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rug

(82,333 posts)
Mon Jun 13, 2016, 07:19 PM Jun 2016

Orlando Is an Extension of the Marriage Battle, Bathroom Wars



At a Florida dance club, religious- and state-sanctioned hate reached its natural conclusion. (Photo: AP)

Published on Monday, June 13, 2016 by The Advocate
by Kristen Becker

The media is awash in coverage of the terrorism angle of this tragedy. But to understand the impact of the shootings in Orlando, one must understand what gay bars really mean, especially in conservative areas.

To live and work as a member of the LGBTQ population in a conservative area means to not hold hands in public. It means to learn how to alter your pronouns on Monday morning so you don’t accidentally out yourself at the water cooler and lose your job. It means renting a two-bedroom apartment, even if you only need one.

Day in and day out, you spend countless hours of energy containing yourself. Keeping who you are hidden, until you get to a safe space. Nine times out of 10, that safe space is a bar. Often those bars have really vague names and minimum signage. Better safe than sorry. No need to draw attention.

This is the trickle-down hate effect. Many of this country's lawmakers have spent the last year spending our tax dollars to push anti-LGBTQ legislation through their respective state governments. One after another, laws aimed to de-humanize the LGBTQ community were brought forth under the guise of “religious freedom.” There will be many right-wing Christians who will jump to the front and say, “The shooter was Muslim!”

http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/06/13/orlando-extension-marriage-battle-bathroom-wars
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