The LGBT Community Desperately Needs to Confront Anti-Gay Propaganda

[William769]

Last edited Tue Sep 17, 2013, 07:56 PM - Edit history (1)

The recent passage of an LGBT nondiscrimination ordinance in San Antonio highlights yet again why the LGBT community urgently needs to call out the propaganda that serves to demonize our community.

Before San Antonio City Council voted for the ordinance, members of the LGBT community had to sit through demeaning testimony that cast them as "promiscuous abominations." One supposedly well-meaning gentleman even took it upon himself to school everyone in graphic detail about sodomy, thereby invoking the stereotype of gay men wallowing in bodily wastes.

I personally felt nauseated when I read the tweets about the testimony. I felt as if I'd been strapped down in some time machine and transported back to when Anita Bryant was trumpeting the false claim that gays "recruit" children to supposedly "replenish" our ranks.

It was such a long time ago that Bryant smeared the gay community, but here we are, decades later, hearing the same lies in spite of the fact that we are supposed to be a bit more enlightened. After all, isn't this the post-Will & Grace era in which the LGBT community are no longer consigned to the closets of fear, stereotypes, and self-hatred?

Theres a lesson to be learned here and it's not the LGBT commuinity that should be learning from it.

ETA: I forgot to post the link.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alvin-mcewen/the-lgbt-community-desperately-needs-to-confront-anti-gay-propaganda_b_3924449.html

[JustFiveMoreMinutes]

1. Not to sound like a smart alec...

... but wow, FINALLY in 2013 YOU came up with an idea/feeling that has NEVER surfaced for gays & lesbians in the History of the US.

(tic)

But seriously, watch some old footage of G&L protests.. men dressed in suits and ties, women all in makeup and dresses to 'undo the stereotype'.. and we're talking back in the 60s.

It's been done.. it's been tried.. if YOU have a sure-fire way of doing this, please fill us in.
Otherwise, you're stating the obvious.

Sigh, I wish it was better.

[William769]

2. It has been confronted for a long time but only in small numbers in the beginning.

Over time it has been confronted with more vigor and with the closet almost being a thing of the past and many allies to help us we have come a long way. With that said it seems the more we push the more Homophobia there is.

And Yes I have first hand experience of this and have had first hand experience of this for a very long time.


ETA: starting with your post.

[maddezmom]

3. You don't really sound like a smart alec

But it does sound like you are saying the OP is wasting his time or maybe yours by posting.

[backscatter712]

4. The GLBT haters did the same song and dance in CO when civil unions passed.

The same disgusting stereotypes, the same demonization, by the same bigoted pieces of shit.

The fundies are desperate, and their talking points will only get more vile.

[YoungDemCA]

5. The straight community desperately needs to ally with the LGBT community.

...in confronting anti-gay propaganda.

[Skittles]

13. CORRECT

[JackBeck]

14. Yet the OP wants to conveniently ignore that the article he is quoting

is actually taking the LGBT community leaders to task for their inability to counter the right-wing propaganda.

So bizarre, given the finger-wagging the OP has editorialized in bold.

[dickthegrouch]

6. Use your James Earl Jones voice to intone

Thou shalt not bear false witness

from the back of the room and then ask if they have personally witnessed any of the acts they are describing. If their only experience is third-hand gossip about what happens in pornos, point out that movies can use all kinds of tricks to make you see what isn't there.

And yes indeed a tiny minority engage in the disgusting acts they are describing, however the majority's rights should not hinge on the bad behavior of a tiny minority or otherwise they can hand in their guns right fucking now and be happy about it.

[JackBeck]

7. It's pretty disingenuous and unethical to quote Alvin's article without giving him credit or a link.

Not only that, but you are misappropriating the intent of the article, which is actually criticizing the LGBT movement leaders for not confronting this propaganda head on.

[William769]

9. I forgot the link.

Instead of being pissy about it, a friendly reminder was all that was needed. Have a good day.

[JackBeck]

10. Not being pissy at all.

But you are still misappropriating the intent of the article, for whatever reason.

[William769]

11. Thats your opinion. nt

[JackBeck]

12. It's not my opinion, it's from Alvin's HuffPo article:

"Until the LGBT community and our leaders declare war against the lies and liars and make a serious effort to confront this propaganda head-on, America will have serious problems seeing the real LGBT community. They will have problems seeing us as tax-paying citizens who are concerned about our families, our children, and our loved ones just like every other American citizen.

Instead, they see a false image of LGBT persons as hedonistic, intolerant hypocrites who are out to "force" people to "accept" our supposed "lifestyle" while we "recruit" children or "persecute" Christians. These misconceptions will continue to nip at our heels, undermining any progress we make at attaining equality.

Are we ever going to turn around and confront these false images and the parties who push them?"

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alvin-mcewen/the-lgbt-community-desperately-needs-to-confront-anti-gay-propaganda_b_3924449.html?utm_hp_ref=fb&src=sp&comm_ref=false#sb=889909b=facebook

If you are trying to settle some score here on DU by using this article out of context, you are misappropriating its original intent, which is criticizing LGBT leaders for not being proactive with countering the ring-wing attacks.

[Skittles]

15. actually, you sound VERY pissy

what's your real issue?

[JackBeck]

17. I don't have a "real issue" on an internet message board.

"Real issues", for me, are tangible and translate into "real life" accomplishments, like getting legislation passed that make the lives of LGBT folks more equal.

But as far as the OP is concerned, as I've noted above, the OP is using Alvin's HuffPo's piece out of context.

[Skittles]

18. actually, the "settling some score" comment gives it away

I'm bowing out here

[JackBeck]

20. Both you and William, when challenged about the context of the article,

have "bowed out" and not addressed my point that the OP is taking the article out of context.

I wish we could have a conversation about this, but instead, both of you have shut down the dialogue.

That's unfortunate, considering DU is supposed to be a place where liberals are supposed to talk about issues.

[Skittles]

21. I don't even know what you're talking about

THAT is why I am bowing out

[JackBeck]

22. Bowing out for a second time? LOL adorbs.

If you know how to read a thread after 80k posts, I won't give you the Cliffs Notes, but sorry I assumed you knew how to follow a conversation around here, so I'm curious how all of a sudden you seem so confused about subthreads.

ETD: why won't you address the OP's misinterpretation of the article that is quoted?

[dickthegrouch]

8. Didn't some congressman read the same shit into the record?

Wildmon, or some equivalent idiot, read the same vile things into the congressional record a few years ago. I just wish someone from the straight congressional community had commented "So do heterosexuals" after each statement. Would have taken the wind completely out of his sails. (And, yes, I fully realize the implication of what I just wrote).

[Starry Messenger]

16. Straight people need to do this too.

I'm still disgusted by people here who defended that Regenerus "study" on LGBT parenting that was debunked, but is now being used by Russia in part to justify their hate.

Although it may seem that bad ideas will sort themselves out eventually, some take on awful life of their own if not confronted with force and shown to be the bigoted nose under the tent that they are.

You know this, William, I'm just venting.

[Sand Wind]

19. We will prevail !

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[JackBeck]

23. The lesson to be learned here is that you should read the entire article before you comment.

In fact, the HuffPo article is taking the LGBT community to task from one of its own members.