Often we see anti-gay right-wing forces use quotations around words that describe our identities, and families. You will see them say a "homosexual" insinuating that this does not deserve recognition as a real orientation. They will also put quotations around "marriage" when they discuss gay couples, to debunk the notion of gay unions being worthy. Likewise, with regards to trans folk they say "man", "woman" totally disregarding and disrespecting the persons gender identity.
When dealing with anti-gay opponents lets reverse the tactic and put it on them to see how they feel. For example, "heterosexual" to describe the so called preference of these individuals. Also "heterosexual marriage" to describe the notion that somehow a "straight" couple should attain marriage rights.
Please do not regard this post as heterophobic, we have many allied readers and would never degrade their identities or marriages, this is simply a tactic that can be used against our anti-gay opponents so they can just for a second see what it is like to walk in our shoes.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Activist Tip: Debunk "Heterosexual" Preference
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19 comments:
I agree with you a propose a further step: Very often these anti-gay attacks are perpetrated by people who claim to do it as a tenet of their faith. I'd recommend hitting them where it hurts - i.e. "Christians" donate millions to pass Prop 8.
I don't say this as anti-Christian - I am a gay man pursuing ordination as a priest in the Episcopal Church. But I would argue it fair to suggest that Christianity is "name only" for those who use their faith as a rationalization for hate and discrimination.
Jon I absolutely agree real Christian embrace equality, and people who are anti-gay "christians" only claim to preach the gospel.
I agree. We can use the so called "Christians" actions on Prop 8 as not 'Christians.' Using their religion to change a state's constitution to discriminate against a group of mostly tax payers decent people. What would this man Jesus say?
Adam
despite your last paragraph, this post leaves me feeling like an "ally."
ben
What a fabulous idea. Kudos for thinking of it. Equal treatment is fair. So is equal disequality.
Why Ben? Elgay I like that equal disequality.
This is a really good point.
We did something similar recently - we were writing about Saxby Chambliss using his profile from ontheissues.org. OnTheIssues defines a politician with a high rating from Focus on the Family as having a "pro-family voting record", which to us is ridiculous since Focus on the Family only cares about families that fit their cookie cutter mold. So that will always be "pro-family", not pro-family, as far as we're concerned.
I think someone should copy/paste an entire chunk of their dimwitted rhetoric and replace everything 'gay' with 'straight' and anything referring to the LGTB community should be changed then we should show it to them and see if they realize how utterly ridiculous they really look and sound.
evil thank you! I hate that these bigots monopolize all these terms. I am a proud san francisco values voter, who is also a values voter, a person of faith and pro-family and pro-life (I am vegan and pro-choice).
I 'share' your posts on my facebook all the time by the way, my straight Baptist/Anglican family grit their teeth a lot but they put up with it ;-)
but...
My friends care and ask how they can help.
jgrrl you got it, i copied from the "protect marriage" site.
Marriage is between a man and a man and a woman and a woman, not between a man and a woman. It protects our children from being taught in public schools that “heterosexual marriage” is the same as traditional marriage, and prevents other consequences to Californians who will be forced to not just be tolerant of "heterosexual" lifestyles, but face mandatory compliance regardless of their personal beliefs.
jgrrl thanks that always helps :)
It's alright, I sometimes refer to them as "Christians". Fire it right back at them.
Brilliant points about Christians who "defend" marriage by outlawing it. I would change "pro-marriage" to "pro-"marriage.
Remember, too, that neither side has any position on "traditional" marriage -- only on Gay marriages.
hahaha the "Christians" want to preserve the "definition" of marriage despite it being numerous definitions and that's not according to me or the LGBT community, that's according to the dictionary and the English language.
The "Christians" claim marriage as a "holy" "sacrament" Yet it took the "Churches" over a thousand years to even consider it as such. Their "religion" ( tempted to say cult ) is nothing more than an excuse to dictate how other's live their lives.
As for the real Christians, who do not oppose alternative choices, POWER TO YOU =3
"Homosexual patriarchal Ignorance"
I just finished reading a article in our local GLBT paper, Dallas Voice, about CineMark's Alan Stocks contribution to passing prop 8 and his companies insanely hypocritical attempt at profiting by showing MILK. A local film producer Israel Luna is leading a protest at the opening to educate potential patrons of this companies shameless profiteering and inform them of alternative locations to see MILK. At this point I was all set to make plans to promote and attend until the very last words in that article when Isreal says he hopes everyone shows up ecspecialy "Drag Queens and TRANNIES" WTF. HEY HOW ABOUT SOME F###ING RESPECT. I am a transgender woman. As much a woman as the as the one who gave birth to you. Damn. I won't be there my dear friend, no, no.
Good point and I will keep it in mind. Your blog is wonderful.
thanks diane much love!
Kelli what a jerk he is, do you have his email I'd like to give him a piece of my mind.
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