The Language of LGBT? Be Neutral, Move Forward

[TexasTowelie]

By Caroline Bassett

I am pro-choice, but I can fully appreciate why another would be pro-life and unable to agree with me in the slightest. I reject religion but do not condemn the faithful. I support marriage equality, but I also believe that many of those who don't are not hateful, but rather unable to understand and unwilling to try, because for them, it is simply not a priority. That's fine. I accept and respect that. What I will not accept, however, is the unwillingness of those who are not homophobic to embrace a gender-neutral vernacular regarding relationships and sexual attraction.

I feel an obligation to at least attempt to empathize with people whose belief systems are drastically different from mine, so perhaps you will take a moment to do the same with me.

Despite the fact that no disrespect is intended, assuming that people are heterosexual perpetuates self-doubt within those who have yet to accept themselves (as a kid, constant questions about boys led me to believe that my interest in girls was some sort of malfunction). Equally as destructively, it perpetuates the idea that homosexuality is fringy. Additionally, many continue to believe that it would be an insult to assume someone is gay (or at least not straight) before they declare it. The belief that masculinity and homosexuality are mutually exclusive for a man (and the opposite for a woman) should have died before the turn of the millennium.

In response to the assumption that I'm straight, I used to elect to quickly change the subject to avoid the possibility of floating into painfully awkward waters. One day, I realized I was doing myself and everyone else a disservice by considering it an inconvenience to be authentic. I bear no fault if someone is uncomfortable with my life and my love, and it would certainly behoove us both to discover that sooner rather than later.

More at http://www.austinpost.org/lives/be-neutral-move-forward .

[theHandpuppet]

1. Any editorial that begins with...

"I am pro-choice, but I can fully appreciate why another would be pro-life and unable to agree with me in the slightest... I support marriage equality, but I also believe that many of those who don't are not hateful, but rather unable to understand and unwilling to try, because for them, it is simply not a priority. That's fine. I accept and respect that" ... isn't someone I can take seriously when those statements are followed by, "What I will not accept, however, is the unwillingness of those who are not homophobic to embrace a gender-neutral vernacular regarding relationships and sexual attraction."

Huh? Screw that.

Oh, and Ms. Bassett... the term is anti-choice, not "pro life". If you want to debate the politics of language, start with that.