# Gay activists flip off Reagan's picture **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 23, 2012, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-activists-flip-off-reagans-picture/626042 "2012-06-23T06:32:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2012, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-activists-flip-off-reagans-picture/626042/101 "2012-06-24T03:00:21Z")
This is pointless. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2012, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-activists-flip-off-reagans-picture/626042/102 "2012-06-24T03:01:55Z")
I think you just captured the essence of the dope…and the net…and life in general. ---
**Author:** ![mister\_nyx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@mister\_nyx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mister_nyx)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2012, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-activists-flip-off-reagans-picture/626042/103 "2012-06-24T03:03:05Z")
> [@A Monkey With a Gun](#): > > This is pointless. Maybe you can win back the crowd by telling some more jokes about mentally retarded people. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2012, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-activists-flip-off-reagans-picture/626042/104 "2012-06-24T03:06:56Z")
**mister nyx** walks into a thread… ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2012, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-activists-flip-off-reagans-picture/626042/105 "2012-06-24T03:11:34Z")
> [@mister\_nyx](#): > > Yes, how outrageous that gay people would show disrespect to Reagan and then share photos of their disrespectful act on Facebook. The principles our country was founded on certainly don’t encompass the right to be disrespectful of political leaders. :rolleyes: Actions can be both constitutionally protected and asinine. The fact you have a right to do a thing doesn’t make it a good idea. ---
**Author:** ![mister\_nyx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@mister\_nyx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mister_nyx)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2012, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-activists-flip-off-reagans-picture/626042/106 "2012-06-24T03:18:26Z")
> [@Mr.Excellent](#): > > Actions can be both constitutionally protected and asinine. The fact you have a right to do a thing doesn’t make it a good idea. Of course not. But when it comes to social pressure to make sure to be super respectful towards our leaders, I think that, given our fundamental principles, it’s fitting to err on the side of not worrying much about making sure our political speech is decorous or polite. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2012, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-activists-flip-off-reagans-picture/626042/107 "2012-06-24T03:41:52Z")
> [@mister\_nyx](#): > > Of course not. But when it comes to social pressure to make sure to be super respectful towards our leaders, I think that, given our fundamental principles, it’s fitting to err on the side of not worrying much about making sure our political speech is decorous or polite. This was not about being “super respectful” - nobody asked them to bow or genuflect. This was an issue of being super **dis** respectful. I did err on the side on the side of caution here. I didn’t mention the third guy who only semi-disrespected a picture of George Bush. But his actions were questionable so I ignored them. I only mentioned the two people who clearly and willfully went out of their way to insult somebody. ---
**Author:** ![mister\_nyx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@mister\_nyx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mister_nyx)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2012, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-activists-flip-off-reagans-picture/626042/108 "2012-06-24T03:46:50Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > This was not about being “super respectful” - nobody asked them to bow or genuflect. This was an issue of being super **dis** respectful. > > I did err on the side on the side of caution here. I didn’t mention the third guy who only semi-disrespected a picture of George Bush. But his actions were questionable so I ignored them. I only mentioned the two people who clearly and willfully went out of their way to insult somebody. And that’s fine. But I sincerely can’t understand why anyone would care that much about insulting a painting of Reagan. A Facebook photo of some kid demonstrating that they have no respect for a dead president seems way too insignificant to get upset about to me. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2012, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-activists-flip-off-reagans-picture/626042/109 "2012-06-24T04:58:18Z")
> [@A Monkey With a Gun](#): > > **John** , regardless of your politics, would use your one opportunity at the White House for a _facebook_ photo? Would you be such a jackass that the POTUS _himself_ has to mention you to the press? > > If so, I think I can find another “special helmet” for you. Just because I wouldn’t do it myself doesn’t mean I have to be “outraged” if someone else does. It was a stupid, juvenile thing to do. Being outraged about it elevates beyond what it deserves. Put that in your helmet and smoke it. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2012, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-activists-flip-off-reagans-picture/626042/110 "2012-06-24T13:18:49Z")
> [@mister\_nyx](#): > > Of course not. But when it comes to social pressure to make sure to be super respectful towards our leaders, I think that, given our fundamental principles, it’s fitting to err on the side of not worrying much about making sure our political speech is decorous or polite. The words “gay activist” will be forever associated with the event. Whether or not it’s free speech, they embarrassed the gay community by acting like a couple of immature jerks in the White House. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2012, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-activists-flip-off-reagans-picture/626042/111 "2012-06-24T13:29:54Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > The words “gay activist” will be forever associated with the event. I find that really, really unlikely. I’d be surprised if many people even remember it this time next year. ---
**Author:** ![Myrnalene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@Myrnalene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myrnalene)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2012, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-activists-flip-off-reagans-picture/626042/112 "2012-06-24T13:33:35Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > The words “gay activist” will be forever associated with the event. Jesus Christ, _no it won’t._ The only people think this are: 1) people who hate LGBT folk anyway or 2) people who claim to not hate LGBT people but insist on standing on the sidelines and wagging their fingers any time a queer person does anything they don’t like. Those silly homos, thinking they understand the politics of their own civil rights struggle better than anyone else. They are like children, basically, thank god they have straight people like us to tell their movement how to move. The entire gay rights movement will forever be associated with this? :rolleyes: Come back down to earth and quit fucking concern trolling. It’s embarrassing. This is not a big deal. They did not spit in Obama’s face. They did not set the cause of gay rights back 50 years. Humanity is made collectively stupider every time one of you yabobs tries to elevate this non-story into any kind of actual thing. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2012, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-activists-flip-off-reagans-picture/626042/113 "2012-06-24T15:07:17Z")
> [@mister\_nyx](#): > > And that’s fine. But I sincerely can’t understand why anyone would care that much about insulting a painting of Reagan. A Facebook photo of some kid demonstrating that they have no respect for a dead president seems way too insignificant to get upset about to me. They’re not kids–they’re people significant enough in the LGBT movement to get a WH invite. That said, of course this isn’t a big deal, nor will it resonate throughout history as a watershed moment in the defeat of LGBT civil rights. It was a stupid, thoughtless action taken by some people acting like jackasses, and it’ll excite the conservative blogosphere for a few days, until something else shiny comes along. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2012, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-activists-flip-off-reagans-picture/626042/114 "2012-06-24T15:24:13Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > The words “gay activist” will be forever associated with the event. Whether or not it’s free speech, they embarrassed the gay community by acting like a couple of immature jerks in the White House. Jesus Christ, is this thread some kind of a moron competition? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2012, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-activists-flip-off-reagans-picture/626042/115 "2012-06-24T15:24:48Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > The words “gay activist” will be forever associated with the event. Whether or not it’s free speech, they embarrassed the gay community by acting like a couple of immature jerks in the White House. I would be surprised if even 10% of the American populace knows this happened. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2012, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-activists-flip-off-reagans-picture/626042/116 "2012-06-24T16:05:19Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > I would be surprised if even 10% of the American populace knows this happened. My wife and i are left liberals who keep up with the news, we’re both concerned with gay rights, and we’re currently in San Francisco smack in the middle of Gay Pride 2012. The only reason i heard of this incident was through the Dope, and my wife likely wouldn’t have learned of it at all if i hadn’t told her. ---
**Author:** ![mister\_nyx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@mister\_nyx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mister_nyx)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2012, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-activists-flip-off-reagans-picture/626042/117 "2012-06-24T18:05:00Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > The words “gay activist” will be forever associated with the event. Everyone point and laugh at the idiot concern troll. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2012, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-activists-flip-off-reagans-picture/626042/118 "2012-06-24T18:09:26Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > My wife and i are left liberals who keep up with the news, we’re both concerned with gay rights, and we’re currently in San Francisco smack in the middle of Gay Pride 2012. > > The only reason i heard of this incident was through the Dope, and my wife likely wouldn’t have learned of it at all if i hadn’t told her. Yeah, I erred on the conservative side with the 10% figure. It’s probably closer to 1%. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2012, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-activists-flip-off-reagans-picture/626042/119 "2012-06-24T18:09:42Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > I don’t care if people want to post pictures of themselves on Facebook making obscene gestures at the picture of a politician they dislike, even if it’s a former POTUS. > > However, if they used a formal White House reception as the occasion for taking such pictures, then they’re uncouth boors. If you can’t behave yourself with dignity and propriety while visiting the official seat of the executive branch of our nation’s government, then don’t fucking visit it. > > (And I’m not counting having a peaceful protest on the sidewalk **outside** the White House, which I think is perfectly valid. But if you’re going to behave like a respectful and decorous visitor long enough to get inside the door, then you need to keep behaving that way for the duration of your visit.) Absolutely. I can not ever say it any better than this. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2012, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-activists-flip-off-reagans-picture/626042/120 "2012-06-24T18:11:28Z")
Incidentally, would it even be possible for this picture to be used in political advertising? The copyright to the image is owned by the guys who took it. If someone wanted to use it in an ad, wouldn’t they need those guys’ permission first? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-activists-flip-off-reagans-picture/626042.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-activists-flip-off-reagans-picture/626042.md?page=7)