[BBXX]

I hope this post doesn't offend anyone but I do think people are getting a bit confused between societal privilege and what Ali was talking about which is societal power and I do think that the power (i.e: the influence) a person holds is far more closely measured by your sex than any other aspect of your upbringing or culture and as a result, I do think sexuality also has an influence in this.

For example, I am a middle class white gay man. In the totem pole of societal privilege I would have certain privileges that I benefit from because I am both a man and white. However, in the totem pole of societal power, I believe I would be ranked below straight men of all classes, nationalities and creeds because society, in general, sees gay men as 'lesser men' and therefore they hold 'less power', despite my whiteness and despite my social class that benefit me in other ways outside of influence. I think society sees gay men the same way they see straight women, and I think society sees gay women as even less powerful and I think that's what Ali would getting at.

Of course people may disagree with my assessment too and I'd be open to being told otherwise because I am sure people have many different experiences that clash with what I have said and so I'd be open to hearing them, as I am calling it from a not-particularly-sheltered-but-still-probably-quite-naive viewpoint.