How interesting.

So, when you question somebody's existance, it's all right.

But when somebody tells you that questioning their existence is offensive and insulting, it pisses you off.

Interesting stand.

Most of the gay people on this forum are fairly moderate.

Well, then, think about it. It's everywhere you go? And, yet, you don't consider it might be YOU that is offensive, and not that EVERYBODY ELSE is hypersensitive?

"And, as for the violence, have you ever heard anyone rant & rave that they were going to kill some straight?"

I've never heard anybody rant and rave they were going to kill somebody gay. And I've lived most of my life in ultra-conservative "cowboyland" -- Montana, Idaho, Colorado, Wyoming.

On the other hand, three of the most horrific murders I'm familiar with (covered both cases as a newspaper reporter) happened because the victim's were straight, and involved with people who had jealous/psycotic ex-spouses. (And ex-husband in one case, ex-wives in the other two.)

Tristan, nobody "questions" the fact that gays exist. Clearly, you do.

And I can't speak for the others, but like me, I suspect they hope you are HAPPY existing. The happiness of others is important to me. Maybe I'm a cheese-ball.. I don't know..

What we question is this repeated party line that homosexuality is simply nothing more than a harmless variance in human sexuality.

I think the "science" of it all is far more ambigious than groups like GLAAD would like us to think.

Is that skepticism justified? It is okay to have your doubts, but if those doubts are not yet backed by logic, then they should not taint your opinion of homosexuality.

I suppose that depends on the attraction. I will address the ones you brought up:

When you say geriatrics...you are talking about an attraction to older people, right? As far as I know, there is nothing harmful in that, and our laws appropriately place no restriction on relationships with the elderly.

As for attraction to minors, I suppose the attraction itself is not harmful. However, because a minor is not yet considered mentally ready to make decisions for himself, we consider sex with that minor harmful. Further, we consider the minor unable to decide to get married. Thus, sex with a minor and marriage to a minor are not legal.

As for other attractions, I suppose we'd have to talk about them on a case-by-case basis. Feel free to bring up others.

But I might be able to answer all of your questions right here: You asked why homosexuality is okay, but these other sexual attractions are not. I ask, why is heterosexuality okay, but these other sexual attractions are not? If you can answer that question, then you probably have the answer you're looking for.

I do not know what myth you are talking about here. Can I have more explanation?

I don't mind people asking these sorts of questions. I do mind people denying marriage to gay couples and denying them the freedom to serve openly in the military. One is an attempt to gain understanding; the other does nothing but hurt people unnecessarily.

Ask any questions you like, but vote for equality.

You should not be harrassed for speaking your mind, and neither should a gay person be harrassed for being gay. GLAAD is trying to stop the latter. If GLAAD starts campaigning for laws which discriminate against religious people, or if they start campaigning for laws which give gay people preference, then I will stand against them. But so far, I see no problem with them.

There is today an atmosphere of disapproval of homosexuals. It's the reason that I haven't told my family that I'm bisexual and the reason I speak carefully around most people. GLAAD is working to make people more accepting of homosexuals, not by forcing them, but by convincing them. And I think that's a noble cause.

GLAAD may exaggerate things, but if so, I don't remember seeing very much of it. Typically I agree with GLAAD, when I read their statements, though I haven't read everything they've said.

I know gay couples who can't get health insurance for their children because they can't get married. I also know several gay people who decided not to enroll in the military because they were afraid people would realize they're gay. These things are not acceptable.

But even the couple you described is a victim. You may have trouble feeling sympathy for them, but you should have even more trouble feeling sympathetic if it were a straight couple in the same situation. The fact is: this couple does not have the same rights that a straight couple would.

Maybe this couple has a good life. But that doesn't justify us in taking potshots at their life. We can't just say, "Let's make things just a little worse for gay people. They've got it pretty good anyhow." I mean, that's obviously an untrue generalization in the first place, but it's also a totally evil thing to do. Why would we do it?

(covered both cases.. should be covered all three cases... sorry.)

"But I might be able to answer all of your questions right here: You asked why homosexuality is okay, but these other sexual attractions are not. I ask, why is heterosexuality okay, but these other sexual attractions are not? If you can answer that question, then you probably have the answer you're looking for."

Jax, that hinges upon the patently ridicolous assumption that there isn't a blatantly obvious reason why people would be hetroxexual to begin with.
A passoinate attraction toward healthy specimens of the opposite gender serves and obvious purpose. And you have to perform utter acrobatics in denial to get past that.

BTW, Jax, I'm all for same-sex marriages/unions and gays being able to serve in the military.