I’m merely pointing out that while your experiences are certainly valid, that they’re unlikely to be universal, given the facts that I presented. Nothing more.
I just think that that’s pretty unusual. If it comes up again, I’d ask them if they think that gays actually believe in no god, or do they believe in a god but reject it? I’d bet dollars to donuts they back down a little and go with the latter.
That’s not what the OP asked, though.
Globally, I’ll say the openly gay man.
I think humans are born superstitious athiests. If you leave us alone long enough without spirits and deities, we’ll make some up quick. But, no one stops and prays when the Sabertooth Tiger shows up. Pleading with the universe to spare you is what you do while you’re running. We’re atheist first, and superstitious & religious when we have the time.
Being openly gay seems more threatening to people. I think there have been gays as long as there has been a human species, and before that homosexual behavior and same-sex pair bonding existed just as well. But, it’s still kind of a fringe thing for human societies. Some societies just ignore it. “Life long bachelors” was a common term when I was young, as were other terms for non-traditional people and their relationships.
In that case I’d think that globally more people would find the gay guy objectionable. It seems like most of Eastern Europe and Asia is fine with atheism but not so cool with homosexuality, and that’s more than half of the world’s population right there.
In the US it may be the other way around, but I’m not sure this would be the case anywhere else except some predominantly Muslim countries. I found this Washington Post blog post citing a report that said there were seven countries in the world, all with Islam as the state religion, where atheists can be executed. Looking at the Wikipedia entry on LGBT rights by country or territory, most of these same countries also execute homosexuals, although it looks like Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the Maldives imprison but do not execute homosexuals. So at least as far as the law is concerned in these countries atheism is the worse offense, although the man on the street might feel differently.
I don’t think they’re equivalent, either. Maybe I just don’t live in the right part of the country, but I’ve heard vanishingly few people seriously complain about how “vocal” gay men or women are trying to recruit them, though older people still joke about toasters now and then.
But “vocal” atheists haranguing people about their beliefs and insulting their intelligence for being believers, insisting that their own point of view is beyond reproach? Shit, if it wouldn’t kill the hamsters to do the search I could find you five hundred examples of that right here on the boards.
so would it be like
We’re Here. We’re godless. Get Used to It.
I’m not “vocally” atheist (unless you count the Darwin sticker on my car) but I’m not shy about it if asked or the people around me start talking religion. I’ve had bad reactions about it from people across the political spectrum. My son was crushed when he couldn’t join the cub scouts. I’ve had girlfriends break up with me over it (granted they would have done the same were I gay). Nor, were I so inclined, do I think I could run for political office for anything higher than a local level since a demonstration of faith seems required for that, albeit only by custom not law.
And while there may be (unenforceable) laws on the books barring me from public office, there are more that would throw gays in jail (equally unenforceable).
However, it is still possible to discriminate against gays where I live in terms of housing and employment. I at least have legal protection against that. And I’ve never worried about getting attacked because I look or act atheist. I can walk down the street holding the hand of spouse without inviting derisive comments. Hell, I got legally married and was able to bring my wife into the country.
So gays have the worst of it. I’m glad to see it changing (faster than I ever expected it to).
And I hope my grandkids will be able to join the scouts if they ever want to.