This needs to stop.

[Pithy]

Blacks v. homosexuals.

I never thought I'd see the day when we would turn on each other at the moment of our incredible victory. I've lurked here since before the 2004 elections and have been amazed, strengthened and humbled by the way our diverse group has come together to fight a common enemy: the idiocy of George W. Bush and the inexplicable crimes he's committed against our nation and humanity.

We did it. We helped a wonderful man, Barack Obama, become President. We changed our nation, and the world. And yet, at the very moment of our largest victory, we're now turning on each other like children.

What happened in California breaks my heart. It's completely unfair, and I believe we all need to work TOGETHER to take steps to be sure it never happens again. I cannot conceive that anyone here - whether straight, gay, black, white, Asian, Hispanic - is glad that our friends who are homosexual have been denied the rights that everyone else in the US takes for granted.

It has taken us 8 long years to slowly educate an ever-increasingly stupid population that George Bush and his policies are wrong for the nation and unfair to many. But we got there. It might take us 8 more years to educate the US that ALL people are entitled to the right to marry, regardless of their sexual preference. But we can and will do it - IF we work together.

Please. I can only begin to imagine the pain, outrage and hurt many of you are feeling. Please stop the infighting. If we don't work together - UNITED - we will never get this done.

[jesus_of_suburbia]

1. I'm sure you have good intentions, but you DON'T get it.

"I cannot conceive that anyone here - whether straight, gay, black, white, Asian, Hispanic - is glad that our friends who are homosexual have been denied the rights that everyone else in the US takes for granted."





I assure you there are many here who are glad that GLBT's have been kicked to the curb.

And they want us to shut up.

[Pithy]

3. That sucks and is wrong.

We are all a family here. We fought shoulder-to-shoulder against Bushco for 8 long years. If you have an issue with homosexuals, for God's sake, put a sock in it. People are in pain here, and have as much right to vent about this incredible blow as everyone else does about their shitty boss, their bad day or what a bitch Palin is.

Again, I'm appalled that anyone would be so insensitive to our homosexual friends here on this board to be jerks at this time.

I'm a straight, married female. A breeder. My first roommate in college was a gay male. I saw first-hand his agony over what he couldn't control - his sexual preference. He was in the closet his whole life, trying to please a father who never would be satisfied. I learned recently he shot himself last year, leaving behind a wife and twin daughters. We all loved him just as he was. He had a boyfriend all through college that his parents never knew about, but finally bowed to pressure and married a nice woman who I'm sure knew or suspected his preference.

I share this because I believe a person is born gay or straight. I can't imagine if I had met my husband, fell in love, and then couldn't profess my love openly or marry him because it was the 'law' to be homosexual. You can't legislate love. I also believe it's no-damn-body else's business what others do in their bedrooms. If someone has a problem with it due to religion or other beliefs, that's their personal issue and I believe it should be kept to one's self - just as anyone would be tactful with a friend.

I am in shock that we at DU are kicking our 'family' here when they are down. Really. This is not the DU that I've come to love.

[sub.theory]

9. I haven't seen those posts

Who is glad that that GLBT are being discriminated against? I'm asking in all seriousness, who is saying that?

[EmilyAnne]

2. It seems like only yesterday that it was women vs. blacks in the primaries.

I don't see why these issues can't be discussed by a group of Democrats without it turning into bigotry, outrage and hurt feelings.
I assume that there aren't any gay racists on this board.
I also assume that there aren't any homophobic black people on this board.
No one needs to be thrown under a bus, but why not discuss the possible explanations for the polls about Prop 8?

My whole family are white fundamentalists from Texas. I am sure if a Prop 8 was on the Texas ballot, it would have failed and polls would show that a very high percentage of white fundamentalists voted for it. We would discuss this and try to figure out why.

[readmoreoften]

4. There is no blacks vs. homosexuals. Many in the black community are gay or fighting homophobia.

Many white gay people are fighting white racism. And non-AA gay people are not "versus" or "against" black folks all of a sudden. A lot of non-AA gay people just found out that a larger percentage of AAs disliked them than latinos or whites and their feelings are hurt and they're confused. End of story.

Straight black folks aren't going to be burning down LGBT community centers and non-AA LGBT folks aren't going to be rioting in the lobby of BET headquarters.

[Pithy]

6. We need to be united.

There are a lot of Freeper types who'll be looking for cracks to exploit in the unity. We have a lot of work ahead of us. I believe equal marital rights for all in this country, regardless of sexual preference, is one of the most important fights ahead of us. If you don't agree, that's your choice. I don't see any benefit to being ugly to those who are in genuine pain right now, and likewise, I don't see any benefit to lashing out at those who don't have the experience to understand the pain that many are going through.

[justiceischeap]

5. "sexual preference"

It's actually "sexual orientation." Saying (writing) "sexual preference" makes it sound like, today I prefer socks, tomorrow I'll prefer a woman. Though there are a very slim number of men or women who choose to have gay sex, they are most likely not "oriented" that way. ;)

Thanks for you sentiments. There was a lot of horrible back and forth that seems to happen every time the gay issue comes up on DU. I for one am sick of being told that "we'll cost Democrats the election" if our fellow DU'ers band with us and take a stand. It kinda reminds me of one of those gnats that fly around your face in the summer and you keep swatting at it to go away. We too often go away, at some point we have to keep buzzing around you folks until you pay attention to us.

Another thing that irks me is this: if our fellow Dems, whom happen to be orientated towards heterosexuality would stand beside us, this WOULD NOT happen every friggin' election cycle. So help us stop being that annoying gnat that you keep swatting at to go away and help us achieve our 39 year fight for civil, equal, human rights.

:hi:

[Pithy]

10. You are not, and will never be

a gnat to me. I could give a rat's ass if someone wants to have sex with rutabagas. People are people, and everyone is valuable and worthy. Well, except for Geo Bush and his cronies. But I digress.

I stand beside you. I'd like to see constructive conversation about how this back-and-forth 'you can marry/now guess what? you can't' cycle can be ended for once and for all. What exactly can we here at DU do to stand beside you and help with this? I've seen some good stuff on Americablog about boycotting Mormon-run businesses like Marriott to send them a clear message about what they've done. I've heard talk of moving the Sundance festival and tourism out of Utah to send a message. You can't legislate belief and you can't legislate orientation, yet they are doing their damndest to do so.

So. Can we formulate an action plan based on reason to begin to take the small steps necessary to change this injustice? How would we start?

[justiceischeap]

12. I truly believe the first step is education

And getting straight folks to help with the movement. WE ARE a minority and we cannot win this fight on our own. I can see you want to help so I'd suggest joining PFLAG (Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians & Gays) and working with that organization to help educate yourself and then others.

http://community.pflag.org/

Here's a model the gay rights movement could use (IMO):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Student_Nonviolent_Coordinating_Committee

[jonnyblitz]

7. and then you have these assholes who have no dog in the fight

starting these cute little threads to stir shit with their popcorn smilies like they are waiting to be entertained. this place is getting FILLED with nasty fucking people. our rights are on the line and we are nothing but amusement and entertainment to this assholes who want to see fights.

[MazeRat7]

8. You are so dead on...

I've been around here for a while and in light of the recent victory(s), all I see is carping. I'm thinking WTF ?

I'm starting to think that enough is never enough.

I have this vision floating through my brain of DU as a collective of needy children all hell-bent on getting their way...

Peace,
MZr7

[ruggerson]

11. Yeah those carping people whose marriages were just destroyed

goddamn whiners!

[Pithy]

13. This is important

You are married. You have children. You are doing your best to live a value-filled life despite the bigotry and hatred you have and continue to experience on a daily basis. You hurt, you rejoice, you work, you play and you hope just like every other human on this planet. Suddenly, a special interest group with headquarters outside your own state sweeps in and, based solely on their own beliefs, manages to get your marriage declared null and void. Suddenly your children are bastards and if you become critically ill, your husband or wife will not be allowed to visit you in the hospital. If you die, your husband or wife will not be entitled to any benefits.

What intelligent human being, whether oriented gay or straight, wouldn't be outraged, sickened, and despondant? Not to mention outright MAD AS HELL?

I think we straights can't begin to conceive of it. Yet this is exactly what many of our family here on DU are living. Right now, in this very moment.

If you can't empathize, if you can't care, if you can't offer your sincere sympathy, kindly zip your lip.

If you can empathize, if you do care, and if you do offer your sincere sympathy, let's come together and discuss solid tactics and strategies to begin to remedy this injustice. For good.

[ruggerson]

14. I thought I didn't need the sarcasm tag

my bad.

[Pithy]

15. I understood.you were being sarcastic.

Should have made that more clear - my post wasn't meant to bash you. What you posted made me think, and led to my response.

[IndianaJones]

16. but the President doesn't believe in gay marriage. what now? nt.

[GreenFiles]

17. Easy for you to say....

Are you straight?