Gay 101

With the demise of DOMA and Prop 8 today, I've been trolling a lot of the news Facebook posts and squashing the hateful hopes of those opposed to gay marriage. So I thought it might be a cathartic move to make a blog post.

I want to preface this post by saying that I'm what's known as a "gay ally". I'm a mostly straight female. I've dabbled in the lady sexuals and I'm not opposed to it, but my primary attraction is to men. Kristen Wiig is always the exception to that rule.. but I digress.

I grew up in a primarily liberal household. Nothing extreme, but liberal nonetheless. I grew up saying things like "that's gay" and "what a fag". My first gay friend and I went to high school together. His name was Bob and I remember when he came out to me. I didn't have a reaction. I always kind of suspected. It wasn't a big deal. My second gay friend I met at a different high school. Since, I've had numerous gay friends. However, I don't consider them my "gay friends". They're my friends. They don't do friendship differently because they're gay. Also, before I left high school, I retrained my brain to stop saying "that's gay" and I haven't used the word "fag" or any incarnation of it for YEARS. That rhetoric is unacceptable.

Now, I'm going to do a few things. I'm going to bust some stereotypes and tell you some facts about homosexuality.

- Teaching homosexuality does not create or promote homosexuality. The only thing it promotes is equality. Teaching children that regardless of who you find attractive, you're still a valid human being and you're no different than anyone else.
- Homosexuality is not a choice. If you believe that it is, I want you to pinpoint the moment you chose to be heterosexual in detail. The odds are real good, as in there's a 99.999999% chance, that you did not choose it.
- Not all homosexuals are in love with you, so get over yourself. Listen, Karen, just because the woman sitting next to you at the bar just openly stated she's a lesbian, that doesn't mean that she's interested in you sexually... It just means you're both presumptuous and ignorant.
- Homosexuality is present in most species. We are the only species that rejects it.
- Religion and homosexuality are two very different animals. I respect your right to be Catholic, Christian, Baptist, Buddhist, Atheist, whatever you are. One of the perks of living in this country is a freedom to belong to whatever religion we so choose. However, when the subject of "gay marriage" comes up, somehow the first hat thrown in the proverbial ring is the bible. If you firmly believe the strongest point in the bible is that homosexuals are sinful and should not marry, then you have not read the bible. I was raised Catholic and became Agnostic at 18. Never was this an issue for me and it was barely addressed in our bible studies growing up. You know what was addressed? One of the central focuses of what is supposed to be the bible's message; treating others as you would like to be treated. Apparently many of "god's children" wish to be treated with outright prejudice and hate.  Please, for the love of your god, the next time you're trying to use religion as an excuse for your fear and ignorance toward homosexuality, realize that we are not all of your same creed. And even if you see that as unacceptable, it is not your place to tell other people how they can or cannot live. You cannot make choices for other people in the name of god. Perhaps instead of trying to denounce gay marriage, do something good for your community. Do something with a charity. Do something productive. I think anyone's god would want that over persecuting innocent people for who they love.
- Beastiality and homosexuality are not the same. Using that comparison is not only petulant, but it makes you look like an outright idiot. People that fuck horses are committing a form of rape. Homosexuals have safe, intimate, CONSENSUAL sexual relationships. Just STOP. No one is going to be impressed with this argument. They are just going to feel sad that you think this is a legitimate argument.

Homosexuality is natural. It's natural because it happens in nature. In all forms of nature. It has for years upon years. There's no denying that.

I hope one day we can live in a country more open-minded and willing to accept those who lead different lives and harm no one in the process.