Gays must empower themselves

[gayrebel83]

COLUMN - Gays must empower themselves
April 13, 2004

I thank God every day that I'm a brazen homosexual.

Upon hearing that Wayne Besen, author of "Anything but Straight: Unmasking the Scandals and Lies Behind the Ex-Gay Myth," was coming to speak, I thought more and more about my long-time observation that, by trying to prove gay people cannot become straight, gay activists actually reinforce straight supremacy.

Pro-gays try to justify homosexuality (as if justification is even needed) by arguing, "once a homosexual, always a homosexual." For example, the "Reparative Therapy" page at Pflag.org reads, "'Reparative therapy' doesn't work. In 1990, the American Psychological Association stated that scientific evidence does not show that conversion therapy works and that it can do more harm than good." Though a valid point, it's almost like they're saying "it's okay for gays to be gay because they can't turn straight" -- a rhetoric pro-gay in intention, but anti-gay in effect.

http://www.thedmonline.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2004/04/13/407be5fde6b5d

Or, for the unsanitized version:
http://gayrebel83.blogspot.com/2004_04_01_gayrebel83_archive.html#108197825250544621

[freetobegay]

1. Weclome to DU gayrebel83

I must be a sadomasochist. Why would anyone endure what they do for being Gay, if they could change?

[gayrebel83]

2. Thanks

However, I must respond to the following:
"Why would anyone endure what they do for being Gay, if they could change?"

I would say, as a matter of dignity. A major point of the column was valuing one's sexuality enough that one would not seek change, even if change were possible, no matter how much they must endure. One's "gayness," if you will, is priceless.

[freetobegay]

3. I totally agree!

Sorry that my sarcasm was missed.

[gayrebel83]

6. My bad...

...I often miss sarcasm. C'est la vie...

[gayrebel83]

4. Thanks again...

...for the link to "Gay Liberals." I have been wanting a gay message board, for some time now. :)

[freetobegay]

5. Your welcome.

:)

[gayrebel83]

14. bump

[Cronus Protagonist]

7. I think everyone should read The Gay Agenda

I have a complete and unabridged copy of it here

http://cronus.com/agenda

..in case you're interested.

[freetobegay]

9. Read it already

Best Read I had all year! :)

[brainoverload]

8. Sorry - but I disagree

As a gay man I assure you that I made no choice.

OK, I admit that there is a range of sexuality, and that no one should be discriminated against because of their adult consentual non-injurious producing activities.

That isn't the point - discrimination against gays is in part JUSTIFIED by the assertion that gay people would be straight if they only chose to be so or - at the least - shut up and just admitted that they are sick.

Speaking up against "Christian" repertory practices is in no way an admission that gays deseve less than equal rights.

[gayrebel83]

10. I am addressing the philosophical implications

of choice and mutability. For sure, we should speak up against the damages inflicted by reparatory therapy and ex-gay ministries. However, we should not rely upon the debunking of those for validation of our sexuality.

I mean, what if it were one day discovered that one COULD turn straight? What then? We'd be screwed. You see, that is very shaky philosophical ground. What is needed is something more secure. A more secure perspective such as this: "Gayness" is a valid expression of human sexuality it its own right. And this validity must be intrinsic, rather than derived from lack of choice or immutability.

[newyawker99]

11. Hi gayrebel83!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[gayrebel83]

13. Thanks

:hi:

[The Zanti Regent]

12. Are Gays and Lesbians aware of this?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&node=&contentId=A49392-2004Feb17¬Found=true

Seems Bush wants to purge all Gays and Lesbians out of government service!

Meanwhile Andy Sullivan still kisses the Chimp Ass...