Ryuu states:
"I think one thing might be that some may find it hard to distinguish 'homophobia' and 'standing up for your beliefs'. ...
But yeah, if Gay Pride can be protected, Straight Pride should be protected too. (And you're so right about the culture thing)"
Siiigh...
Well, goodie. I go on vacation for a little while, and now I have to come back and talk about this, again. Apparently, my first attempt at explaining the problem wasn't good enough. I shall try to rectify that this time.
Indeed, it may be true that when Ryuu and others express anti-gay sentiments, they are "standing up for [their] beliefs". The problem is that these beliefs that they're standing up for are bigoted and homophobic. Honestly, I don't understand how he thinks this is a good justification for anything. If his beliefs are homophobic, then he is homophobic for holding them. He is standing up for homophobic beliefs. There is nothing to distinguish.
Here's a little fun fact: once upon a time, not so very long ago, people used the same arguments against racial desegregation that they do now against homosexuality. Don't believe me? Here's a sample. This part in particular rings a bit familiar, no?
"Tells of “God’s Decree”
Justice Glenn Terrell, dean of the court, wrote a defense of segregation in an opinion concurring with the majority holding. He said that the United States supreme court in ordering desegregation in public schools had “reversed a decree of God Almighty.”
“When God created man he allotted each race to his own continent according to color — Europe to the white man, Asia to the yellow man, Africa to the black man and America to the red man,” wrote Terrell.
“But now we are advised that God was in error and must be reversed.”
This judge is also "standing up for [his] beliefs", is he not? But if he said "I think one thing might be that some may find it hard to distinguish 'racism' and 'standing up for your beliefs'," would any sensible person today accept that? I don't think so. I assume -- I hope -- they would call it what it is: racism.
So, why should I, or anyone else, accept Ryuu's paltry justification for homophobia? Why does he willingly hold onto, and stand up for, homophobic beliefs if he isn't homophobic himself, especially when there are millions of Christians who don't think homophobia is in line with their religion?
Ryuu, your beliefs are homophobic, period. You can stand up for them all you like, but that makes you a bigot. You can try to play wordgames to get out of that, but those who carry a lick of sense will see right through it. Claiming that they're your beliefs is not a get-out-of-scrutiny-free pass. Beliefs are not untouchable and unquestionable. If racism is not justifiable by religious beliefs, then neither is homophobia.
Yes, Gay Pride is protected -- by our First Amendment right to free speech. It's a statement against people who "stand up for [the] beliefs" that gay people are disgusting reprobates that deserve to be ostracized and punished for being gay. It's a statement against people like you, Ryuu. Straight Pride makes about as much sense as White Pride, and is just about as reprehensible in good society. What do straight people have to be protected against? Is straight marriage going to be outlawed at any moment? Do you feel fear every time someone asks about your relationship? Do you wonder if your boss will fire you if he finds out you're straight? Do you have to worry about "BREEDER" being spraypainted on your front door, or that you might be killed for walking arm-in-arm with your girlfriend in public?
It's not enough that American society caters to straight people, that everyone is assumed by default to be straight, and that no one has ever had to worry about how society will treat them if it was found out that they were straight. It seems the simple reminder that non-heterosexual people exist and are oppressed is an attack on heterosexuality, and that when bigots are called on their bigotry, it's not because they're bigoted, but because their critics are heterophobic. What a load of bollocks.
Anyone who has ever invoked Straight Pride always did it as a negative response to Gay Pride. Doesn't that strike you as odd, folks? Even a little?
Ryuu's wrong about one more thing, too: Straight Pride is protected. It's a statement as well, just as protected by the First Amendment as Gay Pride. But just because one has the right to express Straight Pride, and just because one has the right to stand up for homophobic beliefs, doesn't mean he can't be called out as the homophobe that he is, nor does it mean that he is immune to criticism and scrutiny. After all, racist statements are protected speech, too, but everyone with good sense recognizes how deplorable racism is and doesn't tolerate it. People can, and will, still call out racism as a tool of ignorance and hate, just as they should for homophobia. That one has the right to say or believe something doesn't make that belief acceptable or good.
Homophobia and the anti-gay beliefs that Ryuu claims to be standing up for are one and the same. As unjust, ugly excuses for oppressing people, they're not worth standing up for, and I find it appalling that he thinks they are.
Ryuu, by making these statements, you give fuel to the belief that religion is a shelter for hate and bigotry. Is that really the attitude you want to foster?
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