We really are under attack, aren't we?

[last1standing]

I always thought of DU as a safe place but now I'm not so sure. I just posted a thread in GD: P that talked about why it was so important to many in the GLBT community to have a representative in the Obama administration. I pointed out the kids who try to kill themselves because they see no future in being gay and the homeless kids who are sent to live in the streets by homophobic parents. I pointed out the innocent people who are beaten to death, young and old.

I got plenty of responses, but not one even mentioned those things. Not one person seemed to care about what the end results of homophobia often are.

I don't usually post pity threads, but I can't help but wonder right now if this is really what they think of us.

And if we can't look to other Democrats and progressives for support, where do we turn?

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

1. Hang on there, Pardner.

You have tons of support here. Some of us might miss a thread of something, but the support for the GLBTI community around her is pretty reliable.

Fear not, you are loved here.

[last1standing]

7. Thank you.

I'm just getting a little discouraged to read so many who just don't give a Damn about us. Not even our kids in trouble. I couldn't believe no one person could be bothered. I'm still stunned.

[bluedawg12]

2. We turn to each other!

You are not alone.

They want us to feel isolated and to feel lonely and despair--and by that I mean any antigay bigot.

So, the GLBT forum is a good way to stay connected, informed and never isolated and alone.

We care about the results of hate and homophobia and that's why we fight and why we aupport each other.

This is our home and family for the duration of the battle and while we weclome everyone who helps us straight, gay, or bi, we do need to be safe out there.

[last1standing]

8. I'll come in more often. Thank you.

I never knew I needed to until 'we' won the election. Some of our friends have turned on us quickly.

[dkf]

3. Everyone who is insisting they are entitled to something from the

Obama administration is being shot down.

Its not an attack on any group.

[NMMNG]

4. I'm tired of pussyfooting around with these turds

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=7879602&mesg_id=7880367

Right to the point.

[last1standing]

5. I put the ass on ignore so I didn't have to read his response.

Thanks for having the stomach to read it and come straight to the point.

[NMMNG]

6. I've been here long enough to know them when I see them

Especially when they've just joined and they're already telling us everything about everything. :eyes:

[bluedawg12]

9. Yeah, they do speak volumes without even realzing how

their attitude is showing.

But I do notice a trend towards impatience when ever a younger gay person say's something about gay rights they get all Professorial on them.

[LostinVA]

35. Everyone needs to keep an eye on this one

Here less than a week. Agenda.

[KitchenWitch]

10. I hope you never feel attacked by me.

And if you do, please call me on it.

[NMMNG]

12. You? Never.

:hug:

[bluedawg12]

13. It's not you KW - it's the pillars of perfection

human beings who were never young and who could express political thoughts without "flaw" in utero, don't you know? LOL and :sarcasm:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x7879602

[last1standing]

14. This is absolutely not about you, KW.

As Bluedawg pointed out, this is about a thread where I talked about the things listed above and not one person even bothered to acknowledge them in their responses. I'm just a bit disillusioned at the moment. It'll go away. :)

But thanks for being considerate. :hug:

[The Traveler]

11. Highly likely they will

But I doubt such an appointee will be paraded forth as a "gay member of the Obama administration". Obama seems prone to hiring the smartest motherfuckers he can find, and it is my observation as a straight, long haired red neck that a surprisingly high percentage of the smartest motherfuckers in the room are gay. I doubt seriously he is the sort to disavail himself of their skills just because of their sexual orientation.

We're 20 miles into the woods. We shall not escape with a one mile hike. And I, straight red neck though I be, have to travel 20 miles of bad ass terrain. Glad yer along for the hike, bud.

I ain't jiggy with leaving you or countless others like you behind on this hike. You are my brothers and sisters. And I get every bit of this: I pointed out the kids who try to kill themselves because they see no future in being gay and the homeless kids who are sent to live in the streets by homophobic parents. I pointed out the innocent people who are beaten to death, young and old. Uh, yeah. Leadership is needed. Examples are needed. Above all, acceptance is needed.

I see, especially after the recent California fiasco, why this is important to you and others on this board. I just point out we're going to have to spend some time heading in a decent direction before we reach anything like a decent destination.

I understand some people's strategic and tactical fears, too. But at some point, we Democrats are just going to have to grow a pair and stand unrelentingly for what is right. Maybe we can't take this straight on in the first mile of the hike out of the woods ... but we won't make it to mile 10 if we don't take it on before then. Gay rights are human rights. Period. Paragraph.

Trav

[bluedawg12]

15. Well said Trav!

Thanks for taking the time to say that. It's appreciated.

[The Traveler]

18. We have a long walk in front of us

No illusions. Clouds will not part. The carefully nurtured hate and homophobia will not be easily dispelled. Still, it is a trek we cannot shirk from. And we cannot yield to despair when we encounter set backs. There will be many. When they happen, we must resolve to step forward again.

Trav

[last1standing]

16. That means a lot, Traveler. It really does.

And I agree with you. It just stunned me when no one even seemed to care. Thanks for showing that someone does.

[The Traveler]

20. Seemed to me there are a lot of people hurting right now

and it sucks. I felt ya. I support your cause. I know lots of straight people who feel the same way. I wanted you to know that.

Trav

[madmadmad]

43. THANK YOU! "gay rights ARE human rights" needs to be the call to arms!

this really ain't just about us...

[The Traveler]

53. You are so right about that.

So long as my brother or sister's rights are denied, mine are in jeopardy. That is the lesson of tyranny's long history.

As an example, look at it another way. I know Wiccans ... a recognized religion in the US. Wiccans perform handfasting ceremonies, and most care not about the gender mix of those to be united. Yet their rites are not always granted the same legal status as the rites of a Christian minister. Thus, the state infringes on the church.

Seen in this light, the topic is morphed into a question of freedom of religious expression. The state must honor all such joining rites, or none, or acknowledge it grants legal preference to one persuasion over another.

Slippery slopes before us indeed, my friend. That is why we must resolve to remain united for a very long haul. I believe one day justice and reason will prevail. I do not believe it will happen tomorrow. Still, we must strive for it. The virtue of patience must not be allowed to devolve into the vice of sloth, or cowardice.

Trav

[pinto]

17. I saw your thread. Obama's election, in and of itself, isn't the end of homophobia or violence.

Yet, Presidents have and will, provide the leadership that these will come to be outside the pale of our conduct as a nation and as individuals.

[last1standing]

21. Thanks, Pinto, but it won't change till they stand with us, unashamed.

I don't know what Obama will do concerning the GLBT community, but I know it will be better than the vision McCain offered. That doesn't bother me so much as seeing so many here completely dismiss our concerns and ridicule our needs. I've been a member here from just about the beginning and thought this was a place I could turn to for understanding. Instead I saw complete indifference. That's a hard thing to take in sometimes.

But thanks again. We will overcome, just as every group before us has had to do. I'll just remember a little better that being for us in a campaign is different than being for us in a government to so people.

[trashcanistanista]

19. I just got off work where I had to endure gloating , mocking and

snickering mormans discussing and laughing about the protests at their church today. I am so angry I could literally bomb a church right now. I will do everything in my power to see that prop 8 goes down and these people are shamed into oblivion. I will do everything I can to build off of our local democratic activists from our last campaigns and keep this thing growing. You are all loved and we will fight for you and stand beside you and bring these issues to the forefront. Homophobia is an evil that needs to be wiped out now. I am already building a little coalition at work of union members, gays and democrats who are with me. We meet in secret in the parking lot for smokes. A few have already attended protests in Sacramento. I think people are quietly doing this all over the state. You ain't seen nothin' yet!!:grouphug:

[last1standing]

22. Thanks. It's appreciated. n/t

[trashcanistanista]

30. I did not mean to express that I am a violent

person and would never vandalize or bomb anything. It was a foolish way to express my anger and I am very sorry to have used those exact words. I tried to edit when another poster brought it to my attention, but it was too late. I don't usually post here but I went here after I got home, I needed to tell someone what happened today. I tried to get some sleep but I can't. If there is a mod awake, you can delete my post if you feel it was inflamatory.

[madmadmad]

44. i was obivous frm your post it was venting, not a threat. don't worry

we all feel that way right now, but violence isn't on the agenda.

[JDPriestly]

23. I'm not gay, but I campaigned for Prop. 8,

and will continue to work for gay marriage in the future as I can. We do support gay marriage here on DU for all the reasons you mentioned. But, my personal reason for supporting gay marriage is that, during all of my adult life (and probably even before I became and adult although I was not aware of it), I have had gay and lesbian friends. I just want my friends to have the same rights I have.

[last1standing]

27. Thank you. n/t

[Maat]

34. You campaigned AGAINST Prop. 8.

Those of us, like yourself, who campaigned FOR same-sex marriage rights, and who support the GLBT community, campaigned AGAINST Prop. 8.

[JDPriestly]

65. Yes. And I will bet you that a lot of people who voted for Prop. 8

did not really intend to vote against gay marriage.

[catnhatnh]

24. Are you under attack...

Yeah, I think so. But in a strange way it might be good. Look at who is attacking and then read what is happening on this board. I may be the least articulate Duer up here and I support you. With 100K registered users 3-4 stalker type posts jump gays here each day and ALMOST EVERY ONE IS COUCHED in supposedly reasonable terms...we are now more than half the country and these threads die quickly. I cannot make you a promise or pledge, but each of you are to me real people. I am sorry for what you face. Your arguements have affected me. You are doing it right and I believe the breakthrough is just months away. Which isn't soon enough. But it is very soon.

[last1standing]

26. One just crept in.

Thanks for your words of encouragement. They honestly help.

[Name removed]

25. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[gaspee]

28. Just take a look at the threads in GLBT

In our space, we have people coming in her telling us we're stupid for being "one issue" voters.

Yeah, one issue - the issue is our very LIVES.

Unbelievable.

[tavalon]

29. Could you link to your previous post?

I've seen nothing but support for gay rights here, especially since those abominations, headed by Prop 8 were passed. I'm not saying what your saying isn't true, I'd just like to see for myself what bugged you about the responses.

I'm really pleased for my glbt brothers and sisters as the mormons just gave you a 20 year jumpstart with their asshattery. The cause for gay equality was going to make it eventually but this has galvanized the movement and there is a lot of support here and even in middle America for national marriage equality. You'll get it years ahead of when you would have, thanks to fundy idiocy. I love the sublime irony.

Anyway, I'm sorry that you aren't feeling supported and I would like to know what would make you feel more supported?

[bluedawg12]

31. The link and some replies.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

Ex's of some replies:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=7879602&mesg_id=7880481

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=7879602&mesg_id=7880364

[tavalon]

33. Ok, those sucked

He should appoint at least one well qualified gay person, I agree. It's a necessary step. And people were being stupidly flippant. I'm really sorry they said such dumb things.

Hey, did you notice that in Obama's acceptance speech, he mentioned gays? It was not the full focus of what he was saying, but heck, remember when we had a President who refused to acknowledge AIDS because it was a "Gay Disease"? We've come so far that hardly anyone noticed when he mentioned gays in his acceptance speech. We have a hell of a lot further to go granted, but I wanted to mention that, oh so small, little silver lining.

[bluedawg12]

42. exactly and that was the message a qualified gay person to speal for gay issues

but I guess some wanted to sprinkle the thread with some red herring sauce. Geez.

BTW- the gay teen stats are serious and anyone with half a brain and half a heart can understand what it means to be rejected by friends, family, at such an early and vulnerable age.

[madmadmad]

58. the people on that thread have obviously never wished to be dead rather than gay.

i did when i was a teen- i prayed to god (i was naive enough back then to believe in one) to make me straight, or if that was impossible, i hoped i would get cancer and die before anyone found out about my secret. it makes me want to cry, just thinking about it. it also makes wish that i could punch a few bigots in the face for making me, and every other teen who has struggled, feel that level of pain.

[bluedawg12]

32. gay teen suicide 4X higher than hetero teens, one in three will try

That's why the OP was important and worth supporting, but some of the good people over there saw it different...or should I say INdifferent.

>>"Did you know that according to the Center for Disease Control/Massachusetts Department of Education Youth Risk Behavior Survey (1999), 33% of gay youth will attempt suicide? In fact, gay teen suicide attempts are four times that of heterosexual youth."<<

http://gaylife.about.com/od/gayteens/a/gaysuicide.htm

[Maat]

36. To my dear, beloved GLBT Friends,

I stand with you.

In fact, this ol' mom's thighs are seriously hurting (still) from the five-mile march for equality (against Prop. H8) in San Diego this past Saturday.

I will be rally, marching, and "vigil-ing" this Thursday AND this Saturday, along with my family.

We will achieve equality, and get rid of this horrifying attack on my state constitution, soon!

Onward!

:grouphug:

You have MANY straight allies!


As for the President-Elect, I believe that he should have a strong Civil Rights group, including representatives from the Native American communities and the GLBT community. It only makes sense.

[LostinVA]

37. You are totally a good straight egg!

As are Midlo, MrsG, LeftyMOm, Flvegan, Starbucks Anarchist, Shakespeare, etal.

:pals:

[Maat]

38. Thanks for the kind words and the hug!

I needed them!

Group hug for our side!

:grouphug:

[jonnyblitz]

39. well, have another!!

:hug: :hi:

[Maat]

40. Hug!

:hug: :hi:

[LostinVA]

41. Ewwww -- I just caught the straight!!!

hehehehehhehehe

:pals:

[Maat]

57. Oh, no; I'm sorry!

Late hug:

:hug:

You'll return to the great person that you are soon - it's only temporary!

HeeHee.

;-)

[Jamastiene]

47. I'll second that and add

KitchenWitch. I love her too. :D

[Evoman]

45. It's scary....you guys get out-right hate from the right and get thrown under the bus on the left.

I have absolutely no doubts that there are DUers, and other leftists, who voted for prop 8. I have no doubts that many people who say "we care about your rights, but there are more important things..." are homophobic.

They are like racists who don't know they are racists.

Fuck them. It's time to call out the fucking homophobic pieces of shit for what they are.

[bluedawg12]

49. At some point they actually sound like right wingnuts.

it is amazing and blind denial.

[Evoman]

50. I've been called a religious bigot, but I think it's religion, plain and simple.

It makes people think and do stupid fucking things.

Add pure and utter selfishness to that, and you get the clusterfuck of homophobia you seen on DU and FR. If it's happening to me, it's a crisis. If it's happening to you, it can wait.

Idiotic.

[LostinVA]

46. Some real psychos in your thread showing up -- TOTALLY breaking DU rules

[bluedawg12]

48. Here is some info about the precedent from other Dem admin.

http://clinton3.nara.gov/WH/Accomplishments/ac399.html

The Clinton-Gore Administration
A Record of Progress for Gay and Lesbian Americans

[Jamastiene]

51. There are quite a few allies here who are straight.

The posts in the thread you are talking about were atrocious. I know of quite a few straight DUers who would have jumped all up in their faces if they had seen those posts. They still might yet when they see the replies in the thread.

Another thing that is bugging me a lot right now is the amount of posters coming here to GLBT to tell us things like fuck off and other horrible hateful things. If that is not bad enough, there are a couple of those anti-gay posters who seem to be obsessed to the point of stalking us. That's just creepy. VERY creepy.

[Midlodemocrat]

52. Damned right. And, I just added a certain

uncle to my buddy list. Let's see how that goes.

Absolute piece of shit moran.

[madmadmad]

54. i have a gay friend who thinks that we should wait on fighting for gay rights

just like a certain poster in this thread, he thinks there are far more important issues facing our nation, so any protests on gay rights should be tabled for now.

i think that's plain crazy- just because there are other huge problems, doesn't mean we should roll-over and take this shit. what's one more issue on the list on the list of problems to be solved, anyway? writing religious discrimination into state constitutions is just as important to me as healthcare, the economy and the war. i think brushing the gay rights issue (civil rights issue, i should say) aside in favor of "more important" issues is homophobia, pure and simple. and in the case of my friend, i think it's internalized homophobia, and that makes me very sad.

[bluedawg12]

55. Well said.

There will always be problems facing the world and for some people there will never be a good time for gay civil rights.

On the other hand, this may be the best time because we have a fantastic leader in Pres. E. Obama.

Also, the conservapigs are NOT letting up, they need gay bashing to rally their base.

Your friend, well, it seems like you nailed it. That's why forums like this are important, so we can get all that negative crap out of our heads and think positive.

[bluedawg12]

56. What really bothered me last night when that thread was in high gear

and still bothers me today, is that it was a good OP, with facts, data and links, asking for something positive for gay teens facing bigotry so early in life and the devastating results of feeling alone, or being shunned by their family.

That was the message.

But some, just chose to start picking on minutiae and were just being contrary and high toned without any compassion or kindness. I dunno why, but that thread really still bugs me.

[Eryemil]

59. Jesus on a fucking stick

This is the most whiny community I've ever been in. I joined during the elections to keep up to date and I am just amazed.
Just now in the Wanda Sykes thread a section of it got cut off simply because someone said 'I didn't know she was a lez'. He got his head bitten off by some gay person and is probably now banned too.

Jesus people. If I hear another scream of Homophobia or Racism I am going to explode. These words are thrown about so much that it is hard to take seriously.

[gaspee]

60. Is someone forcing you

To be here.

And I for one, as a lesbian, took great offense to that poster calling her a "lez" -- it was the way he said it.

But I guess you're fine with someone using a slur like that.

And just because you don't think it's a slur doesn't mean it isn't.

Like I said - is anyone forcing you to be here?

If you don't like it - leave.

I'm not even going to address any of your other spewing. Don't like it? I'm sure there are other places you'd like better. Why don't you try one of those places.

[Eryemil]

61. Nah

Apart from my annoyance at the overly PC attitude there are some good discussions to be had here.
Venting aside, while I definitely fall under the liberal spectrum I think my views differ enough that it makes being here interesting and rewarding.

[racaulk]

63. I cannot comment on the "lez" post, as it was deleted before I could see it.

However, the GLBT forum is a forum set up especially for the discussion of our community and our issues. As such, all GLBT persons are deserving of respect, not only on DU in general, but especially in this forum. There has been a history at DU where little "slights" like this can lead to outright vile and disgusting comments. Therefore, it is important that we try to stomp out slurs, of any magnitude, before it becomes worse and DU as a whole suffers. The "lez" post was not just one post in a vacuum, but it is indicative of a much larger, mostly underground, homophobia here that needs to be eradicated. As a newer member, you may not be aware of this.

If you're this easily annoyed about members of this forum being too "whiny" or "PC" that you would launch into a tirade like this, I ask that you consider why you would want to continue posting here. I doubt these things that you find annoying will change among our community at any point in the foreseeable future, so I imagine that you will continue to be annoyed if you spend any time in the GLBT forum.

Just some food for thought. Your opinion may vary.

Welcome to DU.

[Midlodemocrat]

64. Homophobe. Racist.

Are you still here? Did you explode? That's what I was going for. :eyes:

[racaulk]

66. Stop being so whiny!

You'll just complain about any ol' thing, won't you?

Gah! :eyes:

[Eryemil]

67. Ninnies

[sui generis]

62. dude(ette?): kick ass and take names

never EVER back down. Some people will listen if you educate but there are others, right here on DU who need their ass word-whupped.

I personally think they get off on a tongue lashing, so to speak. It's like phone sex, only with suggestions for physically impossible forms of intercourse.

There is no "they" and "us". It's all "us". If our slightly retarded brothers and sisters who don't agree with us feel they must carry on about it, it's still all about us, not them. Every time "they" have an opinion about "us", it's STILL about us.

When "they" start having opinions about their own damn lives, I'll be happy to give them unsolicited input just like they seem to enjoy doing for us.

Family & Friends of Family - you know we're not talking about you! :hi:

[CreekDog]

68. Gays of all ages need a society that does not expect them to change their orientation

and accepts them as they are. people in the White House, whether gay or straight, need to be sure that gay youth growing up right now can live in a world and a community that accepts their orientation and cares less about that than the content of their character. this would do wonders in fighting the epidemic of gay suicide.