posted by shaikai @ 9:25 AM
2 comments
Probably some of you have already heard of Norman, the little puppy that doesn't bark, but howls like a cow. In case you don't, find him at the Born Different Campaign site. He was like his brothers and the other dogs except for that little difference, and for just that little difference he was confronted to their rejection; some adult dog even tried to change him, though in vain. So, is Norman different just by nature? Wasn't he simply born that way? And, if so, why to reject him? Isn't fair to accept him as he is?
I found out this site and watched the videos, and can't just help thinking the Born Different campaign is a praiseworthy example of what a campaign for LGBT people's recognition and acceptance should be. Far from sophistic arguments and offensive language, Born Different just appeals to each other's sympathy and rationality. Pointing out what is to be pointed out with no need of the same kind of aggressiveness expressed by LGBT's most ferocious enemies.
One of my strong convictions is that hate/anger is a 'cancer' of society, only sustainable in minimal levels. As long as hate acquires so much strength and vigor, whatever happens next couldn't be but sad. The crimes against Afroamerican people in XIX and XX century USA, The Nazist Germany and the consequent Holocaust (1932-1945), Tutsi's extermination of hundred thousand Hutus in Rwanda and Burundi (1994) and Yugoslavian State genocides in Kosovo (1998) are tragic examples fresh in XXI century's memory (but hatred's effects should not be so tragic).
From these episodes we can learn the invaluable lesson of controlling hate and anger in society before they become so strong to open the way to rivers of blood. And this should be enough to repel those points of view aggressive against LGBT people or any other minority or part of society -that is, those viewpoints which force or imply action against certain people's integrity, freedom and human dignity. That's what we as identified with a non-dominating sexual orientation (gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered or whatever) need to confront.
Of course, anger arises when someone compels you to change the way you are under threat of condemnation, when someone hates you just because you are what you are. But then we have two basic choices: either to transform that anger and hate into strength and courage to affront difficult times and assist the victims of intolerance and repression, or let them grow and play the "let's build an ill society" game.
posted by shaikai @ 7:16 PM
0 comments
Six color rainbow gay pride flag flying over the Castro gay village in San Francisco, June 2005. Image source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:RainbowFlagCastroSF2005.jpg
I feel I don't understand what gay-pride is. So if someone asks me "are you proud of being gay?", I really don't know how to answer. Should I say yes? should I say no? Well, it's better if I explain myself.
I suppose that when you are proud of something, you believe that's very good and it is better to have it than not to have it. I really feel it's very good to be gay: well done, the pleasure of watching or making love with men is hardly comparable to anyone else. But, on the other side, I don't feel I'm better than other people just for being gay: obviously the same amount and kind of pleasure I find in men is to be found for many people in the opposite sex. It's not better or worse, it's just what I am.
But someone would say: "OK, dude, if you're not proud of being gay, then you are ashamed of". But that's not the case. I don't feel ashamed of it; indeed, I would defend my condition and repel the conservative and chauvinist attacks of others as courageously as needed. I even feel rage and indignation against homophobia. Not everyone in my family knows about my condition, but this is because strategic reasons: if my father knows and feels so bad, I would fear the situation becomes so difficult at home as to make me hard to finish my undergraduate studies. But mama and my younger brother know, and if someone else gets acquainted, I will surely repel any homophobic opinion that may arise. Concerning the rest of the world, I think I don't have to tell everyone; but when I feel that someone is going to become a very close friend, I feel the need of making him/her know; most of my closer friends know, accept that and the friendship became even closer when I told them. Indeed, sometimes I wish all my acquaintances in my University's Department of Philosophy (where I study) know the fact. It becomes boring and uncomnfortable when everyone tell men-and-women tales assuming you're straight too and asking (tacitly or not) for your sexual likes and dislikes. Well, this is enough to say that though I don't feel ashamed
posted by shaikai @ 4:22 PM
1 comments
