stop homophobia

Obviously I’ll never really complete this goal. Homophobia will always exist. I’m going to make it a personal goal to change at least one person’s mind. I know I’ve probably been able to do that over the past few years just by being open and visible. In Japan homosexuality is more hidden than it is in Canada. It’s something that most people just don’t think about. The next time I notice that I’ve opened someone’s mind, I’m going to mark this as complete.

I entered a website writing contest about ‘loving your enemies’. We were supposed to agree or disagree with Jesus’ teachings about Loving your Enemies. Basically, I wrote an essay on how it felt to be hated for being queer, and how it’s difficult to love those people that hate me… The main idea I wanted to get across was that that often, hate actually comes from pain or fear, and when you recognize that in individual people (as I did in the situation I wrote about), it’s easier to understand and maybe forgive.
I was actually optimistic about how I would do (the contest has only 12 or so entries). Unfortunately I didn’t take into the account that everyone who entered, (and the majority of the voters) are born-again Christians. So I doubt I’ll win, but I’m glad that I was able to write something that people will actually read.

I’m so happy that California overturned it’s ban on gay marriage! I just found out that Ellen Degeneres is getting married! (A week late, I know) Watching the clip of her announcing her upcoming marriage made me cry… She is such an Icon for gay rights. After that whole thing with her show getting cancelled because no one wanted to watch a sitcom about lesbians it must have been hard for her. But look at what a turn around she made! And now she’s getting married to the love of her life :)

Things like this give me hope. Hope for everyone who is struggling with their sexuality and all of the issues that go along with that. Because it can turn around. Luck can change, people’s attitudes can change. Someone who is struggling now will likely find love and acceptance in the future. And that struggle can make happiness all the more meaningful in the end. I’m hoping for a better future, and it looks as though things are changing in that direction.

Sometimes even just coming out to one person makes a difference. I in no way changed this person’s outlook, but maybe he’ll think a little harder next time he makes assumptions about people.

I love this song. I just had to share the lyrics and this seemed like an appropriate place.

I Was Married
by Tegan and Sara

I married in the sun, (tell me where, tell me where)
against the stone of buildings built before
you and I were born. (start again, start again)
To my heart, confusion grows against.
The muscles fought so long (fought so long)
to control against
the pull of one magnet to another magnet to another magnet.

Now we look up in (tell me who, tell me who)
to the eyes of bullies breaking backs.
They seem so very tough. (it’s a lie; it’s a lie)
They seem so very scared of us.
I look into the mirror (look into)
for evil that just does not exist.
I don’t see what they see. (tell them that; tell them that)

Try to control the pull of one magnet
to another magnet,
to another magnet,
to another magnet to another.

I don’t usually come across a lot of homophobia that really bothers me. I do encounter it all the time but I can usually just brush it off. Sometimes it does get me down, like today.
These guys at work constantly joke around about the others being gay. I don’t mind it most of the time, the way they go about it is actually pretty creative and funny. But it does start to get old. I ended up telling one of the guys (mostly to shut him up) that i have a theory that pretty much everyone is bisexual to a certain degree. This, of course, doesn’t mean that everyone wants to act on it, but I think it’s natural to be curious now and then. I think what Tolvi said is right “As far as I can figure, the only reason people give Gays/lesbians/bisexuals a bad time is because the straight people are afraid that they themselves might be gay.” I also think that the more we accept that it has crossed the minds of a lot of people the less it’ll freak out straight people if they do have a momentary attraction.
Anyway, long story short, the guy freaked out at me and said that it was insulting to imply to anyone that they are bisexual. At first I felt guilty for making him feel bad, but then I realized that he really insulted me, and it kinda hurt. If he considers even being 5% bisexual an insult, than clearly I know what he thinks of me.
I know homophobia exists all around. I try to ignore it for the most part, but sometimes it’s hard. Sorry for the long post, but I just felt the need to rant a bit.