Gays might do well to stay in the closet

[XemaSab]

There was a time when to be "gay" simply meant that a person was happy, giddy, or perhaps just singin' in the rain over requited love. Back then, people kept their clothes in the closet and their sexual preferences to themselves. In these days of over-the-top political correctness, we can't throw a fagot on the fire for fear of offending someone and even the tooth fairy is suspect because so many words now carry a double entendre.

Whether you believe that homosexuality occurs because of choice, the environment or genetics, the fact is that a small percentage of people are wreaking havoc on our cultural, political, religious and educational structures by asserting that their sexual behaviors endow them with special status and their "in your face" demands for recognition. According to the most widely accepted study of sexual practices in the United States, the National Health and Social Life Survey, only 2.8 percent of the male and 1.4 percent of the female population identify themselves as gay, lesbian or bisexual. This figure used to be higher, between 8 percent and 10 percent, but the most recent study indicates a much lower occurrence. Obviously, homosexuals are not in a majority. However, based upon the media's fixation on "gay rights," it would seem that our nation is clearly divided into the red, blue and rainbow states.

The term, "gay rights," is bizarre in and of itself. Since when did sexual preference entitle a person to special rights? Frankly, I don't think that the mainstream of people care that much about the what, when and where of anyone else's sexual activity; most people are simply trying to generate a little activity of their own. Nevertheless, if we entitle homosexuals with special status, celebrate homosexuality with gay pride parades and propose legislation that would identify whether contributors to history were gay, why not accord the same status to those whose love of the birds and bees also includes beasts? Like sheep for example. Those individuals with a certain affection for four-legged companions could celebrate bestiality pride week, offer bovine visiting rights and allow Hallmark to develop yet another profitable card line.

http://redding.com/news/2007/feb/04/gays-might-do-well-to-stay-in-the-closet/

[donco6]

1. Wow, how 1968.

When this "writer" catches up to the 21st Century, maybe I'll care.

[tblue]

8. Wow, how 1658

[donco6]

9. Must have got my fungers fimbled.

Jeez, hard to believe someone still thinks this way, let alone publishes their lunacy.

[XemaSab]

19. I'm just shocked

that someone can be THAT backwards. :o

It's like racism... rare to see it THAT on display. :(

[bliss_eternal]

29. ...depends on where you are, to be honest.

Quote:
It's like racism... rare to see it THAT on display.

I've seen it quite a bit here on DU actually, which I attribute to the anonymity of cyberspace.

In person, depends on where you are...and who you are (what you look like). It may seem for some that are caucasian that don't deal with such things personally, it's not frequent or overt, but if one isn't in a position to experience it how would they know?

Honestly, in light of this sort of administration it seems the hateful feel really good about being outspoken about it especially when * has assembled a team that doesn't seem concerned about the civil liberties of many in the US. In such administrations racism becomes very prevalent, obvious and very in your face.

Unless of course you meant this facetiously--in which case ignore me. :blush:

[muntrv]

2. Equal rights are not special rights, Alana

[walldude]

10. Funny how they equate equal with special

isn't it? Just a little homophobic... :eyes:

[Deja Q]

3. OMG. "Beastiality Pride Week" with "bovine visiting rights"?!

:spray:

That deserves a Pulitzer prize... unfortunately, to my knowledge, Pulitzers don't cover comedic science fiction...

[gratefultobelib]

4. Here's an excellent post to the writer from the original article. Hope it's OK if I do this!

Oh Dear, Neanderthal Thinking! Gay rights means the right to have a significant other on your medical plan at work, the right to be involved with a loved ones end of life wishes without being barred from that person by famliy with ideas such as yours, the right to not discriminated against on the job because of sexual preference, the right to NOT be attacked, beaten or killed without it being prosecuted as a hate crime, the right to live a life truthfully, presenting yourself in honest and truth, not deceit and lies to make others comfortable.

I've known men in their mid 60's to "come out of the closet" after having been married, raised families and tried to conform to some one elses idea of who they should be. The suffering by all involved I cannot imagine. This is what you would have? How very selfish of you!

So you don't like the gay rights parades, honestly I too find the sexual sights excessive, but this is America, and it is their RIGHT.

I think it much better that a person lives their life in honsesty with themselves and society as soon as their heart allows, than suffer living a lie. The truth is always better than a lie, it's one of the first things we are taught. I think you need to relearn that lesson.

"I'm for truth, no matter who tells it. I'm for justice, no matter who it's for or against. -Malcolm X."

[ruggerson]

5. What's the point of posting this?

The antedeluvian idiocies of this bigoted piece of crap add to the discussion just how?

Would you post a piece by a nutjob saying the holocaust never occurred and jews are dirty or a screed by some racist saying that blacks really shouldn't be as uppity as they're getting?

[XemaSab]

22. I think it's important to realize that some people still think this way

and feel comfortable publishing this shit in a respectable paper in California. :(

[ruggerson]

30. We're all perfectly well aware that there are outrageously bigoted people

still in this world. Does that mean we should post their excrement on DU? This is not legitimate discussion. It is ranting from a bigot. That's not my understanding of what DU is about.

[Kixel]

38. I agree with you

Sometimes we need a reminder to stay diligent in our fight for equal rights.

[donheld]

47. We have a perfect right to discuss this here

Do we have to discuss this is the closet too?

[godless]

6. They're only 2.8 percent of the population and yet....

they somehow represent a significant "threat" to traditional marriage?????? LOL!!!! Here's the problem with Neo-Cons, they never ever think past their initial (usually negative) reaction to social progressiveness. How can 2.8 percent of Americans possibly be a viable threat to anything, except perhaps, themselves? It's a very silly post, Xema, and I suspect that you're a very silly man. FYI. Not every gay man wants to spend his time smuggling gay prostitutes into his home like your President does. Some of them actually want to do that "pursuit of happiness" thing. Maybe you've heard of it?

[k_jerome]

11. where do you get that figure...

and at what percentage would they be a significant threat?

[XemaSab]

23. I didn't write it

and I am a girl. :D

[Change has come]

7. Freeper seems to have her talking points down.

It sounds like this little rag is getting quite a bit of feedback.

http://redding.com/news/2007/feb/11/enthralling-appalling-its-a-matter-of-opinion/

Here is the Freepers contact info,

http://redding.com/staff/kelly-brewer-columnist/

[XemaSab]

24. Kelly Brewer didn't write it

She's just the editor in chief. :P

[Change has come]

50. Damn...

I got caught up in the grammys and it's too late to edit. Here is the Freeps email.

E-mail Alana Marie Burke at [e-mail].

[donheld]

12. My blood is boiling

:grr::grr::grr::grr::grr::grr:

[BlooInBloo]

13. Um, if it isn't what you personally espouse, you might want to put it in quotes....

... and then there are things like intellectual property laws too.

[XemaSab]

27. I meant to indicate it was an article from another source

and i think we're allowed three paragraphs? :shrug:

[BlooInBloo]

31. I have no idea whether or not you agree with the statements...

... or even whether or not you're the author of the article - lol!

I know it's from another source - I can see a link as well as anybody. The contents of that link don't answer my questions.

[XemaSab]

36. Do I agree with the statements?

Not just no, but HELL no. :o

[ropi]

14. grrrr

i am tired of these sorts saying that we should go back into the closet. you know, i want to tell the author to quit minding my closet, my bedroom, and my home. LGBT persons deserve the same rights as all Americans. And, anyway..why do they hate America so much to deny their own citizens a few rights?

i'll tell ya what...the day this neanderthal crawls back under his little proverbial rock, i may consider the closet--

[LeftyMom]

15. Oh sweet jesus

"Whether you define yourself as lesbian, gay, transgender, pangender, bigender or intersexual, you are still either a man or a woman."

Could we please get this idiot to look up a few terms?

Intersex people are by their very nature neither exclusively a man nor a woman. That's exactly what the word means! :banghead:

[Nevernose]

16. On behalf of all the straight people out there:

I'd like to apologize.

"Tooth Fairy" is suspect because of homophobia, not homosexuality. It is suspect -- as is anything feminine -- because of ninth graders in locker rooms insecure of their own sexuality. Either because they really are gay themselves, or, as I suspect is true in most cases, that they're not secure in their own masculinity, attractiveness, sexual prowess, or any number or related things that junior high kids can be insecure about *which is most things ;)). Most of us don't grow emotionally much beyond the ninth grade.

We can't throw a faggot on the fire because of dialect. In Britain, it's a stack of wood or more likely a cigarette. Here, the slang has it as meaning gay. Why? I don't know, but I DO know that setting a faggot on fire in England is perfectly acceptable behavior (except in the non-smoking section). Words also change over time, sometimes quite slowly and in other cases quite rapidly. It's called linguistics. That's a SCIENCE. "Science," and the requisite reliance upon logic, seems to be a term most people don't fully grasp, i.e. religious fundamentalists and bigots.

By the way, Roget's lists the following as alternatives to "happy." There are plenty of others once metaphors, similes, imagery, and the left-out are included. Perhaps the loss of the word "gay" really isn't such a big deal:

blessed, blest, blissful, blithe, can't complain*, captivated, cheerful, chipper, chirpy, content, contented, convivial, delighted, ecstatic, elated, exultant, flying high*, gay, glad, gleeful, gratified, hopped up, intoxicated, jolly, joyful, joyous, jubilant, laughing, light, lively, looking good*, merry, mirthful, overjoyed, peaceful, peppy, perky, playful, pleasant, pleased, satisfied, sparkling, sunny, thrilled, tickled, tickled pink*, up, upbeat

And don't play the numbers game. There are so many logical fallacies here, it's not even funny. For instance, less than 2.4% of the population is American Indian: should they be allowed to get married? Redheads are less than 2.4% of the population: should they be allowed to marry? The original author is, according to my calculations, approximately .0000003 of the population: should SHE be allowed to get married? Is the percentage of population enumerated in the Constitution?

I won't even get into the bestiality argument... Sheesh.

2.4% of men might be gay, but she's just an asshole.

[ruggerson]

17. THIS IS NOT A LEGITIMATE DISCUSSION FOR DU IMHO

Anymore than a post espousing Klu Klux Klan or Nazi belief systems would be. This should be locked.

[blonndee]

18. I agree. n/t

[bliss_eternal]

20. Agreed.

Thank you for saying so.

[k_jerome]

21. why? nt.

[XemaSab]

33. I think a lot of straight people, particularly in "blue" areas

aren't aware that this sort of crap is still being published in real papers in California.

I posted it not because I agree with it but because I found it appalling that someone could honestly spout this shit.

[JackBeck]

37. You should include this in your OP.

And not as part of the response.

[XemaSab]

42. I suck... I posted the OP while I was on the phone

and by the time I got off the phone it was too late to edit. :(

[bliss_eternal]

43. I almost understand your surprise...

but to be honest, I'm well aware of the trash that is printed in 'real' papers--regularly...and yes, I'm in a blue area. Also, and I'm just submitting this for you to consider--I mean no disrespect at all...

Given the week the glbt community has had on this board, this post may not be taken in the light you intend (if I'm reading your intent correctly).

For people in a blue area, that are straight, that live in minority skin--they are already well aware of the bigotry that exists...even in blue areas. They deal with that reality every day, even if you don't personally. Again--I mean no disrespect at all.

[donheld]

49. You might lock it, but I for one think this is just the place for it

If you don't want to discuss our rights, click on another thread. We need all the help we can get but, you'd silence us? :shrug:

[alittlelark]

25. I celebrate heterosexuality every time hubby and I go out.

Our 'rights' are DUE US. We are a hetero couple - we want no 'special' rights....our rights are just DUE TO US. Cuz we're hetero.

If he gets in a horrid accident I am DUE to be able to be w/ him - cuz we're hetero.

What's w/ all these upstarts wanting special privileges and shit?

[Imagevision]

26. XemaSab, what does Lynn Cheney have to say about remaining in the closet?

[Warren DeMontague]

28. This is a pretty offensive article.

Really, I'm surprised you posted it.

[Warren DeMontague]

32. She's got a blog.... and she doesn't know how to spell "Hypocrisy".

http://literally.blogspot.com/

[JackBeck]

34. As I continued to read your linked article, Xema

I want to give you the benefit of the doubt. You do realize this is the 21st century?

What's your point in posting this?

[Sapphire Blue]

35. And posts like this might do well to stay in the toilet like the crap that they are. Disgusting.

[bliss_eternal]

40. ....!

:hi::pals: ...good to see you, SapphireBlue!

[Sapphire Blue]

44. ..

:hi: :hug:

[5X]

39. I must agree with the other posters,

there is no good reason for posting this.
Agree or not, it only contributes to the hit count
of the original article and contributes nothing to DU.

[treestar]

41. I don't believe in special rights either, just equal rights

But that is hard to come by for some groups, even in America. Still, this is America, where there can be great optimism and hope for achieving equal rights.

[JackBeck]

45. Could you please define "special rights" for me?

As like you, I believe in equal rights.

But I still have not been able to figure out what "special rights" means. Could you please elaborate?

[johnaries]

46. I think the poster was pointing out that gays aren't asking for any

special rights, just equal rights.

Of course, to Fundies any rights given to non-Fundies are "special rights".

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

48. "Special rights" are "equal rights" for "gays."