GLBTs & Allies - Check In Please!

Lotta stuff going on lately here at DU. I wanted to start a more open thread to talk about some of the gay issues that have been coming up recently.

Ever since the SCOTUS decision following on the heels of the Canadian decision I've been fearing an anti-gay backlash. I suspect that may be one reason for my own difficulties.

Has anyone else noticed a backlash? Maybe I'm just going off the deep-end?

I know there was a discussion earlier in the week about using the gay pride flag avatar. I sort of lost track of that discussion. Maybe we can tie this stuff all together and figure out what the heck is going on?

and I do think we're going to see a backlash start to develop.

All of the right wing christian "pulpit screamers" (Falwell, Robertson, etc.) are whipping up the sheep against the Supreme Court decision and have been since it was made public.

I think you, personally, are starting to see some of the backlash starting to manifest in violence.

Given the fundamentalist frenzy, I don't see how this can come to a good conclusion. The whacko fundamentalists have started something they don't want to control.

We're all allies, or we wouldn't be Dems. Just because people don't check into the thread, don't think they're not with you.

I think you need to check in to some local organizations where you are and find out if anyone else is experiencing this. If this is a trend it needs to be reported. If it's a lone nut he needs to be arrested.

We are definately under attack. I have said since 9/11 Arabs first then us...you can look back in threads where I have said as much.

Thanks to the supporters BTW...Just come to see us in the Gulag...It will brighten our days.

Thru thick and thin, I'll always side with my GLBT brothers & sisters.

But yes, I do smell a backlash coming, more so every day, unfortunately.

This backlash thing is already getting scary. Has anyone heard official reports of it?

I think it's time for the hetero allies to stand up as fiercely as we would if it was our specific demographic that was being attacked.

I hope that the G&L community will reach out more to the straight community..... and vice-versa.

I live in LA, in a pretty liberal neighborhood, so I haven't felt there's any backlash and asked a couple of gay friends if they've noticed anything and they said no. BUT, last week a straight friend of mine went hiking at the foot of the Sierra's and parked his car in a hotel parking lot to check out a map and was approached by a guy in a pickup truck who called him a "faggot" and other epithets. My friend was just shocked. I overheard this, since he was on the cell phone with me at the time. SO I think in redneck land, things are getting scary.

Just worried something a lot more serious is going to happen.

On a political note, I wonder if this isn't exactly what Rove would like to divert more attention away from the Chimp. It's not like these guys haven't already started a culture war...

what's going on--i think perhaps the antis are getting nervous/scared.

ever since the SPOTUS ruling on sodomy laws, the language used in that ruling opens the door for civil rights/unions.

i think is also being used to divide the 'liberal' population.

with the 'you're in jeapordy if they get their way' propaganda, it does seem to be working on some.

"Liberals"

....first there are those big swings in poll numbers.....

....then Queer Eye for the Straight Guy gets really good TV ratings (with ratings as a "poll" of sorts, too).

So I really dont know whats up.

I have a suspciion that the right wing is really going to try to fuel a backlash for various reasons (partly political partly just because they are opposed to the gays)..

So yeah some of the more homophobic folks are going to become moreso. But other people are maybe in a state of indecision about this.

they didn't like gays either.

I think you're right about the backlash. I think more straights need to step up to the plate and voice their opinions about gays being entitled to equal rights.

I just saw something recently on DU about Falwell now directing all his efforts to a movement to have the Constitution amended to make gay marriage illegal. I don't have to tell you how he can incite and fan the flames of bigotry. I don't believe such an amendment would ever have support by enough states to get ratified, but there is no doubt such an effort will fan the flames.

I also think straights need to start responding among ourselves when someone in our presence starts to trash talk about homosexuality being an issue of morality or choice. I personally think those who condemn homosexuality and gays on religious grounds are the loudest and most irrational and most difficult to deal with and I just have no tolerance for dealing with these people. Oh, come to think of it, straights who are the most homophibic are people we can respond to more assertively, i.e., what is your fear? Or educate each other when appropriate. A lot of the rhetoric I see and hear from straights is out of just plain ignorance as opposed to any malicious intent.

I think there is going to be more of a rhetorical backlash for gays because of the Texas case, but I can't speak for gay bashing. I hope not, but I think your concerns are understandable considering you have recently been targeted. I don't think you're going off the deep end at all.

Linda

Be safe and I hope you nail the guys.

It would be extremely unusual to experience a noticeable backlash here in the SF Bay Area, but I definitely see it in the news. It's open season on queers again.

Honest opinion: The SCOTUS decision was a red herring with a dual purpose: 1) to lull us queers into a false sense of relief (and show us on the TV news looking all scary and radical as we celebrated), and 2) piss off the homo haters (and the types who think "there's nothing wrong with that" as long as we stay in the closet and stop demanding our birthright) in a deliberate and calculated attempt to cause the very backlash you're seeing now.

Remember, nobody asked * about gay marriage at that press conference -- he was the one who opened that can of worms. He wouldn't have phrased it the way he did without a reason.

I also believe the timing was premature for the * admin (it would have worked more to their advantage to bring this up just a few months prior to the election), but I think the WH got wind that JPII was about to denounce gay marriage from the papal throne, so *'s handlers had * set the stage, so it would appear as if the Pope were supporting *'s stance, after the fact.

As much as I want gay marriage, I want the whole gay-marriage issue to go away until after 2004. This is the wrong time for it. We are going to lost this one big-time if it stays in the forefront of the American consciousness.

And "they" know it. And they are not going to let it go away.

Oh, and about the SCOTUS decision: If the bastards in charge do manage to ram through a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage, then the SCOTUS decision is rendered moot.

So, we can't be arrested anymore for having sex in Texas or Mississippi or wherever -- so what? In the past few decades at least, U.S. sodomy laws have not been enforced with any consistency, and there's a reason for that: In practice, they were nothing more than an excuse to fall back on when you couldn't find another reason to harrass some damned queer.

For all the real good it's done, SCOTUS may as well have overturned any other archaic statute still on the books -- like the old California law that mandated a woman boil her dustcloth after using it -- and then they could have crowed about how they'd just struck a blow for women's rights.

The SCOTUS decision was a very small price to pay for all the bad press it's given us, and all the ammunition it's given the Radical Right.

Is there anything we can do about it? Not as I see it. Not with * in the WH, and not as long as hatemongers like Jerry Falwell are allowed to breath the same air we do. And not as long as we don't wield any real political power.

I appreciate our straight allies, but there's just not enough of you out there.

You want to help us? Get involved. Join PFLAG. March with your LGBT friends and family members in the pride parades. Get on a mailing list of concerned LGBTs and their allies. Make gay news sites a part of your daily reading. (365gay.com, PlanetOut.com, and John Aravosis' About.com site are on my list of news sites to read every day -- are they on yours?)

And don't forget us about between times -- like this -- when we're blindsided by a full-frontal assault. The struggle for equality is a daily battle in an unending war. Just because you don't see it on the front page of your local paper doesn't mean there's been a cease-fire.

In the end, I honestly don't see winning our rightful place in society in my lifetime. I've waited 42 years -- and I doubt that I have another 42 years to wait.

Sorry for the downer, but that's exactly how I feel. And that's the reason Canada looks more inviting every day.

they have ARNULLED now, so the gay SHARK!!!!!!!!!!!!! can fade behind Kobe...

the only important thing is: the Iraq War/WMD LIES have been dumped by most of the media. the ongoing deaths in Iraq are taking back seat to ANYTHINGARNOLD.

and POS * is allowed to take his vacation/fund raising jaunt w/o ANY serious media scrutiny.

and I'm seeing some nasty stuff going on locally myself.

and getting louder about it every day. I'm sick to death of listening to people put down others because they are different from the perceived norm.

I've already taken up the war on the poor as something I will no longer keep my mouth shut about and I can easily add the war on homosexuality to my "agenda".

and I will

n/t

If there's a backlash going on in SF leading to your troubles, that's doubly scary. I humbly suggest that you let DU be DU (ie foolish and messy) for a little while and check in with all Bay Area sources possible to see if yours are isolated incidents or part of a wave. I'm very scared on your behalf, crossing my fingers and hoping for the best.
Go well, go carefully, and I hope they catch the bastard soonest.

Just let me know what I can do.

Don't tell me to start at home. My wife's whole family is extremely homophobic.

Opposing Gay rights is anti civil rights.

I support gay marriage and gay adoption, its obvious why I do, who cares and they should have equal rights as heteros. At my family reunion today I met my cousin and his partner, great people I must say, they organized the thing and I saw of their books and thought hey I would see eye to eye with them, they adopted recently I happy for them. Even my normally homophobic brother didnt have a problem.

Support you all the way. My DH and I are involved in an AIDS support group (neither of us has AIDS) just to help.

I feel a backlash coming as well. My friends are pretty open-minded and liberal so I'm kind of isolated, but if I see/hear anti-gay sentiment I don't stand still for it.

What little contribution I can make, I will gladly do. And
(((Leftcoast & Partner))).

Take care of yourselves. We got your cyber-backs, fwiw!

Community United Against Violence (CUAV). I'll be talking to them some more next week as well. There seems to be anecdotal evidence to support a strong upsurge in anti-gay violence in recent weeks, according to the person I spoke with. I'm going to get more details and see if I can get some of the local media interested in this story. I feel very strongly that the GLBT community needs to be made aware of this (possible) surge in violence.

I'd like to also just thank everyone for all the great support! This has really helped me keep it together...

LeftCoast

I'm here, I'm queer (well, bisexual, technically), and, um, yes.

My your stay be long and fruitfull. (pun intended) :hi:

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

Oh, and I'm definitely an ally. What did you mean when you said that there was a discussion earlier in the week about using the gay pride flag avatar? I must have missed that.

But I prefer the pink triangle.

:shrug:

I believe it was regarding the gay HS in NYC, but not sure. A sub-topic of that thread discussed using the gay pride flag avatar and right after that I saw a big increase in its use.

Not sure about the details though. I was hoping someone could fill us in.

as avatar. I have another DU buddy I know who has it.

You have a lot of people on your side. I hope we can frame this debate in a way that everyone sees the senselessness of bashing those who are different from you.

And I will do what I can to help.

I have not noticed a particular backlash, but I could be wrong.

These sure are interesting times aren't they? You're unfortunately getting your windows shot out... and the Episcopal Church is appointing a gay Bishop.
:shrug:
I sure as heck don't know what to make of it.
But obviously I stand in solidarity with you.

Interesting times indeed. I could use a few years of boring about now. :)

I would do anything to stand up for all of you. My wonderful brother was gay and I have been able to make and remain friends with all of his friends in Houston. So far, here in Kansas, none of my friends have noticed any backlash. I am sure old Fred will take advantage of this eventually. I wish I could do more than just stick up and vocalize my support. Many of us are prepared to stand the line with you. We will be there. PLEASE be careful.

So much of the anti-gay sentiment I have heard lately (here and in "real life") has been of the variety, "I don't mind gays, but why do they have to be so blatant." This is not the same as some jerk shooting at homes with pride flags, but to me the idea is just as untenable. It's like saying "OK, be who you are, but just hide it from public view... my view... my kids' view..." And that's BS.

On one hand, I realize that people pass through certain phases of acceptance when confronted with any "difference" that they are not accustomed to. But these people also need to take a serious look at the double standard behind what they are saying.

It's late... I hope I am clear in what I am saying. The main point being: I'm here. And I hope I can be a good ally, and a more vocal one, in the face of any oncoming backlash.

On a positive note, the neighborhood I live in has really been very supportive about the whole situation. We also just heard that on Monday the police will be escalating this to the SF Hate Crimes Division.

Makes me glad that they're taking this seriously.

I will be careful! Thank you for your support!

Perhaps we all need a review of that often quoted (and misquoted) Martin Niemöller speech:

"When Hitler attacked the Jews I was not a Jew, therefore I was not concerned. And when Hitler attacked the Catholics, I was not a Catholic, and therefore, I was not concerned. And when Hitler attacked the unions and the industrialists, I was not a member of the unions and I was not concerned. Then Hitler attacked me and the Protestant church — and there was nobody left to be concerned."

If we don't hang together surely we will all hang separately.

Your fight is my fight as well.

:hi:

:-)