Welp, I was going to stay out of this thread but I'd like to say a little something.
I am an RA at a large state school. As such, we are required to attend certain intercultural/diversity meetings a few times each semester in case our residents fall under those groups and want to discuss those issues with us (and yes, a few guys on my floor were in fact gay/bisexual).
So, long story short, I have been to several of the LGBTG/A meetings here at MSU and have gleaned quite a bit of information that isn't immediately visible to the "general public" (read: we straight folk who aren't directly affected by these issues).
Do you think that the LGBTG/A population in America is so vocal about their sexuality because they want attention, or do you think that certain segments are vocal because like any other oppressed minority group in our country's history, they want people to know that they are in fact treated like second class citizens? Hypothetically-speaking, how would you feel if you were homosexual and you couldn't legally bind yourself with a partner and accrue the same benefits that a "normal" couple has? And I'm not talking about marriage, I'm talking specifically about the legal rights that come along with being in a civilian union (taxes, property rights, etc).
How would you feel if someone told you that you couldn't do job X/Y/Z or join the military *specifically* because of your sexual orientation?
How would you feel if you couldn't hold hands with your partner in public for fear of getting beaten up, getting spat on, getting death threats, getting run off the road, or having your property vandalized? (and yes, I have heard first-hand accounts of all of these things happening, and I have even *seen* some of them happen just on my campus).
Also, gays/lesbians have standards, too. I have no idea where most men get off thinking that "OH GOD IT'S A GAY, HE WANTS TO TOUCH ME!" because they might look at you and be disgusted.
Every single gay/lesbian person that I have ever talked to (and asked this question) has told me that for as long as they can remember - even from the time they were little kids - they knew they were different. As they got older, they realized they were gay, and eventually like everyone that goes through puberty with hormones raging, they acted on it. Regardless of what anybody says, from the words of homosexuals themselves, it is most definitely not a "choice" that you make. I doubt anybody would willfully choose and continue to live a lifestyle that would net them persecution, unequal rights, and death threats.
Does any of that sound like equality to you? Because to me, it simply comes off and rampant homophobia. As mentioned before, plenty of other countries allow homosexuals into the military with no negative repercussions.
MB, no disrespect, but...should we then give them their own drinking fountains, seats in the back of the bus, a segregated section of restaurants, and separate schools, too?
