Everyday Sociology Blog: Why Can't We Have a Straight Pride Parade?

This has happened to me as well, especially from people who find out my orientation.

Everyday Sociology Blog: Why Can't We Have a Straight Pride Parade?

In fact, it happened at my work, recently.

I pointed out to this very sweet old woman—“Have you ever gone to a Greek Festival? Like the ones over in Tarpon Springs?”

”Yes! I love it, it’s great fun!”

”Do you ask, why can’t there be a…whatever nationality you are?”

”I guess, I guess I don’t.”

I try to explain to her what it is like, growing up as a minority. My parents? Jewish. We’d go to Jewish festivals and holidays, and, whilst there were a goodly number of gentiles present, it was a time to celebrate our identity and as a family and community. It wasn’t for the nonJews, as it were.

With this same woman, I asked her, “do you feel like you are oppressed? Do you feel that you are being put down because you are straight?”

”Yes! I do!” she stated matter of factly.

“You do? I’m sorry to hear that. What can we do to make you feel better? Would the parade help you feel better?  Should we change laws to make sure you feel better?”

She got quiet. I’m still not sure if I’m getting through to her. She’s a great lady. I’m surprised, sometimes, at how much she still isn’t sure about—yet she has a degree and everything. Amazes me. I’m okay with this, mind you. We’re all students in some manner.

Peace,

Bardy

Gay American History: The Country's Gay Secrets

Okay, you have to see the slide show on this one…

Gay American History: The Country's Gay Secrets

But, really, are we surprised? The one thing I don’t get, why does the closet even, really, exist? I have this one friend, so in closet that he sorties over to Narnia, yet, his response, “it’s just easier.”

Easier?

Having to think of constant excuses and who you told what about whom when you did that one day but not the other?

The fact is, homosexuality has been around since, like, forever. Yet people still rally against it. Their argument? So has crime and murder!

We are not criminals or murderers.

Nor should we hide what we are any more.

There’s a reason it is called, “Pride.” So more don’t hide.  Take heed and look at our glorious past.

Peace,

Bardy

Ben Harvey: Carly Rae Jepsen: Post-Gay Pop Princess?

 

Ben Harvey: Carly Rae Jepsen: Post-Gay Pop Princess?

Can I just say..you heard it here first. See my previous post about this silly song…

 

Peace,
Bardy

Visual Aid

 

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m5w580apgJ1qeua25o1_1280.png

As I have gotten older, I find that this is more and more true. In fact, I think the current generation is growing up, even though they are straight, they understand the stigma is not as potent as previously.

I’m a weird one, however, as my own experience goes. I went directly to being a Kinsey six. I have very rarely met others like me.

You? How do you rate yourself?

Peace,
Bardy

Chick-Fil-A Donated Nearly $2 Million To Anti-Gay Groups In 2010 | Equality Matters

 

Chick-Fil-A Donated Nearly $2 Million To Anti-Gay Groups In 2010 | Equality Matters

Okay, last post? All about boycotting. This one? About boycotting. Don’t eat at this place, folks. Period. Just don’t do it. It’s bad for you anyways.

Peace,
Bardy

Ballmer, Gates each donate $100,000 to support gay marriage law | Microsoft Pri0 | The Seattle Times

 

Ballmer, Gates each donate $100,000 to support gay marriage law | Microsoft Pri0 | The Seattle Times

First, they boycotted Oreo/Nabisco due to the presence of a rainbow cookies. The humor was, of course, that the conservative right did the boycotting on Facebook. The same Facebook that has a gay founder who just married his boyfriend.

So that was very, very poorly thought out. If you are going to boycott a fucking cookie, but not the computer program you’re making the announcement on…well, that’s just piss poor planning right there.

But I learned long ago, that hatred is just another facet of fear. And we all know how well we think when we’re afraid. How many times in any given horror movie do we go, “don’t go in there! Turn on the fucking lights!”

They don’t and they die and we feel they probably deserved it.

So, basically, Ballmer and Gates are donating to keep marriage equality in the state of Washington. Makes sense. When I was visiting Seattle on a business trip back in 2003, Microsoft’s presence was part of the city’s tour. It is such a backbone to that city’s, heck the state’s, economy, there’s much to be proud of. So to see Microsoft supporting such a thing makes sense.

See, young gays and lesbians helped bring about the modern internet. Closeted for years, the anonymous allure of the computer became a symbol of a way out. Okay, maybe these are bold claims, but think about the leap I’m making. Those gays, myself included, were scared and lonely and could finally chat freely. Of course they wanted to make sure their computers were the best for those situations. And computerdom grew.

And Microsoft was there. Maybe this is a kind of thank you? Maybe? Or maybe they’re doing it because the best and the brightest who happen to be gay might want to move to Seattle?

Or maybe, just maybe, this is the right cause to support. Kudos to Microsoft….

Peace,

Bardy

Strippers 'Hands Down' Say GOP 'Best Customers' At Party Conventions

 

Strippers 'Hands Down' Say GOP 'Best Customers' At Party Conventions

Heh. I mean, really, are we that surprised? The angrier a person gets, the more I wonder if they’re hiding something.

My dad’s ex-wife? Angrier than a hornets’ nest during a hurricane. The lady couldn’t walk into make flowers wilt with mere entry into a florist. In fact, I saw her smile…once.

And the more I read stuff like this? The more I keep thinking that she had something to hide. She detested my own mother, a lady who met my step father long after her divorce. But her hatred didn’t match the accused, for some reason. I mean, literally, there was talk of getting some kind of restraining order. 

So my guess is, now that I’m older and never asked questions as a twelve year old, is that my step dad left his wife because she was a bitch and was probably fucking around.

Or she was mentally unbalanced. Which also works for why people would support an organization that only seeks to elect people that give money to those who already make it and churches instead of helping others. You’d have to be crazy to join the G.O.P.