"And we express a great deal of resentment towards theirs. So?"
It is wrong you and whoever else you are including in your 'we' should stop that. Apparently you think you deserve their expressions of resentment, I don't. Perhaps counselling would help you. You deserve respect and to be honored for the noble human being you were created to be. That's, so what.
"You probably also would have not seen where blacks gained anything by drinking at the whites-only water fountains when they could've gotten water from the black ones or a garden hose."
Why would you make such an ignorant and hateful false allegation?
"Gays complain that they want to be considered the same as straights are in society at large. And they should be. Why not? They're pretty much like you and me. I have plenty of gay friends; I don't really consider them much different except for what they do with their genitals."
Lots of friends good for you. I know lots of nice gay people and have no reason to diss them, criticise them, or see them harmed. But we are not the same.
They are human beings and deserve every consideration of being a human being. But you are wrong about sameness. There are differences among human beings gender, sexual orientation, world views, values, and goals are some of the things which define difference. There are clear differences between heterosexual core family values subcultures, and gay subcultures that can be defined by subculture goals. Once you look beyond the fight against discrimination and prejudice, which are of course worthy goals for us all, what remains as goals for the community and acceptable values are distinctly different.
"What presentation? Did I miss something?"
It seems so, or you're being coy.
"Not so much these days. And a lot of the reason why it's historically developed differently is because it had to be done in secret. And even if it did develop differently, so what?"
False. The closet, secrecy issue has been a guilt trip laid upon straights. The secrecy of casual or illicit sex is part of the attraction and excitement of the gay lifestyle. New cases of HIV have doubled in many places over the last five years, in places where gay lifestyle is out, prominent, and acceptable. Gays don't want to take responsibility for that but the fact remains, casual sex is a norm and an acceptable standard for the gay community. It exists in the heterosexual communities as well but among the family values culture it is viewed as a deviant behavior that is not acceptable and certainly not to be celebrated. Just as much or more these days.
"Why should they have a distinct identity? I don't want to treat anyone differently because of what they do with their penises or vaginas?"
Everyone is treated differently based on what they do with their genitals. They are treated differently depending on what they are doing differently and depending on the partners response to what they are doing. In addition their behavior is consequential in that it may produce offspring, create conflict with significant others, result in spread of desease, etc.
That is the heart of the issue. Like it or not individuals and groups of individuals are different. We have some things in common but we are different in many ways, ways that are consequential. Family values people enjoy certain rewards for their lifestyles which are not readily available to people who reject that lifestyle. People may choose to resent that but calling them married doesn't change it. The distinction is not a matter of shoulds or should nots, it is a matter of consequence.
Lifestyle choices or circumstances are consequential. Violent robbers in general can expect different consequences for their actions than priests in general. The consequence of a soldier's violent performance of duty is different than what a nursery school teacher can expect for hers. Singles have different consequences than committed couples. Children have different consequences for their behavior than adults. Wise people are different than stupid people. etc etc etc All are human beings and deserve to be treated with human dignity and everyone is unique and different. Why does that bother you?
"Why not? I don't see my gay married friends as particularly different from my straight ones. And as gay marriage comes to a neighborhood near you, you'll see that. Contractual monogamy changes the game."
Anyone can play house. Anyone can make a commitment or form a contract. I know gay 'married' people and you are wrong. It is not the same and can't be for the fundamental difference that exists in the nature of the partnership.
"Gays are PART of my community.
Mine too, so what. However, you are denying the fundamental differences that are fact and consequencial.
"The law has historically not smiled upon "separate but equal" in the last half-century or so. Good luck with that.
Your condescending tone is noted but it is a false issue. There is no segregation. Gay people are fully integrated and always have been, with full rights. There is no evidence that homosexuals have been denied opportunity, quite to the contrary, as a group they are employed in the top echelons of society. |
