GBLT Rights

[justinej]

"Why is it that, as a culture, we are more comfortable seeing two men holding guns than holding hands?" - Ernest Gaines

Comments

[addled_nutcase]

Sorry about that I mispelled mimic. I would rather see folk kissing and loving on one another that rude, disrespecful and acting like others are slime mold, and this goes beyond gender to include race and age as well.

[lefaym]

While I totally agree with the spirit of this message, I think that the terminology used could be improved-- april_lirit has a post about why. Basically, the term "gay rights" implies that gay people are being given "special" rights by straight people, when really all they are after is equal rights-- not as a gift, but as something that all people deserve regardless of sexual orientation. So I'm more comfortable saying that I support equal rights for GBLT people.

[addled_nutcase]

Well it seems that way if you do not understand the underlying reasoning for the statement. Unless you are small fish, then you do not understand that folk look at you strangely when you ask to be treated as a human. Individuals believe that we are all treated as humans unless they are a minority, a small fish. Small fish then often face the issue of having to break social programming of the culture that one has been raised in as well as the mind set that has been set up by churches. I think individuals are between a rock and a hard place when looking for wording to describe what they want because civil rights is something that one thinks belongs to individuals of color when civil rights is the same concept of being treated humanly

[lefaym]

Was that supposed to be a response to my comment? :) I'll assume that it was, since I don't see how it fits in otherwise.

Firstly, while I am a heterosexual woman myself, and therefore have the privilege associated with that, april_lirit is a lesbian woman, and part of this is that I always try to take my cue from GBLT folk when framing civil rights issues pertaining to GBLT issues. Of course, I'm aware that GBLT people are not a monolith, but ever since I read that post of April's I've noticed that other GBLT people I know tend to frame things more like she does

[lefaym]

Btw, I just wanted to make it clear that I'm saying this as an explanation as to why I'm not reposting this at my LJ, not as a criticism of you, Justine. :) As with all issues of terminology, there is ultimately no definitive "right" answer; I just wanted you to know that even though I'm not reposting this, my motives are not in any way homophobic.

[blackbird_song]

This is not directed at you or at anyone who chooses to repost this meme. Any criticism contained herein is directed at the creators of it, not towards those who feel compelled to post it as an act of their best conscience

[justinej]

Hiya, Catherine, I agree with you entirely. Can you let me know how to reword this perhaps so if anyone does take it forward that it goes in the right way. I can retitle it equal rights for GBLT to start off with?

[blackbird_song]

Since I'm currently brain-dead, I'm going to do this by cutting and pasting:

"Why is it that, as a culture, we are more comfortable seeing two men holding guns than holding hands?" - Ernest Gaines

I think that this quote is brilliant, and can stay.

We would like to know who really believes in gay rights on livejournal. There is no bribe of a miracle or anything like that. If you truly believe in gay rights, then repost this and title the post as "Gay Rights".

This feels Big Brotherish, angry and coercive to me. I'd change it to something like, "Sometimes, it helps to know how many people stand with you in an uphill battle. If you believe in equal rights for those who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, intersexed or questioning, please consider reposting this in your journal."

If you don't believe in gay rights, then just ignore this. Thanks.

Delete this. It's incredibly coercive, and the main thing that raised my hackles to rarely-seen levels.

Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter,

[lefaym]

You know, this is only a half-formed embryonic idea in my head, but I've often thought that we should have some sort of Torchwood community dedicated to getting activist about GBLT equal rights issues, where everyone on the community can post about inequalities faced by GBLT people in their areas, and encourages others to write letters/emails to their local politicians, or raise awareness in other ways.

[justinej]

I've edited the post. Does that sound OK? Apologies for offending people.