I didn't know it was International Coming Out Day. ;)
I can see where you're coming from. But it's just a holiday designated. No one has to come out, especially if they're not ready to. I officially, formally came out last NCOD, but that was because I thought it was a good date.
Just as I wouldn't judge anyone for not coming out on this day, nor should you for people who do. It's just a random day they assigned...much like, say, Christmas.
I assume they move the exact date around to avoid conflicting with Columbus Day and the Jewish holidays that themselves move around on the Gregorian calendar this time of year.
Dude, you have such a good head on your shoulders! I really respect your opinion on that, and you're right, people should come out when they're ready. All other reasons should be secondary. I've told friends as I've felt comfortable doing so.
The best coming out advice I've ever hear was to not use coming out as weapon if you're angry or in an argument.
It's not like a forced date. It's just an excuse for people who might not otherwise have one. I think the most impact comes from people who are already out who might wear a gay-themed article of clothing just so that people who assume we're straight know better, thus raising awareness of how many gay and lesbian people are around them.
I like that idea of "raising awareness" by wearing a gay-themed article of clothing. Maybe I'm wrong but I don't like seeing them gay parades when different places have gay pride day. People who don't know gay people see these and they think all gay people are like that. Before I started thinking I liked guys I even used to make fun of the people I saw in them parades.
I went to one of those parades in June, and had a good time. There were very few idiots in scantily clad clothing (or lackthereof). It was a comfortable, family atmosphere. You should know better than to stereotype people.
Go to your local pride parade before you judge them, on the basis of what you see in news clips, from San Franciso or New York City. It isn't about acting slutty.
People who see them may think bad things. That's a stereotype. Which is exactly why I think it's important to be out of the closet, because it puts a personal, human face on something a lot of people can't understand until they know someone personally. It shatters stereotypes.
One of the few things about America that I don't like is the fact that they obsess over their identities too much. One of the main things about gay cultrue that I don't like is that they want to be treated like everyone else yet they obsess over their sexuality. Sexuality just is, like breathing, but do we have a national Admit You Breath Day?
I think that's a function of how society has treated homosexuality. When something that's a natural part of your humanity gets marginalized, criminalized, ridiculed, condemned and/or hidden, coming to terms with it is going to be a complicated process. And because people coming out is the most effective way to persuade other people that homosexuals are people too, each coming out gets us closer to the day when it will be considered no big deal at all. But I don't think we can officially declare it's no big deal until it actually is no big deal (which might happen within my lifetime or might not).
And I think Americans obsess about their identities a lot less than most people do. When you go to places with real ethnic tensions or serious ethnic conflicts, you realize how little Americans obsess over their identities.
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I can see where you're coming from. But it's just a holiday designated. No one has to come out, especially if they're not ready to. I officially, formally came out last NCOD, but that was because I thought it was a good date.
Just as I wouldn't judge anyone for not coming out on this day, nor should you for people who do. It's just a random day they assigned...much like, say, Christmas.
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The best coming out advice I've ever hear was to not use coming out as weapon if you're angry or in an argument.
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How's Gmail working out? :)
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Gmail is awesome! Thanks again for sending it.
-Jordan
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Go to your local pride parade before you judge them, on the basis of what you see in news clips, from San Franciso or New York City. It isn't about acting slutty.
People who see them may think bad things. That's a stereotype. Which is exactly why I think it's important to be out of the closet, because it puts a personal, human face on something a lot of people can't understand until they know someone personally. It shatters stereotypes.
Reply
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And I think Americans obsess about their identities a lot less than most people do. When you go to places with real ethnic tensions or serious ethnic conflicts, you realize how little Americans obsess over their identities.
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