Comments on: Say it to my face. http://damnstraight.oversampled.net/2006/06/05/say-it-to-my-face/ Culturally Queer News and Views from Abigail Garner Thu, 08 Jan 2009 23:34:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: SteveS http://damnstraight.oversampled.net/2006/06/05/say-it-to-my-face/comment-page-1/#comment-749 SteveS Sun, 11 Jun 2006 15:31:29 +0000 http://damnstraight.oversampled.net/?p=246#comment-749 My own opinion is that Bush is now irrelevant and we need to look to the future anti-gay leaders and begin preparing for those battles. Bush supported the amendment but it failed, he did his part to appease his constituents and now it's over. As a gay parent, I blog for two reasons, mainly to have a record of my experiences raising my daughter, so that I/she can look back on it years later. But I do it publicly for the other reason, so Americans can see and get to know gay people. I do agree with the sentiment that if we put faces on gay families, it's much harder to discriminate against them. For two-three years, I've been a member of Blogcritics, it's an aggregator of sorts, like Queerspawn, but it covers all topics, music, news, politics, lifestyle, etc. and is not geared towards any orientation. There have been some rabid right wingers there and some hardline fundamentalists. They're still there of course, but the (slightly) more moderate conservatives, over the years I've been debating, have come over to MY side. Proof positive (to me) that if we put a face on gay issues and let people see who and what their bigotry affects, the majority of them change their viewpoint. If you get a chance, you should check out blogcritics.org. You cross post your entries with your own blog but it gets about 50,000 hits per day. Your voice there would be a great counter to some of what's posted there. Plus, when anti-gay fundies throw up their comments on your thread, the best part is that you get to dissect them and break down the irrationality of their arguments for OTHERS to read and ponder (knowing you won't change the fundys mind). That's how I've brought several hardline anti-gay believers over to our side. Too often we end up preaching to the choir so to speak and it's places like that, that do otherwise. I've rambled from my point. I don't think it's as imperative that Bush get to know gay and lesbian families as it is that AMERICA gets to know gay and lesbian families. Bush only follows his constituents, so let's go to the source and reach the constituents. My own opinion is that Bush is now irrelevant and we need to look to the future anti-gay leaders and begin preparing for those battles.

Bush supported the amendment but it failed, he did his part to appease his constituents and now it’s over.

As a gay parent, I blog for two reasons, mainly to have a record of my experiences raising my daughter, so that I/she can look back on it years later. But I do it publicly for the other reason, so Americans can see and get to know gay people.

I do agree with the sentiment that if we put faces on gay families, it’s much harder to discriminate against them.

For two-three years, I’ve been a member of Blogcritics, it’s an aggregator of sorts, like Queerspawn, but it covers all topics, music, news, politics, lifestyle, etc. and is not geared towards any orientation. There have been some rabid right wingers there and some hardline fundamentalists. They’re still there of course, but the (slightly) more moderate conservatives, over the years I’ve been debating, have come over to MY side. Proof positive (to me) that if we put a face on gay issues and let people see who and what their bigotry affects, the majority of them change their viewpoint.

If you get a chance, you should check out blogcritics.org. You cross post your entries with your own blog but it gets about 50,000 hits per day. Your voice there would be a great counter to some of what’s posted there. Plus, when anti-gay fundies throw up their comments on your thread, the best part is that you get to dissect them and break down the irrationality of their arguments for OTHERS to read and ponder (knowing you won’t change the fundys mind). That’s how I’ve brought several hardline anti-gay believers over to our side.

Too often we end up preaching to the choir so to speak and it’s places like that, that do otherwise.

I’ve rambled from my point. I don’t think it’s as imperative that Bush get to know gay and lesbian families as it is that AMERICA gets to know gay and lesbian families. Bush only follows his constituents, so let’s go to the source and reach the constituents.

]]> By: Steve Boese http://damnstraight.oversampled.net/2006/06/05/say-it-to-my-face/comment-page-1/#comment-652 Steve Boese Mon, 05 Jun 2006 19:12:02 +0000 http://damnstraight.oversampled.net/?p=246#comment-652 Call me jaded, but I think the president does know gay people, he knows everything he needs to know about homosexuality, and that he has knowingly pandered to the religious right despite the close relationship with Mary Cheney and her parents. The folks he can't look in the eye or talk to? Religious leaders who oppose the amendment, folks who remind him of the split between religious beliefs. The right is determined to cast this as conflict as good people of faith vs. activists upsetting the apple cart. They know they have to keep beating that drum because once folks recognize it as tyranny of the majority over a minority they will lose in the courts and court of public opinion. Call me jaded, but I think the president does know gay people, he knows everything he needs to know about homosexuality, and that he has knowingly pandered to the religious right despite the close relationship with Mary Cheney and her parents.

The folks he can’t look in the eye or talk to? Religious leaders who oppose the amendment, folks who remind him of the split between religious beliefs.

The right is determined to cast this as conflict as good people of faith vs. activists upsetting the apple cart. They know they have to keep beating that drum because once folks recognize it as tyranny of the majority over a minority they will lose in the courts and court of public opinion.

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