« Go back a post || Return to G-A-Y homepage || Haul tail to next post »

11/12/2008

No, we will never tolerate unfairness. And it's our right to say so.

by Jeremy Hooper

If we hear one more "yes on 8" person calling the LGBT community "intolerant" for standing up against the recently passed biased, we are going to pull our hair out. It, along with accusations of "gay hate," have become the rally cries of Team Anti-Marriage Equality™. However, it is nothing more than an attempt to flip the tables on the true victims here so that they who voted in favor of inequality can feel better about their choice. We see right through it.

When the playground bully steals your lunch money, it is not "intolerant" to protest your new, midday meal-deprived status. In fact, one might argue that we're all compelled to stand firm against the anti-"live and let live" attitude that has kept this so-called "culture war" alive and unwell for far too long! One must fight for their right to be treated with respect. And if the proper recourse is to go to a reasoned body whose job it is to have an enhanced understanding of the rules (be it the teachers or the Supreme Court), then we will gladly seek justice from said crew.

On the same token, it is also not a denial of anyone's first amendment freedoms to question others' Prop 8 support. Are we, the "no on 8" supporters, members of the government out to stifle speech or expression? NO! We are deeply hurt citizens who are using our own first amendment right to speak out against the bias we see in the world. And when you look at great the numbers of people from all walks of life who are turning out to the Prop 8 protests, you cannot deny that there are A LOT of us. A lot of us who are in a state of utter shock that our fellow taxpayers used their personal, typically religiously-motivated beliefs to deny gays of their equality!!

Those on the "yes on 8" side stood their ground for months. Rather than accept the Supreme Court's ruling, they put up a measure to tyrannical override it. Rather than quietly pray for the measure to pass, they used their right to advertise it incessantly. Rather than stay home, they held rally after rally in support of rights elimination. Rather than deny themselves their opportunity for political participation, they put up a butt load of "yes on 8" signs in their yards. Rather than vote "no" and respect their gay and lesbian neighbors, they chose to foist their personal (typically faith-based) views on civil society as a whole. Rather than buy us a gift off our registry, they chose to put their cash on a public record in support of Prop 8. And they had every right to do so.

They exercised their voice. They let us know what they view to be "tolerance." They showed us just how much value they place on our lives and loves. They seized their first amendment and they spoke out, loudly and deceptively. We are now using our right to tell them (a) just how much they've hurt us, (b) how deeply discriminatory their actions were (despite their denials), and (c) how unfavorably we think future generations will look back on their vote. If they don't like the message we are sending, then by all means, they should stand their ground. But don't you dare use our honest, heartfelt reactions as an example of "gay intolerance."



The difference between "no on 8" and "yes on 8" is that if they would just STOP TRYING TO DENY OUR CIVIL EQUALITY, we would not give a flying fart about how firmly or often they pray against our lives. But they, on the other hand, are brought to rage just by our mere, benign, quiet, peaceful, existences! And even worse, they paint them as a "threat" to families, children, and society! THAT, my friends, is intolerance.

Your thoughts

Don't pull your own hair out. Pull out the other person's, or at least threaten them.

Posted by: RainbowPhoenix | Nov 12, 2008 10:37:02 AM

And don't forget - please mention - that they lied intentionally about how "homosexuality will be taught to children, especially kindergarteners." When you lie, there are consequences and you have no one to blame but yourself.

Posted by: a. mcewen | Nov 12, 2008 11:46:27 AM

Let's not, in the name of equality, tell people of faith to stay home and shut up. What a country this would be if everyone just "stayed home" and "quietly prayed" instead of speaking up and voting. I believe in God, and I believe he expects me to kneel down and pray, and then get up and do something. This post is quite hypocritical and counterproductive, not to mention offensive.

Posted by: Brett | Nov 12, 2008 12:17:33 PM

No Brett, what's counterproductive and offensive is to put words in our mouth! The post does not tell anyone to stay home and shut up. In fact, it's all about everyone's right to stand their ground! It says they had every right to speak out, and that they should continue to do so if they don't like the message we are sending! We are saying that the "yes on 8" side stood their ground. Firmly. And now we are standing ours. FIRMLY.

Posted by: G-A-Y | Nov 12, 2008 12:22:53 PM

EVERYONE at least follow this: JOIN THE IMPACT.com started Nov. 7 now has 49 states, 80 cities and one million prepared to protest NOV 15th.

Reason: We have allowed our opponents to take our issues and make them local. Once they have divided us, they take their national movement and attack our smaller state-wide or even city-wide one. JoinTheImpact was forged as a way to give our community a national stage. We all must work towards equality in our state, but we need to know that every member of our community, across the nation cares about what happens in every state. California, Arkansas, Florida, and Arizona should not stand alone in this fight. We must all stand with them and for each other. These ideals are what spawned JoinTheImpact. MISSION STATEMENT:Join the Impact - Protest Prop 8 on November 15th!

In an effort to make a positive impact in the lives of our community, our allies, and even our opposition, JoinTheImpact.com emerged. Our movement seeks to encourage the LGBTQ community not to look towards the past and place blame, but instead to look forward toward what needs to be done now to achieve one goal: Full equality for ALL. We stand for reaching out across all communities. We do not stand for bigotry, for scapegoating, or using anger as our driving force. Our mission is to encourage our community to engage our opposition in a conversation about full equality and to do this with respect, dignity, and an attitude of outreach and education. JoinTheImpact, as an entity, will not encourage divisiveness, violence, or disrespect of others and we do not approve of this.

Posted by: LOrion | Nov 12, 2008 4:14:47 PM

Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus.

Disqus

G-A-Y Comments Policy