Quote:
Originally posted by Sidd Finch
Do you think that you could have steered clear of people who made gay jokes and hateful comments about gay people in Texas in 1985? I doubt it -- you couldn't even do that in New England in 1985.
I'm asking this as a serious question and not trying to engage in battle with you. It sounds as if you believe nothing has changed -- not just that the Baptists haven't progressed, but that the openly expressed hatred is just as prevalent now as it was 20 years ago.
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I couldn't steer clear of it in 2004, so I doubt I could have in 1985. I'm not joking. BigLaw. Firm functions.
What I am trying to convey is that there is a level of societal acceptance of homophobia that people don't even consider that some among their audience might be offended. Within my peer group, I had no problem sitting at lunch nad explaining to people why those comments aren't acceptable to me (still didn't stop the comments entirely, mind you, because even my friends who knew my POV were so used with the idea that it was okay that later comments would slip out in my presence). Outside of my peer group? Forget it.
People on the coasts and in Chicago can say to themselves "ah, we're on the right track with getting rid of homophobia" and pat themselves on the back, but until you've been in certain parts of the country, you are fooling yourselves. Why do you think the anti-gay marriage thing is such a big deal? It isn't because of people on the coasts arguing whether civil unions or marriage is the right way to go. Hell, Texas just took away the right of gay people to be foster parents. Even to children that have already been placed with them.
Head. Sand. Welcome to the US of fucking A.
