Comments on: Why I’m an Ally

By: Xena

Xena — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 01:49:09 +0000

I just read the article you posted Chili and it deeply saddens and frightens me. As a human being, that one would kill another for simply being different is a tragic, ignorant mistake. As a gay woman who spent 40 plus years in the closet and not being true to herself in tormented silence, the idea of being killed for being true to oneself is both deeply disturbing and frightening.
I grew up in a small town up north where people openly harassed, emotionally abused, ostracized, and physically beat people for even ‘appearing gay’. I wound up in the military where homophobia is rampant, open and accepted. Even after 20 years of honorable service to my country, I am still considered ‘less than’ as a gay woman.
I have met more gay people in the military than anywhere else in my lifetime and yet we are still openly discriminated against.
I am deeply saddened by Lawrence King’s and Mathew Shepard’s deaths, for simply being true to themselves. This scared a boy and boy(s)so much he/they killed.
I know how the 14 year old became what he is, a criminal and now murderer, because we still allow this in many areas of our culture, not just the military. You are not born hating certain people; prejudice and hate are taught. I feel sorry for this child because he has no idea of the pain he’s caused the victim’s family and friends as well as the nation.
God Bless Lawrence, Mathew, and all LGBT, those that support us like Chili with love, respect, hope, peace, and understanding.
Xena

By: Kwizgiver

Kwizgiver — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 15:43:58 +0000

Amen…

I can’t find this article or I’d put it on my blog, too.

~Allison

By: twoblueday

twoblueday — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 14:56:48 +0000

Your last sentence summed up what I was trying to say.

By: mrschili

mrschili — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 12:59:08 +0000

It’s okay, Gerry - I think we get what you’re trying to say. Coming off well in print about this stuff is hard work. You get lots of credit for even trying.

Honestly, I’ve never come across anyone, in all my years of being an ally, who CHOSE a GLBTQ lifestyle (the argument goes “who would CHOOSE to be a member of a hated, targeted group where being a member could literally get one killed?”) but I don’t think that in ANY way lessens your point. Whether it’s a choice or not, discrimination against people who are different from oneself is WRONG.

By: laradavid

laradavid — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 05:41:33 +0000

amen, lady. i am SO with you.

By: twoblueday

twoblueday — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 04:32:38 +0000

ms_teacher said something which I think is, perhaps, unproductive. She said people should “accept the fact that being gay isn’t a choice.” I have no issue with it not necessarily being a choice, but I would hate to think I/We were standing up only for those genetically destined to be gay, and not those who made the choice (if there are such people, I don’t know).

It may seem like a minor point (and, as I admit in ignorance, may be a moot point), but splitting hairs like this is what the hate-mongers do, isn’t it? Don’t get me wrong. I’m not accusing you by any stretch of being a hate monger, but I sure don’t want to let the dim-witted puritans dictate the dialog.

Oh, hell, did it sound at the end when I made clear I wasn’t contending ms-teacher was a hate-monger, that lumped her in with the dim-witted puritans. Please just accept I didn’t mean that, either. I should just plead my good heart at the beginning and end of everything I say. Would that help?

Puritanism: the deep-seated fear that somebody, somewhere, is having a good time.

By: mrs t

mrs t — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 02:14:28 +0000

Last year at our Senior Awards Night, one of our students received the Matthew Shepherd memorial scholarship- and basically came out that night in front of his peers, their parents, teachers and administrators. I was very proud of our school and our students on that evening.
We need to keep fighting the good fight.

By: mrschili

mrschili — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 01:13:23 +0000

Meno, I’m going to keep yelling about it until people figure out that it’s not okay to hate, PERIOD.

Thank you all for your voices of support. Now go on out and tell someone who doesn’t already agree with you; the only way we’re going to win this thing is if our love is stronger than their hate….

By: ms_teacher

ms_teacher — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 00:32:48 +0000

I have a cousin and a nephew that are gay. When they came out, it wasn’t a surprise to anyone that knew them. It would be nice if our society would just accept the fact that being gay isn’t a choice and accept people the way they are.

By: meno

meno — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 21:40:36 +0000

I am so sad that this keeps happening because there are still people who think it’s okay to hate based on sexual preference.

Sing it sister, we are with you.