But Shade, every time smiling bandit or one of his compadres says something about homosexuality being sinful and detracting from the proper place of sexuality, they influence others. Someone else might hear it and conclude that gays need to be “saved” from their sinful lifestyle. Or that gays should be beaten witless for being sinners. Or that gays shouldn’t be allowed to marry, because society shouldn’t encourage homosexuality.
Or maybe a young homosexual man hears it and it pushes him over the edge. Gun in hand, barrel to temple. Because of smiling bandit’s ignorant, outdated, irrational bullshit. It’s not innocent. It’s not harmless. It’s dangerous.
So, a person is trash for* believing* in what has been taught to him by his church and community all his life (probably)? Don’t you think ‘trash’ is a bit on the harsh side of the judgement spectrum?
Couldn’t we find a lower caliber slot? Mis-guided fool, maybe?
Your nephew has my sympathy, Mr. V, and I am again moved by the eloquence of your post (if you used that gift to post something positive, I believe the earth would shatter).
whiterabbit is right. Having a supportive family makes your nephew very lucky.
What’s bullshit is peole who can’t admit that their own prejudice helps create a situation like this. Religious disapprobation of homosexuality is at the root of gay bashing.
You first. You do realise that the entire problem here is people who “disagree” with homosexuality? Not that I’m sure how you can disagree with something that isn’t an opinion, but hey. Idiots never make sense.
Yes, you have a good point. I think I’m lucky to live somewhere where very few of my opinions are very minority, or maybe my view would have been different.
Thank you for sharing your story. The idea that anyone could read it and still find it appropriate to start ranting about an agenda sickens me. Your nephew has the same right to a happy life as anyone else does. He has the right to get an education without constant harrassment. How anyone could read what you wrote and not have compassion for the situation, astounds me.
The only bright spot I see is that he has the love and support of his immediate family, which many gay kids do not. I wonder, would home schooling possibly be an option? or possibly a transfer to another district in a larger and possibly more tolerant area. It seems that if he could just make it through the next few years, he could then go to a college where he would be more likely to find acceptance. I understand that he shouldn’t have to do any of these things but it would seem that the most important thing at this point is his safety.
How can wanting the right to be left in peace, to not be beaten and tormented because of who you love and to enjoy the same civil liberties as heterosexuals be considered an “agenda”?
Why do you care who fucks who and how can that possibly effect you?
Why is it bullshit? People who “disagree with homosexuality” are the ones who ostracize gay people and do their best to inflict as much cruelty and pain as possible.
And disagreeing with homosexuality makes about as much sense as disagreeng withbeing lefthanded or being of a different race.
You are a bigot, and as such perhaps it is you who should “grow up” and abandon your petty, prejudiced worldview.
And just what is the homosexual agenda? I seem to have lost my copy.
First, I wish to extend my deepest sympathy and support to MrVisible and his nephew. From first hand experience (best friend growing up) I know that this is a horrible, horrible situation with no easy solution.
In a way, while threads like these tend to make me angry and sad at how these stupid basic issues have not yet been resolved, they do tend to perform a valuable public service in that they help me easily identify the dumbass posters.
I AM supportive of the homosexual agenda, even though I was contemplating the priesthood, in addition to being a major homophobe back before I joined the SDMB. So people are coming around to your cause, guys.
You know what I think turns people off to homosexuality? First off, there’s a big deal about “coming out”, when nobody really cares. They really don’t. Second, when people “come out”, it’s been my observation that they become extraordinarily assertive about their homosexuality. “Look everyone, I’m gay! And if you don’t like it, you’re a homophobe!”. Bad idea. Accusing people of some alleged flaw in their character is not going to make them like you more. Third, people are not yet accustomed to public displays of affection from two people of the same sex. It’s rare enough to be jarring to your average Joe. Hell, I don’t like PDA at all. I rarely kiss my wife in public, because for me it’s something that should be done in private.
I personally don’t care anymore. My major turnoff with homosexuality is that men try to hit on me. I find that to be very uncomfortable. So, as long as people let me go about my business, I let them go about theirs and we’re all happy. But when you put it right up in someone’s face, you can’t expect people to be thrilled about it, any more than you would be if I sucked face right in front of you with my wife.
Something about wanting to be treated with the same dignity and consideration as everyone else, living free of harassment and being granted equal access to all of societies institutions. Obviously a terrible threat to all of humanity
