gay bigotry crosses ALL spectrums -- political

[xchrom]

ethinic, religious, racial, -- all of it.

liberals will deny gays -- african americans will deny gays.

when our poitical leaders make statements that allow for an excuse to deny gay people their rights -- then they
will tak eadvantage of that.

we all want to 'pass' responsibilty for it -- as though in denial of the reality.

[David Dunham]

1. Sadly in this case, in a democracy, the majority rules. Work to change their minds.

[IndianaJones]

2. no it doesn't. if majority ruled, no civil war...no civil rights movement. nt.

[xchrom]

3. a perfect example of ignorance at work. may i suggest a

junior college course in American Hisory?

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

6. We don't live in a democracy, fyi

And, if we left black civil rights up to a popular vote, they would have gotten equal rights much later than they did.

Civil rights should not be voted upon. They're non-negotiable.

[Captain Hilts]

4. Hey, look how comfortable people here are at being sexist. nt

[Barb in Atl]

5. You're absolutely right...

There's no one group that's more close-minded than any other.

Hopefully, when the votes are all counted, this will have just been a near miss and Prop 8 will be defeated. Completely, with no coming back in California. Then the fight will have to be taken to Florida and Arizona (I think those are the other states that passed something like it).

There's always more work to do.

And when all this garbage is finally put down, you can ignore the folks that don't understand that civil rights = human rights. Period. No gay, straight, black, white, etc.

Honest, the time is coming (hopefully sooner than we think).

[sknabt]

7. Unfortunately it takes time to reverse entrenched cultural biases

The tyranny of the majority isn't fun to behold.

Witness the long journey to end slavery. And maybe even the old "tyranny of the majority" saying isn't correct because look how long it took to give women the right to vote.

Cultural norms get entrenched. Bigotry against gays has deep roots not only in America but internationally. Hitler didn't just round up the Jews, he rounded up gays as well. Obviously, a lot of it is based on religious teachings but it's much broader than that because even states like the Communist Soviet Union which suppressed religion was intolerant of gays.

It's going to be a long road to change America's attitudes towards gays but the good news is I'm confident the barriers will fall.

[xchrom]

8. well i'm sure you'll be happy to hear then that majority rule wasn't used

to change any of your examples.

time to dust your history book off.

[ColbertWatcher]

9. In America, gays are Constitutionally invisible.

When you look at the laws which provide protections, "sexual orientation" is often missing.

I guess out of sight really is out of mind.

[xchrom]

10. we only need protection from certain crimes --

when it comes to marriage -- every one else -- race, religion, whatever need simply move to one side and let the rest of us \citizens take our place.

[ColbertWatcher]

11. Being excluded from rights that everyone else enjoys is a crime. n/t

[xchrom]

12. you are right -- however -- not my point. nt

[beam me up scottie]

13. The one thing I cannot forgive and forget

Barack Obama allowing Donnie McClurkin to campaign for him in the south.

[Behind the Aegis]

15. OOOOO...there you are!

Well, here is where you and I part ways. I can forgive President Obama for McClurkin (I don't know if he (Obama) allowed it or not), but I will not forget!

If you wanna take it up with me, you get your ass to New Orleans ((I have a nice little B&B for you and your friend (wink, wink) to stay) and we can duke it out on a carriage ride through the French Quarter (between my bartending shifts...gotta make some scratch))!

:hug:

[beam me up scottie]

17. I'm trying, honey, I'm trying.

For you, I'll try harder. I have more respect for the man than I did when we started this journey, but I just keep wondering what kind of difference it would have made had Obama taken a stand and publicly denounced McClurkin's hatred. For better or worse, I live down here now, and I know what kind of influence black ministers have with their congregation.

I'm not naive enough to believe Prop 8 would have passed had Obama done so, but how many minds may have been changed, or at least opened, so they could see this injustice for what it is?


And don't tempt me, you bad person, you know I would love to join you, New Orleans is one of the gems of the south, and it sparkles even more since you made it your home. :hug:

I have fallen in love with the beautiful blue city of Chattanooga and am currently trying to convince bb to move there.

[Behind the Aegis]

14. BIGOTRY crosses ALL spectrums -- political

"ethinic, religious, racial, -- all of it.

Think about it.

[6000eliot]

16. The gay community needs to confront its racism,

and the African-American community needs to confront its homophobia. Maybe this is the first step.