Islandhome- sorry for misunderstanding you. Your comment seemed like it was directed at me because it was under my post. I hope that you have accepted your sexuality now and have found happiness because of it. I'm ashamed to be a member of a society whose members have made you feel compelled to try to deny who you are. If it was religion that compelled you, remember that if god is all-loving as it is 'supposed' to be, then it loves gay people as much as straight. The whole persecution of gay people comes out of two short sentences at the very start of the old testament. Just as the whole oppression of drug use comes as a result of a couple of references forbidding magic. Jesus discounted most of what went before him, and I am confident that he was not an oppressor of gay people. It's sad that his hippy ideals have been twisted so badly by 'Christians' just like those of his own religion who he labelled 'the hypocrites'. I would even go so far as to say that he probably told them it was fine, but that if it ever was recorded it would've been edited out, or that particular gospel dismissed and destroyed by the Romans as heresy, as they did with any that conflicted with their patriarchal empire, such as the gospel of Mary Magdalene, which placed woman equal with man. If we all still lived strictly according to the old testament, women would again be little more than slaves.
I should point out that I am not a Christian. I was raised one by my culture, attending church twice weekly, but after reading the entire bible in adolescence and noting down every discrepancy, intolerence, contradiction and hypocrisy, I decided that it wasn't for me. Jesus is still on my list of 'major dudes' though. Incidentally, unlike the Abrahimic religions, hinduism and buddhism are gay-friendly.
ohayoco said:
Homophobic people are scared of gays because they are scared of the feelings they themselves have for members of the same sex. Homophobic people are gay or bisexual people in denial. People who are comfortable with their sexuality do not feel threatened by those with differing sexual preferences.
I should admit that I was exagerrating here. I doubt that every homophobe is in the closet. There is truth in it though. A straight person assumes that sexuality is genetic. Whereas a bisexual in denial assumes that sexuality is a choice that can be learnt, because they have feelings for both sexes and struggle to oppress one side of their sexuality. Hence the irrational worry over gay couples adopting (and even though it wouldn't happen, why would it be a bad thing if the child DID turn out gay? Only if 'gay'='bad' to you. And given our current overpopulation, if only people COULD learn to be gay!). Even 100% gay people sometimes try to be straight, not only bisexuals- in the old days because they faced severe persecution otherwise, but today because of their religion and the oppressive judgements of the society shaped by this religion. The film American Beauty got the point across quite well.
Many homophobes just like having someone to hate. This is Freudian transference, or scapegoating. One group projecting negative feelings (often its own negative traits) onto another group. Nazi Germany was the most extreme example- anyone whose race, sexuality, religion, political beliefs, way of life, economic success or lack of, or physical or mental health was said to be 'what is wrong with society' and exterminated. Jews, gypsies, gays, Jehovah's Witnesses, Freemasons, Communists, Anarchists, unemployed people, the insane, the mentally handicapped, and the physically handicapped were what according to the Nazis what was wrong with Nazi Germany. OF course, what was REALLY wrong with Nazi Germany was the Nazis.
While we have come a long way, prejudice is still socially acceptable in some forms. The Christian prejudice against gay people lingers on, even though most governments do not share the sentiment anymore. Similarly, gypsy travellers are still largely condescended, forced to live in horrific government camps underneath power cables in the supposedly 'civilised' western world. Of course, anyone who wants to enjoy drugs other than the state-certified ones of alcohol and tobacco is completely demonised by the rest of society without question. Ignorant people hate anyone who doesn't want to live like they do, because they are scared of difference. We should embrace variety, not oppress it.
HappyCamper said:
it's the sin, not the sinner
As I said, it's mainly religious people who are homophobic. Hence, nowadays, the Christian fundamentalists have become the 'baddies' in comparison to the general culture.
I thought you were implying that I was gay because you were directing your words to 'Ohayoco' (that's me!) and then saying how if 'you're' gay and if 'you' want to parade etc. And this is the reaction I have got elsewhere when I stick up for gay rights (he's a sympathiser, he must be one of them), as if having compassion for a different group is unfathomable.
HappyCamper said:
People who are accepting of gays say that I am not tolerant. Well, all I ask is for you to be tolerant of my opinion.
You use the phrase 'people who are accepting' as a contrast to your own viewpoint- well, being accepting IS being tolerent, so not being accepting is being intolerent. Therefore someone who is 'accepting of gays' is correct in saying that you are 'not tolerent'. Hence why you tell them not to 'parade' in front of you, as if you have ownership of what goes on in front of your eyes.
I am being tolerant of your opinion, as bizarre as it is that an intolerent person would demand that people should be tolerent of their intolerence. I accept that that is what you currently believe, but that doesn't mean I have to agree. Just as I wouldn't agree with a racist who posted in a thread called "Interracial marriage" and argued against it.
But there's a carrot here as well as a stick, HappyCamper. You should find that if you learn to be happy for people who are doing what makes them happy (when it doesn't stop your freedom to do what makes you happy either), then your life will be better for it. Does homophobia make you happy? No, of course not. It's a source of negativity for you. So abandon it, and say goodbye to negative emotions and frustration over your inability to control other people. Follow the path of love instead.
