Harvey Milk Still Speaking to Me
The speaker was talking about the difficulty of being Chinese and gay because of the cultural norms and the long held expectations. I don't know why it's harder to be a gay Chinese person than say a Middle Eastern gay person, but I'll leave that argument alone and accept his point that some cultures are tougher than the next to come out in. What he said that really perked my ears was in regards to the dream of what the loved ones say in these cultures when you come out. He said (para), "The goal is to one day hear, We still love you." I found it to be an incomplete dream. A goal to be second class. Not a hope of mine, so I would suggest that it's not, nor should it be, the goal of the any group.
Families are different in mix, but few have one person speaking for the group. You'd be hard pressed to find a mono-lithic family. Even the Phelps have defectors. The idea that I should accept that Grandma is so big that she'll love me despite my defect, is an insult. The response should be something along the lines, "What do you mean by, 'You still love me.' Do I say, 'I still love you even though you use more resources than you bring in?' Do I say, 'I still love you even though you hold me up on walks?" It's an absurd notion to put forth that we should be loved despite who we are or because of the human condition.
When you come out, (Atheist, Gay, other) do it with confidence. There is no shame in being yourself. There is no reason to be relegated to "still" being OK. If you aren't still OK or are just OK because you are special, the person that makes you feel that way needs to be called out. They need to be called on the carpet for how they are treating you and others like you. They may not even realize what they are saying and how it's hurtful. It might turn into a teaching moment. Frankly speaking, I'm not going to be OK with Grandpa putting up with me, but hating everyone like me. If we don't all stand for equality together, then we don't deserve it ourselves.
-
Comment by Gaytor on December 1, 2010 at 4:48pm -
It is very well done. I've been fascinated by his story since Criminal Justice in college. We were learning about criminal insanity and the Twinkie Defense was brought up as the gold standard of, "Are you shitting me?" He's one of those hero's that changed society just by being himself and without much of society even realizing it.
-
Comment by Matt Coulthurst on December 1, 2010 at 4:52pm -
Well said my friend.
-
Comment by Kris Feenstra on December 1, 2010 at 6:56pm -
[rant]
I've had pretty much the same issue with the way people use the word 'tolerate', specifically with regard to the GLBT population. 'Tolerate', as if one is permitting gay people to exist, or as if one is suffering or enduring them.
I'm not asking people to tolerate anyone or anything; I am telling them flat out to accept the fact that these people are unequivocally equal and command the same right to fundamental consideration, compassion and dignity that all people should have. I am telling them that upholding equality in human rights is their civic. fucking. duty. It's their duty as a half-decent human being. If they want to shirk that duty, that's fine, but only after they give up their own civic and human rights first. Only fair.
[/rant]
-
Comment by Reggie on December 2, 2010 at 9:16am -
Awesome. Well said, Gaytor! And while I can't possibly agree with you more on these sentiments, I still love you.
-
Comment by Reggie on December 2, 2010 at 9:20am
-
The movie was great, BTW, if you guys haven't seen it yet. Sean Penn is great in the movie.
@Adriana - I admit that I had no idea who Harvey Milk was until I finally rented the movie earlier this year. Sean Penn was great and the movie was fantastic, although it doesn't come with a happy ending. It did get my blood boiling about the modern resistance to granting basic human rights to a segment of the population because of Bronze Aged prejudices.
-
Comment by Ryan E. Hoffman on December 2, 2010 at 1:27pm
Comment
What's new today
Forum
Why do atheists ask for so much proof to believe in God?
Started by Mercedes in Welcome to Think Atheist. Last reply by Teri G 11 seconds ago. 507 Replies 0 Likes
Blog Posts
Fantastic and Courageous Act by Arizona Law Maker!
Posted by Robert Karp on May 23, 2013 at 10:33am 0 Comments 0 Likes
Events
Services we love
Check out our new mobile/tablet version of Think Atheist! www.ThinkAtheist.com/m
© 2013 Created by Morgan Matthew.
You need to be a member of Think Atheist to add comments!
Join Think Atheist