In Gay Candidates Get Support That Causes May Not, read about how gay candidates have made strides in the last election cycle and why being out and proud has been one of the most integral components to shifting societal attitudes over the past decade.
But, I wonder - is it really possible to be truly supportive of queer individuals without supporting queer causes?
this is one of those thouchy situations because it happens all the time. some people are not accepting of GLBT rights, however when it comes down to someone they personally know, they make the exception for that one person that it's 'okay to be gay'...but just for them.
for example, a children who come out to their, usually anti-GLBT parents. sometimes the parents can all of a sudden be 'okay' with THEIRr child being out but still not accepting of anything else. i find this back and forth 'ok' with you, but 'not okay' with anyone/thing else banter very frustrating.
in my opinion, actions speak louder than words and if you cannot be consistently accepting, or ig you have conditions of being 'okay' with something/somneone, that just goes to show that it's not really support at all, it's a half assed way of making it go away so you wont have to deal with it.
just my thoughts.
Dina---I couldn't agree with you more!
I agree with your comment, too, Dina.
I do want to at least mention, however, that it goes the other way too... the parents who are "okay" with queer people or "have gay friends" but then react negatively when they find out their child is gay... for some reason it changes everything when it is a child or another family member, and obviously underscores the fact that they really are homophobic and they need to work it out.
It's the same subtle form of homophobia that makes people think its okay to say and think things like: "I'm fine with gay people, as long as I don't have to see them kissing in public... or as long as they keep it in the bedroom" or some similar nonsense. They don't even realize it's homophobic!
And my experience with friends has been wonderful, that for them, being around gay people or having gay friends just illustrates that being gay isn't an idea or a concept anymore... we're just people. There have been people in my life who have become more political or more outspoken or active around queer issues because they are no longer broad issues to them... they affect individuals they are close to directly.
Just wanted to take this opportunity to acknowledge that.