The great irony: homophobic conservatives who love RENT — Page 9

Rentaholic, I NEVER said what anyone SHOULD or SHOULD not do, I am not that kind of person. I clearly said that I was dissapointed by Derech's post and that I find it odd. I expresed MY opinion only ! I hope I can still do this here ! And I can understand if you were -wrongly- offended, but who gave you the right to speak about gay people or the theater community in general ?
Let me say what I mean in other terms ! If I went to a conservative red state and went around saying "I don't support heterosexuality, it's against my beliefs, sorry" do you think that I would go unnoticed ? So, why do you expect comments such as Derech's to go unnoticed here, which, whether you like it or not, is a community with a lot of gay people ?
With what you say about RENT, I agree !
And as an observation, straights and gays have managed to get along fine here because our love for theater unites us ! But it is a fact, that everytime the old gay vs. straight "war" starts, it it triggered by a straight member's post !

Updated On: 8/4/05 at 01:02 PM

i think that since we seem to have all decided that these people can hate us because of out sexuality I think its time i completely give up the high ground and start hating people of racial minorities and maybe women. Those blacks, they're trouble, they'll rob you in the middle of the day, with weapons. It's horrible what they do. and those arabs, OMG, all of them are terrorist, we should hunt down every person born, or influenced by anyone from the middle east, especially the men. and after that, we can go after the asians who eat cats and dogs. that is an abomonation. and don't even get me started on women. They are so useless, with there evil vaginas. the only wa to conrol them is keep them out of the work place and in the kitchen making my damn dinner. And you know, while we are on the topic of hating people jsut because we can, the handicapped, mental or physical should all be done away with.





Now that we have all read this post, and probably excreted a brick. How is anything up there different from what is being said by the few, misguided people on this board. Sure, they didn't say anything nearly as harsh, it all equates to the same. Hating a group of people simply because they are different. But somehow, hating the queers is ok for some reason. But if someone brought up a topic about hating blacks, or arabs, or asians, or women, or the diasbled it would the most horrible thing ever and people would cry for that persons lynching.

what makes the fag bashing ok? Honestly, why is it ok to hate people who just want to be able to love who they want to love without being afraid of doing it.

Who gets to choose which group of people is below the level that a group of people needs to be that to get basic civil rights and respect. Who? who gets to make that descision? Is it your almighty God? is he the one that gets to choose? your politicians? you? NO, no one gets to make that choice. No one. People should just be equal. In the words of Comedian Bill Maher "we're either drinkin from the same fountain in this country or we aren't" so which is it?

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Updated On: 8/4/05 at 01:24 PM

Thank you Elphaba, that is very humble of you. I really do respect your opinion and can really empathize with what you have to deal with...really, for my own reasons, I understand and feel for you more than you know.


And Greek, please don't get upset! I really didn't think that that was what you were trying to say which is why I added that little bit about "not trying to put words in your mouth". I really shouldn't of even gone there because you made no statement that supported what I speculated. I am sorry. :)

I guess no one here now was part of the off-topic board's "Anything Controversial" thread....after a point, it very much resembled this one, but much more cutthroat, long-winded, and two-sided...it went on for days. I much prefer this one.

Brilliant post, Peter. Absolutely correct.

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The problem (and this is true of all minority communities) is that the community can not agree on matters. Just look at this thread where one gay man can praise QEFTSG for progressing the gay image and another sees it as moving gays backwards.

There are many LGBT who feel that gay marriage is one of the biggest issues to fight for, while others feel it's an unimportant issue or not at the top of the list.

It's going to take a sharply attuned person who can cover as much of the community as possible.

But, I think the good cop/bad cop model of Malcolm X and MLK would do the trick. It worked then and it could work now.

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It's not that simple Pinguin. We have leaders--but no one is sparking the revolution. Two of the best people I have ever heard speak on TV about gay issues are Elizabeth Birch and Rosie O'Donnell.

Ellen is another great image for LGBT. Mel White is a great leader with Soulforce (a gay Christian group). GLAAD and HRC and Lambda Legal and GLSTEN and many other groups are out there fighting. And making strides.

But we don't have an MLK. Act Up was the closest we got to a Malcolm X, but those days are behind us. We need someone who can take ahold of the country--whose speeches and actions are front page magic.

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I'm not sure if I want to toss my hat back into this discussion, but my beliefs come from my religion, yes, but that doesn't mean I close my ears, and sing lalala as someone tells me about a differing point of view. I listen, consider, and change accordingly. I am no puppet of the church, ( and I know you didn't call me one), I have come to my own conclusions.

And I wholeheartedly disagree with whoever said that it's impossible to hate the sin, and love the sinner.
Yes, some do see a person only for their sin, but that's not a biblical principle.
How could we love ourselves? Ever love a person and not care for something they did?
I'll hate you for being a gossip, or a bad dresser.

JOKE!

So, I agree to disagree.

On Rent:
It's ok. It's a powerful story, but I don't think it's as well-written as it could be, lyrically. The music is good though. Rock and roll musicals aren't really my thing. Give me my lusch Sondheim/Guettel/LaChiusa over thinly orchestrated faux rock music.
*Ducks*
And please don't think I'm taking my beliefs into consideration when I decide whether I like a piece of theatre.
For example, I love Angels in America. I think it's brilliant. However I disagree with about 90% of it. But it's a beautiful show.
Call me a big fat hypocrite.

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It comes down to whether or not you believe that being gay is a sin. I do not. After reading STRANGER AT THE GATE and WHAT THE BIBLE REALLY SAYS ABOUT HOMOSEXUALITY, I have NO qualms about God's love for me as a gay man. None.

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I'm glad JRB; I agree that the obscure insignificant references that people use to demonize homosexuals are ridiculous. Like I said, I think Jesus would find you groovy :0)


sidenote: bet you had no idea your thread would be so popular :0) good job!

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Remember that "conservatives" supported England and King George in the American Revolution; "conservatives" used the Bible to promulgate slavery, and were rabidly anti-abolishonist. It is liberalism that has made America what it is, and we will all be equal under the law.

I think it is tragic that there are people forced to undergo "reparative therapy" to become "straight"; ask yourself: can a heterosexual be made "gay"? The damage to the psyche is irreperable. We cannot change that which is us, and why should we?

Stranger at the Gate is the autobiography of Mel White. Not only is it a beautiful story about his journey, but an insight into certain political issues regarding how homosexuality is used to create fear (He was ghostwriter for Pat Robertson and others before he came out). His ex-wife wrote the forward.

I actually have the audiobook--which is wonderful. He ex-wife introduces and he tells his story.

It really is must read.

I'm sure DBillyP can recommend other great books.

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Phew, I leave for a day and I get a whole new page and a half! Wowzers. Well, just thought I'd throw in there that Designing Women has a DVD out of the 5 best (most controversial) episodes, so you should pick it up if you're a fan! It's like 10 bucks on Amazon. I got Delta to autograph mine for me after Steel Magnolias! :)

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Updated On: 8/5/05 at 06:31 AM