Quote:
Originally Posted by EuroTroll
Thanks.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by EuroTroll
Thanks.
That will only happen when homosexuality is completely normalised, which it is in the minds of many but not, clearly, all.Quote:
Originally Posted by Zico
Yes, I think it is, not least because what you describe occurred quite some years ago, and in that period attitudes really have changed.Quote:
Originally Posted by Zico
Want this sort of prejudice, where it still exists, to stop? In that case, it must be tackled head-on, not put to one side.
Firstly In the evolution of Life the most useful combination in a species is Male + Female as that makes the next generation.
However due to a Genetic & Hormonal inbalance some Genders are Gay.
The way I feel is that it doesn't matter one bit if someone is straight or Gay. It is something that happens a natural ? (Cant think of the word), but no one can do anything about which way they turn out.
So why some people seem to resent people for being gay is beyond me.
All that matters is how good a person you are.
As for Incest as discuss earlier. I think as long as they are both adults and take a responsibilty to not reproduce (as Genetics can cause problems) then peope should be able to do what they like.
Also Gay people should be allowed to adopt or use IVF. For adoption I am sure there are may loving gay couples that would make much better parents than some of the hetrosexual couples I see allowed to have children. As for IVF, as soon as Humans as a species discovered a way to control life there shouldn't be a ban on certain people using it.
The only thing that should be looked at is if the parents to be are decent people.
Also Zico. I can see your point of view, but rather than hope your children aren't gay, you should be hoping that the poor idiots that are bullying people get a life.
So a final thought.
People are made as they are by nature and should be accepted whatever their Race, sexual orientation or whatever else is. People should live their lives in peace respecting others wishes whether they choose to marry, have children or stay single.
Leave people alone and live your life.
Great thread ET, and so far great tolerance for opposing views from many here. I'm actually quite shocked as such a caustic subject for many would usually have been shut down by now. Thumbs up to Mark for reminding all of us to avoid the personal and discuss the issue.
For me homosexuality is something I understand as not a choice to most people. Similar to how I had sexual and/or emotional feelings towards the opposite sex, homosexuals experience those feelings towards the same sex. The same is probably true of a "true" bisexual person. Nobody told me to be straight, or told anyone else to be gay or bi. It is their natural human instinct, and from my understanding largely driven due to various hormone balances in a persons body.
The best man at our wedding was gay and a great friend to both me and my wife. This was in the 80's when much of the US was still opposed to gay rights and the existence of gay people in general. He was also in the armed services at a time when being homosexual would get you put straight out the door. He was also very flamboyant, something I usually can't tolerate much regardless of sexual orientation. But a good enough person that I could overlook that one trait I didn't care for.
As for our child, I hope she grows up to be her own person regardless of sexual orientation. I can at least understand what some are seeing as a homophobic view though. Here in the US I think we as a whole have become much more tolerant and open minded in regards to gay people. That being said I still think life would present more hurdles to a gay person than it would to a straight person. If my daughter realized she was gay I would help her overcome those hurdles, but I would still accept that her life might be harder than if she was straight. Being that no good parent want's a difficult life for their children, part of me might still wonder if her life could have been better or easier had she been straight.
Even when I was younger I had no problem with gay people, especially men. I figured the more gay men that were out there reduced competition for the women! :)
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Originally Posted by BDunnell
I sincerely hope period attitudes really have changed. I know some teenage girls in my partners daughters class at high school have 'come out' and it is accepted there.. probably even considered trendy? Although I have suspicions that negative attitudes will still exist to a degree with the boys.
And thumbs up to Mark for modifying the thread title! :cheese: It was originally something perhaps not entirely conductive to a good, serious discussion. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by airshifter
I think there still exists a huge difference between male and female homosexuality. Gay males are mocked, openly, and there is no point denying it. Society hasn't yet fully evolved to be accepting of difference, and I know several gay men who all have tales about bullying, difficulty coming out etc. It isn't right, but it is the case, and to pretend we're in a society where being gay isn't an issue would be naive andcounterproductive. If it was so normalised then things like a footballer coming out as gay wouldn't even be news, but it's massive news because it's still a massive deal.Quote:
Originally Posted by Zico
As for lesbians, they seem to be much more accepted by society from what I've been witness to. There is gentle ribbing now and then, but no different to guys mocking other guys for getting off with an ugly girl or something. This gender divide is really interesting, and not sure why it is present, but lesbianism is definitely seen as far more normal and even trendy as you say. I know very few girls at Uni who haven't tried it at least once. I know no straight guys who have 'experimented'. Why the difference?
Guess it's not helped by the generally increasing sexualisation of society either.
That's an interesting question and, for the life of me, I can't come up with an answer.Quote:
Originally Posted by pettersolberg29
Any suggestions?
Well from a female perspective, female gayness is not a threat to most males, therefore to them it is nothing to fear. If they meet a lesbian woman she is just 'off the list' like one of their male mates.
Gay men though present the apparent threat to other 'straight' males. Sadly the gender divide is due to the males who have fear of gayness. Women generally are not threatened by gay men or women. Not to say you do not get women who are actively homophobic I have met a few. But in general, we are more accepting of sexuality.
I think the being openly gay in school for males is beginning to be trendy. It doesn't seem too big a deal now in some areas of the UK at least. Bullying is now moving more towards other more subtle differences than sexuality, sad but true.
I think it comes from the male perspective on life, most 'straight' men seem to weigh up the sexual value of woman they meet. I guess the concept to a straight man that another man might be doing that to them, might just be something to do with it? On the other hand women are use to this, so it doesn't set off alarm bells when a man or perhaps occasionally another woman does it?