Reply #142: Actually, both need to be utilized in activism. [View All]

[JackBeck]

Maybe we're talking past each other here, but I'd prefer not getting into a conversation over parsing terminology.

The reason why I mentioned SoulForce was to show an example of an organization that does outreach (which does sometimes result in confrontations, and sometimes conversations) to those that some feel should be ignored, in order to help build a bridge between Right Wing Fundie organizations and the LGBT community.

Ever since the Rick Warren flamewars, there's been an unsettling notion that anyone who has a conversation with the theosexuals deserves to been castigated, since it legitimizes them somehow.

Well, SoulForce has been reaching out to the Right for over a decade now, therefore, shouldn't they also receive the same amount of scorn and vitriol?

Not only in the LGBT activism I've done for over 15 years, but also in my professional efforts delivering HIV/AIDS education throughout the country, I've had to open up lines of communication with the Far Right Fundy Wackos. Do you think I enjoy it? Hell no. But it's something that needs to happen in order to change misperceptions and hopefully educate the bigots. Ignoring them, instead of delivering education, would be the worst thing I could do.