- Anything Else -

Homophobia is no joke

Posted by: Samuel Day Fassbinder ( Citizens for Mustard Greens, USA ) on February 05, 19100 at 16:42:47:

In Reply to: I think it's a distinct lack of consideration for others that make you wish to make it an issue. posted by Lark on February 04, 19100 at 16:06:04:

: What I was debating was that, in my opinion, homosexuals where being anti-social through centreing everything in their life around sex and people who are interested in sociability and a society where consideration for others isnt a laughing matter should join with me to persuade homosexuals their current behaviour was unhelpful to their cause and an annoyance to everyone else.

SDF: Here's part of a news article for you, Lark. I'll synopsize it:

"O.C. School Ordered to Allow Gay-Straight Club on Campus"
by Kate Folmar and Marissa Espino
February 5, 2000 LOS ANGELES TIMES

SANTA ANA -- A federal judge on Friday ordered the Orange Unified School District to allow a Gay-Straight Alliance club to meet at El Modena High School, and he cautioned education officials not to act as "thought police" over controversial student speech.

Even as U.S. District Court Judge David O. Carter issued a preliminary injunction against the school district, about 15 demonstrators who oppose the student group chanted "Protect the Children" and waved signs outside the courthouse in Santa Ana.

The ruling was a victory for El Modena sophmomore Anthony Collin, 15, and junior Heather Zelin, 16, who have been stymied in their attempts to have meetings at the school, said one of their lawyers. The students were not in the courtroom Friday because school was in session.

(skipping)

In a hushed courtroom packed with spectators, the judge said little about his decision. But in a 23-page written ruling, he took the district to task, saying school trustees already had caused the students significant injury.

This injunction is not just about student pursuit of ideas and tolerance for diverse viewpoints," Carter wrote. Referring to gay teens' high rates of suicide, he continued, "As any concerned parent would understand, this case may involve the protection of life itself."

(skipping rest of article)

SDF: So there it is, Lark, my concern with the "distinct lack of consideration" in public attitudes toward homosexuality. Our society permits men to hug each other in (American) football games, but it forbids speech and association about such sexuality when it is accompanied by real love, and twists the process of the socialization of young adults in the process of expressing its homophobia.

The endemic homophobia of America's youth, I've been forced to conclude, is a reflection of a common adult attitude. I've seen the above homophobia, BTW, since I was criticized by my fellow students for making a bracelet for myself when I was eleven years old.

: Now we did get side tracked because I had commited the sin of holding unpopular opinions and thinking differently and was therefore a homophobic gay basher, which isnt the case.

SDF: Lark, your opinions may appear unpopular on McSpotlight, but here in the US you could run for President on them. Clinton did, after all, with "don't ask, don't tell"...

BTW, I don't think my gay friends would criticize you like I did. I suspect that's because, as a heterosexual, I've got less to lose...


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