Imagine if EVERY gay person were to come out tomorrow

[Bundbuster]

When the reichwing/fundie homophobia gets especially vitriolic, I always fantasize on this scenario: EVERY gay person in America comes out all at once - all atheletes, politicians, ministers, actors, coaches, cops, firemen, musicians, teachers, broadcasters, CEO's, sons, daughters, mothers, fathers.

Do you think, as I do, that this would end all homophobia except the extreme Fred Phelps variety, since homophobic Americans would suddenly be challenged to maintain their condemnation or hatred of (one day earlier) legions of loved ones and adored public figures?

Close your eyes...imagine...tell us what you envision. I think it would be the most revolutionary, confusing, and interesting day in American history.

[Slice]

1. What about people who don't know

What about people who don't know what their sexual orientation is? I think there is a large percentage of the population, even with sexual experience, who honestly can't tell what they are.

[Rabrrrrrr]

26. I would think, and I'm just tossing out an idea here,

that if they don't know, then, perhaps, they wouldn't come out.

[southerngirlwriter]

2. If I were omnipotent for two hours,

I'd pick 1:30PM on a Tuesday. (More people go to work and school on Tuesday than any other day.)

And I'd make every gay person, every bisexual person, and every transgender person turn purple for two hours.

Homophobia would end. All that would be left is the equivalent of the KKK -- the people who are so crazy that nothing will convince them of their ignorance. All the "moderate" homophobia would be gone. Instantly.

[DuctapeFatwa]

6. What a GREAT idea - especially for fundie fans of this particular verse:

Who can find a virtuous woman?...her clothing is silk and purple...

Bible: Proverbs: 31

[southerngirlwriter]

8. heh, I never even thought of that..

awesome! :D

[BlackVelvetElvis]

3. It would be amazing

Mass soul searching going on everywhere. Something you never see in America.
When I came out, several of my aunts, cousins and uncles (all southern baptists) basically said the same thing: "You're my family, how could I not love you?"
That's how I see it.

[Bundbuster]

4. Picture the hypocrisy factor

Just the neocon politicians, broadcasters, and religious shouters who would have to come out would be beyond hilarious.

[MrSlayer]

5. No, I don't think it would, particularly in pro athletics.

Any pro athlete that comes out as gay will be crippled in the next practice. Did anyone watch the Real Sports episode with the ex-NFL player who came out? Sterling Sharpe's comments alone ensure you won't be seeing this for a long time in the sporting world.

[BlackVelvetElvis]

7. What did Sterling say?

and who was the ex NFL player?

[Bundbuster]

10. I respectfully disagree

The main reason that Pro sports figures receive such abusive treatment now is that they are one in 5000 to declare their homosexuality. I can almost guarantee you that if there were suddenly 5 players on EVERY NFL team, 2 on EVERY NBA team, 4 on EVERY MLB team openly gay, such discrimination would cease. The players who remained haters would then become the outcasts and oddballs.

[RoeBear]

18. What I'm not following is...

..why will the hate go away? Because it will be seen what a large percentage of people are gay? And what percentage are you thinking would be revealed on that day 10%?

About 10% of Americans are black, our skin color is not hidden. And yet the hate is still there. I just don't get it.

[Bundbuster]

19. It's about the sudden, forced choice by the homophobes

to either realize that so many prominent people worthy of their love & respect until that "coming out day" still deserve their love and respect, or to choose to instantly demonize them, an ultimate hypocrisy. Imagine if you will a fundie who has idolized hundreds of rightwing politicians and broadcasters/columnists (not to mention his or her own son or daughter) who suddenly announce their homosexuality. Does the fundie suddenly discount, discard, and denounce all these people and their views and values? I think the scenario would be much like an electric overload/shortcircuit.

As you say, racial hatred in America is even more deep-seated and insidious. I've often said that this country will be free of racial prejudice only when, after ?? centuries, everyone looks the same. Sadly, even then some would create new paths of prejudice based on God knows what.

[RoeBear]

20. I've seen white people...

...who got along great with other white people then find out that the person they liked is Jewish. And instantly there is a 180 degree in the person's opinion of the other one. Seems like a similar deal. Hypocrisy? yes

[Bundbuster]

24. You're right, RoeBear

Some folks have an unlimited capacity for prejudice and hypocrisy. I guess what I'm envisioning is the sheer volume and "close to home" shock value of every gay American suddenly coming out at once. Yes, some haters would manage to turn on all of these "new" millions of gays, even though it would mean demonizing close family members and political or sports (former) heroes. I suspect, however, that the vast majority would be shocked at the forced acknowledgement and realization that so many people whom they'd previously valued have always been gay.

[skippythwndrdog]

9. Can you imagine the run on sunscreen

what with all the slug white freepers that will want to go out to watch?

(Sorry, I couldn't resist the obvious play on the metaphor.)

[Bundbuster]

11. ROTFL

"Hey Ethel - come out from under your rock! You gotta see this!"

[Gildor Inglorion]

12. What if we all "outed" all the closeted gay Republicans

we know? All the closeted gay clergy? Cops? Military? Politicians? I know plenty. Now THAT would be interesting...
;-)

[baldguy]

13. "The son will come out ... tomorrow ..."

Sorry, I couldn't help it.

[mstrsplinter326]

14. Instead of dreaming, make something happen

Stop homophobia around you. Don't laugh when someone makes an ignorant comment. Don't remain silent. It may not be easy to stand up to the perceived majority, but it's easy to make someone feel bad for something that is obviously wrong. Turn the tide of idiocy, don't leave it in the hands of a few brave people in two states, on opposite sides of the country.

[Bundbuster]

17. Welcome and thanks, 326

In the real world, that's exactly how homophobia and other prejudices will be marginalized. Nice to dream about it happening in one day, but "victory" will come over the years as individuals stand up against smears, inequities, and intolerance. It's not enough to just clean one's own house - we must challenge prejudiced actions and statements whenever we see and hear them. I've shocked and awakened more than a few people by immediately calling out their "idiocy," rather than letting it slide.

[Insider]

15. military alone... active, guard, reserve, veterans

great eye-opener, for sure

[arwalden]

29. Leonard Matlovich

[NightTrain]

16. Imagine if EVERY sponge were to suddenly disappear from the ocean!

:evilgrin:

[Rabrrrrrr]

27. "Don't forget, I was witness once to a mass sponge migration"

:-)

[Bertha Venation]

21. I imagine a lot of dropped jaws -- especially on Capitol Hill.

:evilgrin:

[GoddessOfGuinness]

22. There would be so few fundies left

that the right wing would dismiss their complaints as the whining of an insignificant minority.

[Nevernose]

23. I don't CARE!!!

I get a little frustrated, sometimes. It's all the right-wing talks about, and it's a lot of what the left-wing talks about.

AND I DON'T GIVE A SHIT!!!

Who you're sticking it to in the privacy of your own bedroom is your own goddamned business -- I don't care! Do you want to marry that person? Sure, fine, whatever -- why should I care what's under your partner's drawers? Is Jerry Falwell or Wayne Newton queer? The answer, in short, is that I DON'T GIVE A SHIT! To me, it's like we're having this neverending national discussion on what your favorite color should be.

AND I DON'T GIVE A SHIT!

[Bundbuster]

25. Would you care (give a shit) if

your brother was beaten to death and hung on a fence in Wyoming, because of his sexual identity?

Would you give a shit if your father was dragged behind a truck to his death in Texas, because of the color of his skin?

Should the sources of, damages from, and possible solutions to human prejudice not be examined and discussed?

[GoddessOfGuinness]

30. My grandmother was married to a gay man...

I'm not clear on all the details. He worked for the government in the early 1920's; and married to hide his sexual orientation. My grandmother was ashamed and thought there was something wrong with her. It was so tragic for both of them.

That's why I'm so opposed to the fundy types. I'm certain that many are so vocal because they're so ashamed of themselves...and they won't rest until everybody else is ashamed too.

"Should the sources of, damages from, and possible solutions to human prejudice not be examined and discussed?"

You've got that right...

[Nevernose]

32. I actually DO have a close relative who is gay

(actually, she has "returned to Christ" and is no longer a homosexual, but that's a whole other thread -- I liked her better when she was a "dyke").

I just don't see why who someone's fucking makes a bit of goddamned difference to anyone else. I honestly don't think it's such a big deal to most liberals, or even many conservatives -- I care about someone being hung up on barbed wire, just not about the genitalia of your sexual partner.

If everyone who is gay "came out" tomorrow, it wouldn't make a bit of difference to me. Does that answer the original question in a less offensive way?

I apologize, Bundbuster, for any offensive I may have caused you or anyone else.

[Bundbuster]

37. I understand your clarification, Argumentus

and no offense taken. I also couldn't care less who's doing what with whom, though I'm sure I would enjoy seeing the National reaction to the scenario presented here. Rabrrrrrr's reply # 28 sums up my outlook on matters of social conscience and consequence. Unfortunately our attitudes of sexuality or racial acceptance, while a good start, will not eliminate or change destructive actions by the militant haters. I too sometimes wish that discussions and arguments of xenophobia could go away, but so long as the inequities and hate crimes continue, their causes and results must be openly examined and dissected, hopefully enabling positive change. "Eternal vigilance" is a bitch.

[Rabrrrrrr]

28. I applaud your attitude of not caring - and I share it -

I wish to hell everyone else in teh world would realize that, "Hey, who gives a shit? It's doesn't matter."

But, the problem is, that for a lot of people it DOES matter, and so they hate the gay people, and wage war against them.

So, until that war is stopped, then we HAVE to care.

And that's why discussing it, sometimes ad nauseum, is ESSENTIAL.

Just like color - I don't care what color someone is, but our society still does care, and so it's important that we continue to talk about race and color issues, until we ALL get to the point of saying, "Who gives a shit?"

But until the battle is won, to loudly proclaim "Who gives a shit?" is the moral equivalent of standing by while Rwanda commits genocide ("Hey - I like Rwandans and the Tutus, so who gives a shit?") or doesn't stop a rape ("Hey - I like men and women both equally, who gives a shit?"), etc. etc. etc.

[Bundbuster]

31. Here here, Rabrrrrrr!

Great thoughts, my man.

Were you also a 138-142 "Visionary Philosopher?"

A little "Harold In Italy" for you.

[Rabrrrrrr]

35. I was a Visionary Philospher!

And I like Harold In Italy!

Though perhaps some "Helicopter Quartet" instead? Or "Ancient Voices of Children" . . .

:-) :toast:

[CanuckAmok]

33. Well...if EVERYONE came out, wouldn't that include Phelps?

I mean, you know what they say about 'protesting too loudly'...

That's kind of a scary thought, isn't it...let's nevber speak of it again.

[BrotherBuzz]

34. If every gay, bisexual, and transgendered person...

jumped at the same time there would be an earthquake! Think of all that potential power if they could unite. I mean, they could literally move the earth.

[MurikanDemocrat]

36. There would be a lot of embarrassed gay Republicans

:evilgrin:

And the masses would be SHOCKED! SHOCKED! I tell you!

The hysteria from the Fred Phelps and the Jerry Falwells make me nauseous to think about it.

I'm not sure it would end homophobia. I think it might convince the worst of the fundies and the nut cakes that the country is going to hell in a hand basket.

And OFMG, all because of Clinton's penis. :wow:

[Az]

38. A friend once asked what those rainbow stickers on cars meant

When I explained to her that they were signs that the owner was gay/lesbian she was shocked. She then sat there in wonder and said "But I see them everywhere". I chuckled.