Marriage Equality Defended in Massachusetts

[anitram]

Originally posted by Irvine511 likewise, how many straight people would "choose" to be gay. [/B]

I'd have to know a bit more about this gay lifestyle before I commit...

[martha]

Originally posted by 2861U2


Or are bisexuals a completely different story?

What the hell is wrong with you? Why the rolleyes? If you don't understand it, it's fair game for you to ridicule?

God help you as you grow up. I mean that; you're going to have a hard time if you are so rigid and inflexible about thing outside your experience.

[2861U2]

Originally posted by BonoVoxSupastar


If you lived in a world that told you you were wrong, wouldn't you at least try at some point to be "normal". If this world said being you were wrong, and people would beat you just for being you, you were denied rights just because of who you are, I'm positive you would at least try for a short while to pretend you were someone else.

I dont know about that. I would be proud to be whatever it is that I am, not ashamed. People attack Republicans and Christians pretty often, but I would never for a second pretend to be a Democrat or a non-Christian just to avoid persecution.

If what you're saying is correct, I think it hurts their fight more than helps it. You see, that contributes to people like me saying "See? They can choose their orientation."

[martha]

Originally posted by 2861U2
You see, that contributes to people like me saying "See? They can choose their orientation."

Because people like you like to think you know more than therapists, scientists, bisexuals, and pretty much anyone else who disagrees with your narrow world-view.

Yep, everyone should plan things out carefully so you have no doubts about anything they do.

[anitram]

Originally posted by 2861U2

If what you're saying is correct, I think it hurts their fight more than helps it. You see, that contributes to people like me saying "See? They can choose their orientation."

It's the fault of gay people that you think they're not born gay because at some point in their life they may have taken somebody of the opposite sex to the prom and dinner a couple of times in a desperate attempt to be just like everyone else in their high school or college?

[BVS]

Originally posted by 2861U2


I dont know about that. I would be proud to be whatever it is that I am, not ashamed. People attack Republicans and Christians pretty often, but I would never for a second pretend to be a Democrat or a non-Christian just to avoid persecution.

You're joking right?

When was the last time Republicans or Christians were denied rights or beaten down here in the US?

Then use some of the strength and start thinking for yourself, quit believing all these lies you've been taught! Stand up and think for yourself...

Originally posted by 2861U2

If what you're saying is correct, I think it hurts their fight more than helps it. You see, that contributes to people like me saying "See? They can choose their orientation."

Wow... That's such crap. Well people like you should educate yourselves.

Did you read the link I provided for you?

[deep]

Originally posted by 2861U2
Explain to me this. What about people who have been in relationships with both sexes? If they were indeed born gay like you say, werent they choosing to be straight when dating someone of the opposite sex?

Or are bisexuals a completely different story?

ETA: Hey, 1000 posts!

I think I understand your thinking.

It is my opinion that you tend view things in terms of "absolutes".

Right or wrong.

I once broke down things that way.

It is a practical way of viewing things and it left me with pretty good confidence that my conclusions were well reasoned
because I had evaluated everything and gave it a thumps up or thumbs down.

People that had different opinions from me?
I considered them wishy washy afraid to make the hard judgements
because they did not want to hurt anyone's feelings, even if that person was wrong.

When I held these views it was pretty easy for me dismiss opposing points of view. I tried to do it as respectful as I could.


Well, there came a point were I threw this process of judgements completely out the window.

[Irvine511]

Originally posted by anitram


It's the fault of gay people that you think they're not born gay because at some point in their life they may have taken somebody of the opposite sex to the prom and dinner a couple of times in a desperate attempt to be just like everyone else in their high school or college?

that would be me!



some of us have even had relations with someone of the opposite sex ... poor girl, i know now that she knows it wasn't her fault.

[Irvine511]

so, anyway, bisexuals.

i'm not one. i tried to be one, once, but i was lying to myself.

are there people who are bisexual? absolutely. can they be said to have a meaningful "choice" as to the gender that they choose to date/love/marry? yes and no. i suppose if someone was equally attracted to both genders, but decided that they were only going to date those of the opposite gender, then they are exercising a degree of "choice" resulting from a conscious decision.

gay people and straight people do not operate in this way.

however, much as you do not choose which girl you fall in love with, can a bisexual person be held accountable for falling in love with someone, regardless of gender?

[Irvine511]

Originally posted by 2861U2


I dont know about that. I would be proud to be whatever it is that I am, not ashamed. People attack Republicans and Christians pretty often, but I would never for a second pretend to be a Democrat or a non-Christian just to avoid persecution.

can you really compate the "persecution" you face -- occasionally, someone on TV makes fun of you -- to the legal and social pesecution that gay people face? would you ever be kicked out of your family for being Republican and/or Christian? denied housing? fired from a job? beaten nearly to death? beaten to death? denied the right to the legal recognition of your relationship? had to battle spiteful parents who might try to possess at least half of the estate you and your partner had built should one of you die? spiteful parents who would prevent you from visiting your partner in the hospital?

[deep]

I don't know what per cent of people are gay.

10% - 3%, ?

It does not matter to me.

All people should have equal treatment and acceptance.

I do believe bi-sexuals deserve the same, I think there are far fewer of them than gay people. I could be wrong.


But, introducing that orientation only muddies it up.

It reminds me of when:

the Tobacco lobby (during 60s - 80s) wanted findings included that stated tobacco may not be additive or cause cancer.

And also "Creationism" included in science classes.

The odd contrarian Scientist that states men is not contributing to global warming.

Teach, argue, include "the controversy" and the other side will not make progress.

[BVS]

Originally posted by Irvine511




can you really compate the "persecution" you face -- occasionally, someone on TV makes fun of you --

Exactly, I love how white conservative Christian males think they are so persecuted. It just furthers my belief that they live very sheltered, narrow lives. If they walked in the shoes of a Jewish person, gay person, black person, or even a woman for just one day they would realize how ridiculous their whining is...

[Irvine511]

statistics on who is and who is not gay are highly unreliable, since surveys regarding sex and sexuality are highly unreliable. some people might be living as a straight person, but in a different world, under different circumstance, they'd have been gay.

they've hit on me in bars and online. i feel for them, i do, but i'm not going to help someone cheat on their spouse. and, if asked, i'm sure they'd answer "straight" to some sort of survey.

the ability to even identify as gay is contingent, to some degree, on variables such as ethnicity and socio-economic status. the stereotype of gay men being rich, white, and urban is partly due to the fact that it is easiest for white men with some kind of financial independence to actually come out and be able to survive the possible consequences -- abandonment by family, ostricization by the community -- that are often suffered by gay men.

my experience has show me this.

there are significantly more gay men than lesbians. i've heard estimates of almost a 2-to-1 ratio. my guess is that this has to do with gender differences where physicality plays a much stronger part in sexual attraction for men than it does for women (a generalization, i know).

however, the amount of women who claim some sort of bisexual attraction is probably higher than the percentage of gay men. for whatever reason, i've known many women who have had a same-sex fling, admit to sexual girl-crushes, who occasionally fantasize about other women, but they all have wound up with men.

generally, men don't do this.

the reaction a straight man is going to have at the thought of performing oral sex on another man is roughly analgous to the reaction a gay man is going to have at the thought of performing oral sex on a woman.

[deep]

Originally posted by 2861U2


I dont know about that. I would be proud to be whatever it is that I am, not ashamed. People attack Republicans and Christians pretty often, but I would never for a second pretend to be a Democrat or a non-Christian just to avoid persecution.

If what you're saying is correct, I think it hurts their fight more than helps it. You see, that contributes to people like me saying "See? They can choose their orientation."

"I dont know about that. I would be proud to be whatever it is that I am, not ashamed."

Your 19, write that down and put it in a sealed envelope, and open it on your 40th birthday.

"I would never for a second pretend to be a Democrat or a non-Christian just to avoid persecution.

If what you're saying is correct, I think it hurts their fight more than helps it. You see, that contributes to people like me saying "See? They can choose their orientation."

Yeah, your right Anne Frank and her family should have been proud of who they were and not hid it.

They contributed to what happened to the Jews.

It is too bad they did not have the same courage of conviction as you.

"I would never for a second pretend to be a non-Christian just to avoid persecution."

[phillyfan26]

Originally posted by Irvine511




can you really compate the "persecution" you face -- occasionally, someone on TV makes fun of you -- to the legal and social pesecution that gay people face? would you ever be kicked out of your family for being Republican and/or Christian? denied housing? fired from a job? beaten nearly to death? beaten to death? denied the right to the legal recognition of your relationship? had to battle spiteful parents who might try to possess at least half of the estate you and your partner had built should one of you die? spiteful parents who would prevent you from visiting your partner in the hospital?

Key point right there, and I'd like to see the response.

[2861U2]

Originally posted by Irvine511

can you really compate the "persecution" you face to the legal and social pesecution that gay people face?

No, I was never attempting to make any comparisons. I'm saying that there is persecution everywhere and that you shouldnt pretend to be something you arent just to please people or to attempt to avoid criticism.

Yet, some of these last few posts seem to be equating the struggles that gays face with the Holocaust. Now that doesnt quite seem appropriate, does it?

[deep]

Originally posted by Irvine511
statistics on who is and who is not gay are highly unreliable, since surveys regarding sex and sexuality are highly unreliable. some people might be living as a straight person, but in a different world, under different circumstance, they'd have been gay.

they've hit on me in bars and online. i feel for them, i do, but i'm not going to help someone cheat on their spouse. and, if asked, i'm sure they'd answer "straight" to some sort of survey.

the ability to even identify as gay is contingent, to some degree, on variables such as ethnicity and socio-economic status. the stereotype of gay men being rich, white, and urban is partly due to the fact that it is easiest for white men with some kind of financial independence to actually come out and be able to survive the possible consequences -- abandonment by family, ostricization by the community -- that are often suffered by gay men.

my experience has show me this.

there are significantly more gay men than lesbians. i've heard estimates of almost a 2-to-1 ratio. my guess is that this has to do with gender differences where physicality plays a much stronger part in sexual attraction for men than it does for women (a generalization, i know).

however, the amount of women who claim some sort of bisexual attraction is probably higher than the percentage of gay men. for whatever reason, i've known many women who have had a same-sex fling, admit to sexual girl-crushes, who occasionally fantasize about other women, but they all have wound up with men.

generally, men don't do this.

the reaction a straight man is going to have at the thought of performing oral sex on another man is roughly analgous to the reaction a gay man is going to have at the thought of performing oral sex on a woman.

Thanks for sharing your insight

the numbers should not matter,

regarding the treatment of people based upon consenting activities.

[BVS]

Originally posted by 2861U2


No, I was never attempting to make any comparisons. I'm saying that there is persecution everywhere and that you shouldnt pretend to be something you arent just to please people or to attempt to avoid criticism.

Yet, some of these last few posts seem to be equating the struggles that gays face with the Holocaust. Now that doesnt quite seem appropriate, does it?

You don't get it. It's not to avoid criticism or please people, come on!!! People are beaten, disowned by families, denied rights, etc. And why? Because someone somewhere got fed a bunch of lies...

[deep]

Originally posted by 2861U2
Yet, some of these last few posts seem to be equating the struggles that gays face with the Holocaust. Now that doesnt quite seem appropriate, does it?

It is a matter on degree.

Do you think some gay people do not come forward because their lives would be in danger?

[phillyfan26]

Originally posted by 2861U2


No, I was never attempting to make any comparisons. I'm saying that there is persecution everywhere and that you shouldnt pretend to be something you arent just to please people or to attempt to avoid criticism.

Yet, some of these last few posts seem to be equating the struggles that gays face with the Holocaust. Now that doesnt quite seem appropriate, does it?

It's not to please or avoid criticism! You call taking away their rights "criticism?" Give me a break!

And the struggles of gays are closer to Holocaust than to conservative white problems.