|
|
Macky
|
 |
Really getting into it |
Location: USA
Registered: November 2008
Messages: 973
|
|
|
Writing to legislators, donating money to our causes, and spreading the word about injustice are ways of doing it. But, in the end, these are the campaigners who get noticed. We should not overlook the silent campaigners.
In my humble opinion, those who live an honest clean open gay life are our most important campaigners. For instance our openly gay politicians, while everyone might not see eye to eye with them, they do us all a service by serving as openly gay to the best of their ability. People who have perverted images of gays see that they are just normal people too, because of these guys.
And yes there are a lot of assholes there, but there are also exemplary gays. A retired celibate gay Roman Catholic priest was insturmental in easing my early years living a gay life. Too much yelling about asshole priests tends to paint these 'saints' as evil, with a broad brush. We need to be careful in our rants.
Then there's the openly gay kid that was in the high school musical at my son's school. A nice kid, great singer and actor, who camped it up big time on stage and received an extra burst of applause when he took his bow. It was Beauty and the beast. At one point the candlestick and clock exchange kisses on the cheek. The straight guy clock gave a 10 inch away kiss to the gay candlestick (but thats pretty good for a straight guy). The gay candlestick, however, gave the clock a loud smacker on each cheek, and the gesture was received with a grin. And that was a superb performance for both the gay and the straight boys.
So what am I trying to say with all this? Something like no matter how bad or useless someone seems to be to us, we would do better just to have faith that there is some good there too. It should not surprise us that we have huge gaps in our knowledge of everyone's good or otherwise intentions. No matter how quietly someone campaigns, he is giving in his own way.
And again, in my opinion, the people who live good clean openly gay lives do more for the cause than any organized group or campaign. History never remembers them. They are never recognized for their contributions. But, they really are not in it for that. They just want to coexist and get along, and sometimes they campaign very eloquently that way.
Max
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
For brothers to dwell together in unity!
Ps 133:1 NASB
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
timmy
|
 |
Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13801
|
|
|
While I don't agree with everything you say, I find this post interesting, refreshing.
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
timmy
|
|
Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13801
|
|
|
I think http://awiderbridge.blogspot.com/2010/03/drash-march-19-at-congregation-shaar.html is relevant to your quiet campaigners, Max. It's a long article, but even skim reading it I think you get the sense of normality here.
There are few things more persuasive than normality, which, I think, is a strong part of your message. Bit to achieve a certain normality there has to have been some initial lobbying, overt campaigning.
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
That's pretty much the basis that I've lived the past 30+ years - a life of utter and unremarkable ordinariness, as a fully out gay man. I certainly think that it plays a big role in making being gay acceptable in general to the public. There's a lot to be said for being un-threatening.
But I also think it's important to campaign more actively, as that's what raises the issue in the public mind in the first place. And I do - very strongly - think that that has to include campaigning on behalf of those who are less comfortable fitting into current social norms, including transgendered, asexual and queergendered people. Having worked on acceptance for ourselves, we must never become complacent.
Let's not forget that it was the screaming queens and the fags that kicked off Stonewall, not the respectable middle-class gays like me.
"The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral, begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy. ... Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night devoid of stars." Martin Luther King
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Macky
|
|
Really getting into it |
Location: USA
Registered: November 2008
Messages: 973
|
|
|
You're a hero in my book NW. The screaming queens are super for the publicity, but it's guys like you that are giving the movement its solid footing.
Max
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
For brothers to dwell together in unity!
Ps 133:1 NASB
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
timmy
|
|
Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13801
|
|
|
The lass who wanted to take her girlfriend to the prom which was then cancelled has had an interesting ripple effect. I recommend you consider http://www.365gay.com/blog/ruby-sachs-prom-politics/ which shows a probable positive result, not yet for her, but for a different teen in a different state.
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Alyson Pubs published "Reflections of a Rock Lobster" in 1981. It is autobiographical and the main story is how he won the right to take his partner Paul to the school prom (in court!)
The book has lots of pictures and ends with messages of support because he and Paul had been interviewed on television and given strength to others in the same boat.
It's a sweet story and well worth reading. John Preston in the New York Native wrote: Rock Lobster is simply the most realistic, revealing, painful, insightful and - finally - joyful story about growing up gay in America that you will ever read.
Love,
Anthony
|
|
|
|
|
Goto Forum:
|
] 
A Place of Safety
Search
Help
Register
Login
Home
