DISQUS

Gay Men Grown Some Balls · 9 months ago

The title could possibly have been better served by being "Gay Couple Do Something Besides Drug Each Other In Bars, Shop, Have Sex With Random People, and Ignore the Rising Death Toll of Human Dignity on Earth."

I am a gay person, out, and completely disillusioned with what so called gay culture calls "activism." We are the most powerless group of people to ever number in the millions and that is our own fault. When we stop acting like characters in pre-teen girl targeted advertising and start acting like human beings maybe we wont be looked down on by everyone with something better to do with their time than hear about how gay we are.

The use of the phrase "that is so gay" to refer to something stupid is often a matter of controversy, but I think in a broad cultural sense it is apt to the point of being painful to look at. Gay culture is really really gay. Sure, straight people do stupid things too, but pound for pound straight people clobber us in diversity, activism, and compassion for people who aren't exactly like them.

It's sad and it makes me angry.

Randy · 9 months ago

At first I thought your comment was spam because of the name you chose to post under. I was surprised to hear that you identify as gay and are so at odds with "gay culture." I was only surprised in the sense that you posted publicly. Given your beliefs it doesn't surprise me you would want to post anonymously but still ... it takes some moxy to post what you did.

I think there are a lot of people who think like you do. I hear from them privately or see them as I travel around some of the conservative gay blogs.

But now I want to get out of my silly musings and ask, if you would be so kind, what do you think would help "gay culture" to be more diverse, active socially and compassionate toward people they disagree with?

Brady · 1 year ago

It is absolutely never appropriate to have a representation of someone hanging in a noose. Never. I can't believe these guys are trying to defend themselves.

Randy · 1 year ago

Maybe they are trying to work the "rebel" artist angle to gain notoriety?

Ana · 1 year ago

Here are my thoughts..and I will try to be as fair as possible ;)

I think the type of "mockery" these guys are displaying for their Halloween decorations is rather crude and I defenitely don't think is art. I agree with Brady and you on that for sure.

However, since this issue has been brought up, let's compare what happened months ago (actually the first effigy in these elections that we know of) around September and October...at George Fox Univeristy, a Conservative Christian University in Oregon where the effygy of Obama was hang on a tree by 5 or 6 students who were part of a group...not during Halloween or any sort of festivities...and that had a message that said "Act Six Reject".

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-effi...

I was wanting to talk about this a while ago...but nobody mention that here (unless I missed it) and I don't understand why. I thought maybe because the act was so wrong..that maybe people didnt wanted to talk about it here, but then this post opens this subject now...

I'm not sure Fox news even reported it...but it was showed briefly in CNN and other media...briefly only, because of how sad this was. Situations like this are nothing to be proud of or happy about for any of us...

Answering your question though...I think both acts could carry "hate speeches" but I think the latter was worst, for me to know of, because of the context in which it was executed...because it was done in a Christian school and by Christians...which whom I expect more from...much more from....

The day I heard those news Randy I almost cried...because I feel like we many times...we missrepresent the name of God...and this shouldn't be.

None of the acts was good, but I guess what I'm trying to say is...when we put all the facts in perspective something that would be "hate speech" vs "hate speech and hate crime" is based upon what message that act could carry and what acts could most likley unfold of it.

Sadly, we have had a long history of oppression in different groups of people...so when we carry messages of division or hate, the heavyness they have can also be measured by that history we've already faced.

There are messages that, as wrong as they are, could be applied to one person only, while others, on top of being wrong, could be applied to a whole group of people...none are good, but some are worst than others...and that to me...is when you ponder what crosses the line and what doesn't.

I don't agree with either, but I think in fairness to your questions, we need to do a careful evalution at what happened in West Holllywood and what happened at George Fox Univerisity.

Randy · 1 year ago

Hi Ana. I agree with you that the other is just as horrible. I didn't hear about that other incident until yesterday while writing about the above. Thanks for bringing it up and posting about it here. Hatred is horrible from any angle.

B.T.Carolus · 1 year ago

Out of curiosity, why did you title this post "gay couple commit hate speech" when their sexuality has absolutely nothing to do w/ either the article, their decision to do this, or really your comments on it, except in a very vague way?

Randy · 1 year ago

To highlight the reality that hate speech isn't relegated to conservative heterosexuals as is so often portrayed.

They are a gay couple accused of committing hate speech.

Janey · 1 year ago

Just a question..... since it's halloween and all.... has anyone thought of finding two dolls and make them look like a gay couple and hang them by a noose.... I wonder what kind of controvery would stir up with that? And how the members of GLBT Community would respond? Perhaps there would be another double standard... and like wise if it was Obama I think people within the African-American community would cry out with such a loud voice and actually move towards being successful at having it taken down. I think the prank is just too much and it crosses boundaries... in much the same way, I don't think people should hang a couple of dolls make to look like a gay couple from a noose either. It's just rediculious. Seriously.

Randy · 1 year ago

Yeah,,, I am glad that no one has thought to do that with the dolls. I agree, that kind of action is ridiculous.

Janey · 1 year ago

I had signed in with a user name of Rainbowjaneygirl but I meant to sign in just as Janey. Ooops!

Anyways, I do like what I see on your blog although it's a bit hard to follow. I had another crazy idea....but I figure it would be a waste of cyber space to continue to entertain these crazy ideas that in truth I still wouldn't want to do simply because I wouldn't want to act out with the same immaturity as what we've seen with the noose around Palin's neck hanging underneath McCain sitting in flames.

Randy · 1 year ago

Regardless of what you decide to say or not, thank you for leaving a comment.