GAY, the video that you posted upset me because it brought up the feeling that as an "outsider" I am limited in my understanding and there for my ability to enact change. I would not have previously considered myself a homophobe because I support the idea of equality across the board for the rights of people whatever their orientation, and believe that in doing less we as a society can only loos out on perspective and insight form other "walks of life" ( and that is a purposefully shitty way of putting it) but I don't understand. So therefor my opinions can only come from the perspective of a reasonably educated outsider.
I have to accept that unfortunately that is true, but it furthers my belief that gay people will be, and should be, the only people able to decide what is offensive to them as described in this video. On that point the idea that the idea of a grouping of homosexuality even exists blows my mind, because it is a vast and rich spectrum of sexualities that is being disregarded.
There is way to much I have to say and think about this and that is what I think still makes me a homophobe, that I still am so ignorant to the nuances. As with feminism as with race relations, as with religious stalemates. I don't know what to do when being supportive feels like nothing more than sitting on the sidelines waving a flag. All I can say is that I will make every effort to ensure that my children are brought up in the same accepting mind frame that I was, and I hope beyond reasonable hope that they with think that my pushing them towards acceptance and tolerance of other beliefs or peoples is outdated and seems silly because it has become the standard. I hope. I hope that I am one day called a homophobe for even making the distinction. But until then I live in a world of sad privileged shame, never doing enough.
A few other points:
The separation of church and state no longer really exists, certainly not in the US.
If people of faith truly believe that people will be judged in the next life/afterlife for the choices that they make in this one, then they should back off a bit, go ahead and save yourself within your own paradigm, but leave me to mine.
The analogy of being a skater In Australia in the eighties might kind of fit but only because of the company you are in here on SLAP. At the end of the day it's a choice, not one that you should have to make too avoid oppression but a choice none the less.
The struggle of straight, white, middle class guilt is real, it's just not as real as actually being oppressed.
I wish is great any of you were here so that we could talk this out in person.
S.L.A.P.
Topic: What it's actually like to be gay (Read 14219 times)