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I was disturbed Friday morning after reading Gerry Jones' letter to the editor about the Maine voters' decision to repeal their Marriage Equality law ("Vote rejects 'deviant lifestyle,'" Readers respond, Nov. 6).
His opinion that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people are "hurting and broken people" who know "in their heart of hearts" that they are "deviant" is not only wrong but speaks volumes about what lies at the heart of prejudice against the LGBT community.
Throughout history we have watched larger, more powerful groups of people attempt to dictate to smaller, less powerful groups of people not only how they should act but what they should feel and what they should believe about themselves and the nature of the world. Even when this approach may have seemed "successful" in the short-term, it inevitably ended in future generations wondering how their ancestors could have been so naive and self-centered as to believe that their experience of the world was normative for everyone.
We would not tolerate whites dictating to non-whites what should be normal for them. Nor would we tolerate men dictating to women what it means to be a woman and how women should experience themselves and their womanhood, so why do we tolerate straight people assuming that they can dictate to LGBT people how they should experience their sexuality and what choices they should or should not be able to make?
Perhaps it is time that we accept that the best people to determine what is right or wrong for LGBT people are LGBT people themselves. To do so is to honor the very principle of self-determination upon which our country was founded.
Anthony Bianca
Send your comments to talkback@baltimoresun.com.
His opinion that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people are "hurting and broken people" who know "in their heart of hearts" that they are "deviant" is not only wrong but speaks volumes about what lies at the heart of prejudice against the LGBT community.
Throughout history we have watched larger, more powerful groups of people attempt to dictate to smaller, less powerful groups of people not only how they should act but what they should feel and what they should believe about themselves and the nature of the world. Even when this approach may have seemed "successful" in the short-term, it inevitably ended in future generations wondering how their ancestors could have been so naive and self-centered as to believe that their experience of the world was normative for everyone.
We would not tolerate whites dictating to non-whites what should be normal for them. Nor would we tolerate men dictating to women what it means to be a woman and how women should experience themselves and their womanhood, so why do we tolerate straight people assuming that they can dictate to LGBT people how they should experience their sexuality and what choices they should or should not be able to make?
Perhaps it is time that we accept that the best people to determine what is right or wrong for LGBT people are LGBT people themselves. To do so is to honor the very principle of self-determination upon which our country was founded.
Anthony Bianca
Send your comments to talkback@baltimoresun.com.
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"I'll keep my preferences behind closed doors so long as you do,too. Are you married? Then keep it to yourself, buddy, because I am sick of having your lifestyle shoved in my face everyday. I just hope I never see you and your girlfriend/wife/live-in whatever showing public displays of affection on the street. I might be so upset and disturbed that I'll vomit on your shoes.
Oh, and by the way, I am from a rural area. Do you have any idea of the amount of lesbian behaviour that takes place in cow pastures?"
Brought to you by "gratefulnature" (Again, am I on Candid Camera? Where do they hide that camera??)
This is the post of a truly twisted individual. What we call in my profession - delusional.
I do keep my preferences behind closed doors. You don't!!!
You don't know if I'm straight or gay. Married or single. Incestuous or into S&M or whatever. Because I do keep my preferences to myself. You know nothing about me but assume everything. Your type are the one's that feel the need to cram your preferences down our throat. And we're quite tired of it. I live in a rural area too but I don't spend my time watching " lesbian behavior that takes place in cow pastures?" (I still can't imagine cows 69ing but... you never know). If you want to compare yourself to cows, go ahead.
What a trip!!???!!
david1117 (11/11/2009, 8:22 AM )