Homosexuality in Today's Society

[Rolling Thunder]

I have come to the conclusions as follows: You are what you are. It's not my damn business what you do with other consenting adults, though I'll admit it does repell me.

As for myself: I am what I am. I stopped caring whether I was 'gay' or 'bi' or straight and deciedied that I'm just going to go on impulse until I find a partner, regardless of their sexuality.

 

[Smashking]

Gay people have never bothered me, I have a close friend who's gay.
I don't understand how it could be a problem, even if a queer makes a pass at you then all you have to do is say you aren't interested. It's like laying into some randomer because they painted their house a different colour. We get this black preacher here, and he's so anti-gay, calls homosexuallity an "abomination". It's pretty narrowminded of him, but that's Christianity for you. If you ever need to piss off a priest, just stroke him.

 

[Giovanto]

Gay people have never bothered me, I have a close friend who's gay.
I don't understand how it could be a problem, even if a queer makes a pass at you then all you have to do is say you aren't interested. It's like laying into some randomer because they painted their house a different colour. We get this black preacher here, and he's so anti-gay, calls homosexuallity an "abomination". It's pretty narrowminded of him, but that's Christianity for you. If you ever need to piss off a priest, just stroke him.

I really hope you didn't read my post if your generalizing like that. Being Christian doesn't make you a gay-hater. Your stereotyping us the same way people stereotype gays.

 

[MarsProbe]

It's pretty narrowminded of him, but that's Christianity for you. If you ever need to piss off a priest, just stroke him.

That's a rather broad generalisation and couldn't be further from the truth. Do you know many Christians, besides this black preacher (what his skin colour has to do with his opinions, I don't know)? A true Christian should indeed be tolerant of how another person lives, even if it is not something they necessarily agree with.

Also, I don't think the house painting analogy really sits. While I don't really see many people actually painting the outside of their house (not living in Tobermory, for one ), I can't imagine such an act isn't going to alter one's lifestyle in a way their sexual orientation would...

 

[Giovanto]

It's pretty narrowminded of him, but that's Christianity for you. If you ever need to piss off a priest, just stroke him.

That's a rather broad generalisation and couldn't be further from the truth. Do you know many Christians, besides this black preacher (what his skin colour has to do with his opinions, I don't know)? A true Christian should indeed be tolerant of how another person lives, even if it is not something they necessarily agree with.

Thank you...thats my point. We are suppose to be Tolerant and those who are not..well..I can tell you people like your Preacher and Fred Phelps disgust Jesus because they go against everything he ever taught us.

 

[LeWiggster]

It's pretty narrowminded of him, but that's Christianity for you. If you ever need to piss off a priest, just stroke him.

That's a rather broad generalisation and couldn't be further from the truth. Do you know many Christians, besides this black preacher (what his skin colour has to do with his opinions, I don't know)? A true Christian should indeed be tolerant of how another person lives, even if it is not something they necessarily agree with.

Thank you...thats my point. We are suppose to be Tolerant and those who are not..well..I can tell you people like your Preacher and Fred Phelps disgust Jesus because they go against everything he ever taught us.

It's kind of amazing how much bigotry people can get out of "love thy neighbour", really. That said, these people really are the vast minority, they just happen to be very outspoken about it, and it's horrible that it's effecting the way people perceive Christians in general.

 

[Lord George]

Well I think each generation is getting more accepting of homosexuality and sex in general. I've slept with a guy before, it's not that big a deal as most of my friends have indulged in the same sex at least once, its just another new thing to experience. Think I'll stick with gals for the time being though.

 

[thebobmaster_v1legacy]

I'm bi, know someone else who is, and have realized something. If you are straight, no questions asked. Gay, few questions asked (except by religious nutjobs). If you are bi, a lot of people will think you are either in denial about being gay, or sexually confused and are actually straight. At least, judging from my experience with my brother-in-law, who thought the latter at first when I came out to him.

 

[Radelaide]

I'm bisexual, and I'm accepted for it by most people. But the one thing I hate about people when I tell them that I'm bisexual, they tell me I'm just confused and need to decide if I'm gay or not. It's one of the most offensive things I'm ever told.

But, other than those few people, I'm accepted and my friends just joke about with it and my boyfriend thinks it's great

 

[SovietSecrets]

Bisexual as well and most my friends and others accept it. There have been a few that refused to believe me or didn't want to keep talking to me so yeah I have lost a few friends though expected that coming out at 17. Society in general seems to have no problem with anyone Gay/Lesbian/Bi so I don't get angry or upset when someone says I should make up my mind. All the people that are still my friends find it cool that I can go hit on guys and girls with no problems.

 

[space_oddity]

Prejudice - yeah, I do. I consider the phrase "that's gay" ( a synonym for something stupid, bad or what have you) to be highly offensive and I correct people if using it by just saying it's offensive. Back in high school some ass (wasn't just because I am gay, but he was just a bully in the general sense - it's just one more thing they can get on you about -.-) and I almost got in a physical confrontation, but he backed down when teachers were there in the halls.

Personally I've come to terms with people saying "gay" as something that's annoying, even though it irks me it's gotten to the point where me saying anything is just going to make matters worse. However, I will get offended and tell people to stop when they use the word "fag" or "******", because that word has never been used in another connotation other than to hurt people, whereas gay hasn't always been a derogatory phrase. And I for one cannot stand to let people do what equates to attacking someone, albeit verbally, especially when there is no other way the word could be taken. I mean yeah, some people will claim that "Oh, a fag is a British word for cigarette" or "A ****** is just a bundle of sticks", but seriously, if you're calling someone a fag, you're not calling them a cigarette. And why the hell would you call someone a bundle of sticks?

I sometimes catch myself saying something like "Aww dude that was so gay" and feeling like an ass afterwards because it could be taken offensively. Then again i bet constantly happy people once took offense when gay started to mean homosexual.

No trouble at all here. Probably because I'm not male.

"Ooh, lesbian. That's hot."

Im a straight guy and i dont find lesbians or lesbian sex to be at all arousing. I even fast forward through that scene towards the end of Pirates XXX.

Homosexuality is very accepted here. Almost to the point where people are encouraged to it by friends...The problem with it being encouraged here is that we now have the male gay mob, and the lesbian mob in Stockholm...The lesbian mob has been very violent recently, and often without provocation.

That is honestly the most insane thing ive heard all day. I would imagine they would have to be quite...not feminine to beat up a guy. Im coming to Sweden in july, should i be concerned about this?

 

[space_oddity]

Well I think each generation is getting more accepting of homosexuality and sex in general.

I think in certain ways the inverse is true. I mean in the long term, like you could be as gay as the day is long back in the heights of the Roman Empire and no one would think twice about it.

If you are bi, a lot of people will think you are either in denial about being gay, or sexually confused and are actually straight.

Yeah i think alot of people treat Bisexuality as more of a novelty or a 'phase' because of people who do it for attention etc. I see it alot at parties when drunk/desperate/attention seeking girls hook up with each other when they and everyone else knows they are completely straight.

 

[Higurashi]

Prejudice - yeah, I do. I consider the phrase "that's gay" ( a synonym for something stupid, bad or what have you) to be highly offensive and I correct people if using it by just saying it's offensive. Back in high school some ass (wasn't just because I am gay, but he was just a bully in the general sense - it's just one more thing they can get on you about -.-) and I almost got in a physical confrontation, but he backed down when teachers were there in the halls.

Personally I've come to terms with people saying "gay" as something that's annoying, even though it irks me it's gotten to the point where me saying anything is just going to make matters worse. However, I will get offended and tell people to stop when they use the word "fag" or "******", because that word has never been used in another connotation other than to hurt people, whereas gay hasn't always been a derogatory phrase. And I for one cannot stand to let people do what equates to attacking someone, albeit verbally, especially when there is no other way the word could be taken. I mean yeah, some people will claim that "Oh, a fag is a British word for cigarette" or "A ****** is just a bundle of sticks", but seriously, if you're calling someone a fag, you're not calling them a cigarette. And why the hell would you call someone a bundle of sticks?

I sometimes catch myself saying something like "Aww dude that was so gay" and feeling like an ass afterwards because it could be taken offensively. Then again i bet constantly happy people once took offense when gay started to mean homosexual.

No trouble at all here. Probably because I'm not male.

"Ooh, lesbian. That's hot."

Im a straight guy and i dont find lesbians or lesbian sex to be at all arousing. I even fast forward through that scene towards the end of Pirates XXX.

Homosexuality is very accepted here. Almost to the point where people are encouraged to it by friends...The problem with it being encouraged here is that we now have the male gay mob, and the lesbian mob in Stockholm...The lesbian mob has been very violent recently, and often without provocation.

That is honestly the most insane thing ive heard all day. I would imagine they would have to be quite...not feminine to beat up a guy. Im coming to Sweden in july, should i be concerned about this?

I feel the same about the usage of the word "gay". People around me mostly use it to say it's quirky in a funny way, so I don't mind that much.

Wow... that's rare. Lesbian sex is like regular sex, only better because both involved are beautiful and hot. Also.. there's this special sensuality that you can't get when a guy is present. Of course, in the same way, there is a special kind with man-to-woman too.

Not very feminine at all, no. They want to stand up for themselves, and their life of oppression comes exploding in violent outbreaks. The only time you should be concerned is if you choose to openly side with any faction provocatively. Then things might get hairy. Uh, no pun intended.

 

[Noamuth]

No trouble at all here. Probably because I'm not male.

"Ooh, lesbian. That's hot."

I think I've said enough.

So you've never gotten the token, "all you need is the right man" bullshit yet? Lucky.

Ugh, don't get me started on that. Funnily enough, I've had more girls say that to me than guys. 'omg guys arn't THAT bad u havnt met the right one'

I know they're not 'that bad'. I'm just not attracted to them.

 

[Labyrinth]

No trouble at all here. Probably because I'm not male.

"Ooh, lesbian. That's hot."

I think I've said enough.

I have imagined this conversation in an IRC chatroom.

"You're gay!? Omg, gays need to die"

"Actually... I'm not... I'm a lesbian"

"ASL PLS"

It happens, believe me. And it's irritating as hell.

For many years I've been open about my interest in either gender. While I've used the tag of bisexual for a while, a recent discussion with a friend of mine brought up something far more accurate.

A pansexual (Ohh, new lingo!) is someone who is attracted to individuals, regardless of gender. If that person happens to be female, hey, great. If it's male, same deal. This is by far the most accurate description I can think of for my own preference, in that I don't really have one. In manifestation this is often the same as bisexuality it's just the reasons behind it that are rather different.

Difficulty? Hmm. Hard to say. I think I scared my parents when I let them know. None of my friends took offence. As it is I'm part of a number of groups aimed at supporting people of "alternative" sexualities and encouraging openness about such issues. I've seen and heard some truly awful "Coming out" stories involving things such as getting kicked out of home, beatings, even suicide attempts. I still find it horrid that the suicide rate amongst alternate sexualities is 5 or so times higher than amongst heterosexual individuals.

 

[Coolty545]

Personally, I think that the amount of persecution and ignorance towards gays and bisexuals depends mostly on where you live. I live in the San Joaquin Valley in California. In Fresno, we've got quite a large population of Christian beliefs, and from what I've seen, a lot of Republicans.

'course, this sprouts bigotry, from a few families anyway. I may be in high school, but I've seen how kids act, and know that most of that has to be learned from their parents. A good friend of mine refers to the gays as 'animals', and how being gay is 'immoral and a sin'. He's still a damn good friend, I'm a very 'live and let live' kind of person, but those kinds of views are just wrong. There's already been a few posts about passages from the Bible and how Christians aren't -all- like that, and it's completely true. If we bash on the church because they bash on the gays, we're nothing but hypocrites.

I'm confident Proposition 8 will be overturned, mostly because it's unconstitutional (all men created equal, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness and all that jazz), but quite frankly, I think your hardships will depend on the area you live in.

Just my two cents, anyway.

 

[Irridium]

I know a few gay people.
They're actually pretty cool, and fun to hang around.
I'm not gay myself though.


But what really confuses me is that most people I've talked to about homosexuality seemed to think that they can be turned gay by a gay person. That kind of shit pisses me off, and those people need to get punched in the stomach.

 

[SmartIdiot]

Go and hang around in a gay bar. Seriously! I went to visit a friend of mine a couple of months back (female, by the way) and she thought it'd be funny to take me to a gay bar and not tell me until we'd had a couple of drinks. My reaction wasn't what she expected. "So...?". I also have had gay friends before. While I can't really give you any insight into what it's like to be a gay person in todays society I do believe it depends on where you are. Some places are more or less tolerant than others. Does it matter? When I was in that bar I probably wouldn't have questioned the fact that we were in a gay bar if it weren't for the fact that it was full of GUYS! The way I perceive their take on things at the moment is much like I perceive the way I live my life, they just have different preferences. I only say this because I like flirting with boys just for laughs. Bi-curious? We'll see... : )

 

[jad4400]

I know a gay couple in our yacht club that are pretty cool, they even showed me how to work the popcorn machine for the club movie night.

For me I'm not gay, but I do know some people who are. I fine with it: whatever floats your boat man, just don't try and come onto me.