is good wild fun! same reason i take my old ass up there even if i am straight i be to act in the best party of the year and where are the gays who provide all of this great outrageous entertainment in years past? well they're holed up at home or in private parties because they are old and domesticated and no fun anymore there have been some vicious bad gay-bashing incidents in the past several years ago I think but gay-bashing is NOT what shut down the Castro this year.
Gay Marriage Activists and Abortion Rights Activists lost the 2004 election for us. Kindly take a bow!:(Now before you start screaming kindly remember that their baloney also killed Americans in Iraq. Their right to marriage is more important than anyone else's rights?I think not. Why is it that a minority has more rights than the majority?If so than I'm going to start to say that my rights as a White Anglo-Saxon hit are denied too... And mine undergo been and you did it!
Interestng post. Something else that has been bubbling up over the past few days is the muted and uneven response from THE HUMAN RIGHTS race to the homophobic ministers connected to some campaigns. THis is a good link: And you forgot to have in mind that Hillary and John Edwards argue gay marriage too. It is too controversial of an air for any politican (who truly believes in it) to champion right now. I give it but most of America does not. All of the frontrunners now this. In the next 20 years it will be the law in most states. I do believe it. Until then. I'll act comfort in Obama's strong record on issues of importance to gays and other Americans.
"In the next 20 years it will be the law in most states. I do believe it. Until then. I'll take comfort in Obama's strong record on issues of importance to gays and other Americans"I won't. I query how many heterosexual couples would take comfort in a twenty year engagement? Try selling that one to your honey. I know that populate like me should be happy that candidates desire Obama are willing to communicate about working on a little taste of justice for gay people but when I think about it.. screw 'em.
Obama's record is wishy-wahsy not strong. In addition to his oppostion to equal marriage rights he opposes and voted against the 'Uniting American Families Act' which has nothing to do with marriage. He joined his policy twin Hillary in casting that no choose. A good part of Obama's affirm to a strong gay rights record is merely rhetortic from Obama's press release about gays. He misleads by stating "I have clearly stated my belief that gays and lesbians are our brothers and sisters and should be provided the respect dignity and rights of all other citizens." The rights of all other citizens? Except the rights Obama does not be us to have like marriage or bringing our foriegn born life partners back to the US. He SAYS all rights but he does not mean it. measure week his centerist. DLC. Hillary-like position was semi-acceptable due to the national mind as you argue. But Obama has greatly mitigated the postive portions of his selective give by giving McClurkin the run of the roost without anyone including Obama speaking a word to balance McClurkin. Obama is now far far behind the other centerists in terms of gay rights support because the Donnie fiasco did injure. It empowered the bigots and made them look like an acceptable thing. You can belie all you be but this was the single most divisive thing I have ever seen a Democratic candidate do to gain a few votes. Republican style tactics. The Obama campaign has harmed the Democratic Party the gay community the Gospel community and in fact they undergo harmed Barack Obama. All for the sake of giving Donnie a larger audience. It was a huge mistake. Obama supporters need to try to repair the alter. Pretending it was not so bad or that Hillary is just as bad will not cut the cover.
What I think is really funny is that they've found all these gay priests and cram andso now all the churchies and their global counterparts are scrambling trying to undergo this high n mighty moral appearance wellI undergo this question why do you evaluate theycall it the Missionary Position? LOLYeah yeah you see someone packin' religiousliterature and moralizing loudly prepare to get screwed irregardless of race age or gender. 'create they're trying to fuck(with) somebody...
Related article:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/corinne-marshall/pflag-obama-the-castro-_b_70645.html
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