40 Years After Stonewall Anti-Gay Harassment Continues
Wednesday July 1, 2009
The patrons of The Stonewall Inn were fighting back against police harassment that hot summer evening in 1969. In some ways we've come a long way since then. But I was saddened and shocked to read several cases of police harassment and one video of a man being taunted and followed by a group of teenagers.
(Note: I just checked back on this video and I have to say, I feel sick to my stomach. The comments posted are so hate-filled. Who is posting these? There's violent homophobic comments and even more disturbing racist remarks. We will never defeat homophobia by fighting it with racism. I am ashamed. We in the LGBT community - assuming it is gay people posting the racist remarks- clearly also have a long ways to go. )
We Hate Gay People
A man posted a video on YouTube of his friend being harassed by a group of teenagers who shouted out that they hate gay people, "gay is not the way" and "F**k gay people." The men were leaving gay pride celebration in Minneapolis, MN when confronted by a group of 12-15 teens. Several people walk by, including a security guard and no one intervenes. The man being followed claims in the video that he is not scared, but how could he not be?(Note: I just checked back on this video and I have to say, I feel sick to my stomach. The comments posted are so hate-filled. Who is posting these? There's violent homophobic comments and even more disturbing racist remarks. We will never defeat homophobia by fighting it with racism. I am ashamed. We in the LGBT community - assuming it is gay people posting the racist remarks- clearly also have a long ways to go. )
Gay Bar Raided by Police
Was it a raid or "alcohol beverage code inspection" as the police claim? Either way, seven men were arrested and one is in intensive care with head injuries after police showed up at a Fort Worth, Texas gay bar Sunday night. The police officers claim they were "groped" and acted appropriately. Bar patrons say nothing like that happened. Columnist Dan Savage is calling the police reaction the "gay panic defense." Human Rights Campaign is calling for an investigation.Is No One Safe?
Going to a fundraising garden party at a older lesbian couple's home is not the first place I would think to fear being subject to police harassment. But apparently it happened in California. A 60-year-old lesbian and her partner were hosting a political fundraiser in their backyard when a neighbor called the police, saying the party was too loud. Details about what happened after the police arrived are disputed, but the woman claims she was thrown to the ground and her guests were pepper-sprayed and threatened with a taser.All these events show that there is still much work to be done. Consider getting involved in an organization working for LGBT rights or join the National Equality March in Washington October 11, 2009.
What else can we do? Post your ideas in the comments section below.
As I have maintained for years, if the “Hets” complain about a “Gay Agenda,” they have only themselves to blame. This roughin up was so unneccesary.
Leave people alone & they won’t be in your face. But, for those of you who dislike gays, guess what? YOU are at fault! They’re in your face & you need to get a new paradigm. Maybe kindness might be a good place to start! Duh!
The LGBT community really does have a long ways to go before we will truly be accepted by America, and the world in general. I know for a fact that in Georgia, hateful racism and homophobia is rampant. Couples are raising their children with the same backwards ideas that gay people are going to hell, trying to recruit others/children, and that all black people are raised to hate white people, so white people have perfectly acceptable grounds on which to hate them. It’s all so ridiculous! Personally, I was raised by parents with those ideals, and they say that I’m a terrible person with no “morals and values” now because I’ve “completely turned my back on my raising.” How am I a terrible person when I don’t steal, lie, cheat, kill, or fight, nor am I full of hatred towards others. How am I a terrible person because I’m a girl who happens to be in love with another girl, and I don’t believe in “red birds go with red birds, and blue birds go with blue birds.” If homophobia and racism are ever going to end, it has to be taught to the upcoming generations. Perhaps when the older generations of the South die out, we will see more peace. But until then, a little more broadmindedness would be nice. At least I can tell the LGBT community one thing that I was raised – “Treat others the way you want to be treated.” Turn the other fabulous cheek, ladies, gentlemen, and all others in between.
want to read about indias stonewall, here is the interesting and historic supreme court ruling decriminilising gay and lesbian sex in india. happy to tell you all india is gay.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8131924.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8131476.stm
the ruling came two days back, bravo
love to all lizaclair
When writing a story, the author is said to put a “voice” to their character in order for the reader to “hear” what the character is saying. This method is called giving the character heart. The GLBT community needs to show the nationwide public it’s heart and not just it’s history. By constantly showing gay history, we’re unconsciously forcing it to repeat itself. It is a long time moving forward when you’re continually looking at what’s behind you. No, we should not forget our roots and the struggles the GLBT community has overcome in the past, but we should start showing the world our hopes. Our dreams. Let them hear our hearts. We should display the positive aspects that being gay is not a curse or some horrible disease that needs to be exorcised, but a blessing because it is who we are. And who we are is no different than anyone else. We have the same wishes and beliefs as any heterosexual would have. To have success in whatever career we choose. To have success and love in relationships, whether they are with our family, friends, and/or life partners. And most of all to just be ourselves without judgement and pursecution. There are networks like LOGO which shows some of the public the lifestyles of the GLBT community but unfortunately it is not readily available for all of the community. I think that if the media produced shows about the positive lifestyles of the GLBT community on public television stations like ABC, CBS, or NBC it would allow them to show the country their heart and let their voices be heard to a larger audience. Yes we had Will and Grace but if you think about it, in the end the homosexuals Will and Jack, ended up without a life partner and the heterosexual roommate Grace gets her dream come true. To me that just shows the community that homosexuals can be accepted by the general public, just don’t expect to have what everyone else eventually obtains. Don’t count on your dreams. This is not what I want my children and my children’s children to grow up thinking. I want the world to know, for my children and eventual grandchildren to know that the GLBT community has a heart worthy of endlessly fulfilled dreams and aspirations, and has a voice that is worth listening to because we are as human and as deserving of a happy life as any other heterosexual is. If we could petition for these public television stations to air such shows, that would be fantabulous. It would have been kudos in my book to see Will get married.