[Swan]

Why does everyone need labels nowadays?! I don't see a gay man, i see a man. Why is somebodies sexual orientation constantly thrown in my face by the mainstream media, are we not all equal?

Apparently im a 'sis white male'. However i do not wish to be judged on race and sexual orientation. Judge me on the kind of human being i am, thanks.

[Ant.]

People's identity matters

[Livia]

I have a lot of friends who are gay in real life and they're just friends like any other. Most of my gay friends are professional, most are in long term relationships or are married, they are popular at work, have active social lives. They don't let the fact that they're gay single them out from the rest of society and have a wide range of friends, both gay and straight. They are not defined by their homosexuality, it's just one facet of them.

I understand that there is more to be done to end homophobia and bigotry towards gay people and I understand the reasons for Pride month. But the way things have changed for gay people in the last fifty years I'm hoping that in another fifty years we won't need Pride... but they'll have it just for fun.

[Toy Soldier]

You can judge and be judged on an individual basis at the same time as recognising and accepting that different specific groups face different specific issues. I agree that no one should be entirely defined by one or a few specific traits - their gender, their sexuality, their profession, their nationality - however it's a bit foolish to argue that these things should be ignored entirely as aspects of identity.

[Liam-]

Because while people are just people, their sexuality is a part of who they are, it matters, it definitely shouldn’t be the main identifying characteristic, but it matters.

Also, the term ‘shoving it down our throats’ always irks me, especially considering how the majority of tv shows, adverts and magazines have straight folk and their relationships all over them on a daily basis but aren’t ever talked about that way, it screams ‘keep it hodden’

[Ammi]

Originally Posted by Swan

Why does everyone need labels nowadays?! I don't see a gay man, i see a man. Why is somebodies sexual orientation constantly thrown in my face by the mainstream media, are we not all equal?

Apparently im a 'sis white male'. However i do not wish to be judged on race and sexual orientation. Judge me on the kind of human being i am, thanks.

...I think that’s exactly the thing though...there are those who have been judged by society on race and on sexuality ...and less so on the human beings they are...and that place of ‘equality’ has not yet been reached by all in their views and in their prejudices...sadly, homosexuality still does not have equality to heterosexuality in all aspects of society ....

[Livia]

I have noticed that suddenly there are a lot of lesbian couples having babies on various TV adverts. I think the sudden rush to be 'right on' means advertisers overdo it. So they are currently overdoing the homosexual couples on adverts, but it will calm down and slip into a kind of normality. It's like every couple on an advert right now is mixed race to the point where mixed race couples are being overrepresented. People are struggling to get it right and please everyone. And like I said earlier, in the future your sexuality will be as unimportant as the colour of your eyes.

[Swan]

Originally Posted by Liam-

Because while people are just people, their sexuality is a part of who they are, it matters, it definitely shouldn’t be the main identifying characteristic, but it matters.

Also, the term ‘shoving it down our throats’ always irks me, especially considering how the majority of tv shows, adverts and magazines have straight folk and their relationships all over them on a daily basis but aren’t ever talked about that way, it screams ‘keep it hodden’

TV shows, adverts, films are massively diverse. They reflect real life now more than ever.

[Swan]

Originally Posted by Ant.

People's identity matters

Isn't that why we have names?

[arista]

Originally Posted by Liam-

Could you be anymore inflammatory?

People aren’t ‘on a warpath’ people are celebrating their identity and fighting a fight that still needs to be fought

They look like , they are on a Warpath,
Get out of our way......... its LGBT Day

[bitontheslide]

I can see how it would wind some people up. Equally, there were many on here triggered by a "straight" pride

If people want to moan, they will

[Ammi]

...who told you to get out of their way, Arista..?...

[Livia]

Originally Posted by bitontheslide

I can see how it would wind some people up. Equally, there were many on here triggered by a "straight" pride

If people want to moan, they will

LOL.... so true.

[arista]

Originally Posted by Liam-

All I want
is to able to get to a meeting
not a Blocked route
because of a LGBT day

[Ant.]

What about when people protested climate change in the streets the other week?

[Ammi]

Originally Posted by Ant.

What about when people protested climate change in the streets the other week?

...climate change this and climate change that..?...

[arista]

Originally Posted by Ant.

What about when people protested climate change in the streets the other week?

Yes they need to be arrested
removed

[Ant.]

Originally Posted by Ammi

...climate change this and climate change that..?...

[Swan]

Originally Posted by Ant.

What about when people protested climate change in the streets the other week?

Originally Posted by Ammi

...climate change this and climate change that..?...

Sexuality and climate change is not comparable.

[Ant.]

Originally Posted by Swan

Sexuality and climate change is not comparable.

I'm referring to Arista complaining about road blocks for LGBT events, despite there being road blocks for other occasions

Why did you delete the "name" comment?

[Ammi]

Originally Posted by Swan

Sexuality and climate change is not comparable.

...surely neither is a sexuality who has never felt prejudice and a sexuality which has ..?...

[Ant.]

Originally Posted by Ammi

...surely neither is a sexuality who has never felt prejudice and a sexuality which has ..?...

[Swan]

Originally Posted by Ammi

...surely neither is a sexuality who has never felt prejudice and a sexuality which has ..?...

So by labelling oneself 'gay' is achieving what exactly? I wouldn't argue prejudice still exists but i feel energy and resources are very much misused when it comes to gay rights in the western world. Isn't the whole argument to educate the world on how one shouldn't be defined by their sexuality?

[Ant.]

Anyway there's people out there that struggle with their identity regardless of whether or not they want to be judged for their sexuality alone (and I've never met anyone who wants to be judged or defined solely by their sexuality - they want to be treated at equals, but that's not really always possible even today).

Homosexuality is considered 'different'. You will read people's coming out stories about how they're conditioned to think that being attracted to the same sex is 'bad' since they aren't exposed to it in the media (although representation is improving) and offensive slurs are used far too often. So a person whose LGBT (and even straight people who explored their sexuality before realising they are in fact straight) don't really have a good time figuring themselves out. And celebrities coming out in the news are an important topic to people. Personally I am not affected by coming out stories since I am comfortable, but for a twelve year old boy seeing that a guy they saw in their favourite film is gay will validate them and help them while they figure out their identity

I truly like to believe that people are entitled to their own opinion but I don't think people can enforce people to not express their sexuality when that label can represent their struggles and their life. As I said, I didn't struggle with my sexuality - but people have, and circumstances during their process of figuring themselves out and circumstances following their coming out (being disowned, homophobia, etc) matter. If people wish to identify as gay since they lost and hurt so much in getting to a place where they can call themselves that, I don't think anyone has the right to complain that they can drop in the fact they're gay every so often, no matter what the reason

[Ant.]

Originally Posted by Swan

So by labelling oneself 'gay' is achieving what exactly? I wouldn't argue prejudice still exists but i feel energy and resources are very much misused when it comes to gay rights in the western world. Isn't the whole argument to educate the world on how one shouldn't be defined by their sexuality?

It's allowing a person to realise they're not alone and are part of a community. It's achieving validation. How do people calling themselves gay affect you?

Prejudice doesn't exist? How doesn't it? Was the fact I was called a ****** for being on a date with a guy not count as prejudice? Is the fact people are disowned and kicked out of their houses for being gay even in this country not qualify as prejudice? I'm really trying to understand your logic here - prejudice exists in the western world.

But people ARE defined by their sexuality. Their sexuality can represent years of their life figuring themselves out, bullying, and discrimination. That changes people and if people didn't want to be defined by that, trust me, they wouldn't.