Another editorial In the DMN: Assimilation and Tolerance

[w8liftinglady]

http://dallasmorningviewsblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2012/04/assimilation-an.html

Should we be surprised that Hispanics, as a group, are not homophobic? Were you under the assumption that they were?

A new study released this week affirms that the "great concern over Hispanic homophobia" is greatly exaggerated. Based on a comprehensive public opinion poll, the study concludes that Latinos overall are as open and tolerant as the rest of the population, perhaps even more so.

I don't know if there was "great concern" over this issue. Frankly, that seems an overstatement. But if there is a perception that Latinos are more intolerant it's because people erroneously assume that being socially conservative--the other description applied broadly to 50 million Hispanics--means that many would automatically have negative views of gays and lesbians.

That's not the case, as the study shows. A majority of Latinos support gay marriage, for example. A Pew Hispanic poll in March also found that 59 percent of Latinos believed homosexuals should be accepted by society. In both polls, there is little or no difference between the attitudes of Hispanics and the rest of the U.S. population on these central questions.

The latest study was released by the National Council of La Raza and paid for by Arcus Foundation, which supports gay rights. Its value, however, is not that it dispels an erroneous perception or an untruth (something that frankly could have been done by applying logic). What the study proves, quite effectively, is that increased tolerance is one of the great outcomes of assimilation.


I am So proud of Gabriel Escobar- the editor who wrote this column.In Texas,it takes major cajones to write in support of the lgbt community.

[William769]

1. I believe it is greatly over exaggerated.

From my personal experience.

[w8liftinglady]

2. dear god... a reply

little did he know- he was asking for it.

"'Should we be surprised that Hispanics, as a group, are not homophobic? Were you under the assumption that they were?'
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Switch the word "homophobic" with republican, and I think you are going to be surprised this fall."

[w8liftinglady]

3. my response

I have no problem at all switching the words"homophobic" and "Republican"...they are interchangeable.
The ones who have the problem are their kids,who have to live in the closet because of mom and dad's hate.I've had to talk more than one down from the virtual noose.
Hate doesn't surprise me at all.