mytmouse57

Homosexuality is one of those subjects where the more strident voices on both sides have tried to make it an "either/or" issue. Either you love gays or hate them, some say. Or, either you support "traditional" values or complete debauchery, others might say.

I think, like anything else, there are actually many shades of gray on the subject, and came up with some basic categories under which peoples' views might fall. Of course, there would also be degrees of variation within each of these categories, but I think they might give a good general idea of where people stand.

*Gay hating/fearing: True homophobes and people who think gays have no rights as human beings would fall into this category. They would participate in, advocate or cheer on acts of violence and persecution against gays. The sort of people who constantly obsess over fears like "the queers taking over."


*Gay intolerant: Recognize gays as human beings, but not likely to agree with any point of the gay rights agenda -- such as gay marriage. Would rather gays remain in the closet. Would probably not, for instance, want their children taught by an openly gay teacher.


*Gay tolerant: Not convinced by or accepting of the idea that homosexuality is "normal" -- or not at least in some way off or dysfunctional -- but generally speaking, take a "live and let live" approach. Might or might not support any or all points of the basic gay rights platform. Would probably have no problem with something like an openly gay teacher. (This is the category into which I would fall.)



*Gay accepting: Fully accept contemporary concepts of "sexual orientation," and homosexuality being just a different orientation -- no better or worse than heterosexuality. Might not actively stump for the gay rights cause, but generally very likely to support it.



*Gay advocate: Actively involved in politics or social activism to forward the cause of gay rights. The extreme end of this scale is also willing to engage in dishonest tactics -- such as lumping anybody who disagrees into the first category -- and be very liberal in the use of terms like "homophobe" or "bigot" to describe anybody who doesn't toe the party line.

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fxashun

I miss your posts dude. Excellent thread.

I place myself on "gay tolerant" level.

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forester814

Myt, GREAT post! If you don't mind, I would like to be able to quote your "gay scale" elsewhere. I will give you full credit of course.

One small addition to your scale:
"Gay: see Gay Accepting."

tristanrobin

I'm a gay advocate.

I am not ashamed that I realize that words (such as bigot and homophobe) have definitions, and there is nothing inherently wrong or evil with stating such.

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Bookworm

I would probably fall somewhere in the range between gay tolerant and gay intolerant. If I was discussing my philosophical position with another person, I would probably sound gay intolerant, but in regards to my actions, I would be closer to gay tolerant. For example, my child's health teacher is openly gay, and I don't particularly like the fact that she has a gay teacher, but I do not treat that teacher any differently than I do any of the other teachers, so my personal dislike of the situation has no outward implications, and therefore that would fit the gay tolerant scale. Wouldn't it?

Also, I am against gay marriage, but after discusions I had years ago on another forum with Jaxian and Foundit66, I can't really say that I am opposed to civil unions, so that seems to put me between the two catagories.

mytmouse57

Forester... Go for it. There's also a few revisions and fine tuning I'd like to do.

For example, I would say that "gay intolerant" and "gay tolerant" might hold similar religious views -- but maybe not exactly the same.

I would also say that the extreme far end of "gay hating" would call for an actual extermination of gays. And the extreme at the other end of the scale -- a category that might even transcend "gay advocate" would have no problem with limiting others' freedoms -- such as freedom of speech and religious expression -- if it ran counter to their ideas.

Anyway, I'd like to come up with a final, polished version someday.

BTW, great responses, everybody.

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pensacola_niceman

Gays are such a silly lot.

intangible child

I'm a lesbian, and my wife doesn't even mind!

I'm Tiresias

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sir_raboyd

I'm about 20% beyond gay advocacy, though I'm not a gay militant.

The religious right would use a completely different scale (since they do not acknowledge the existence of gay hating):

*Gay hating/fearing: does not exist

*Gay intolerant: a falsehood propounded by gay radicals

*Gay tolerant: People who think gays have no rights as human beings would fall into this category. They would participate in, advocate or cheer on acts of violence and persecution against gays. The sort of people who constantly obsess over fears like "the queers taking over."


*Gay accepting: Convinced by and accepting of the idea that homosexuality is "abnormal" but generally speaking, take a "live and let live" approach. Does not support any or all points of the basic gay rights platform.

*Militant Gay Advocate: Fully accept contemporary concepts of "sexual orientation," and homosexuality being just a different orientation -- no better or worse than heterosexuality. Might not actively stump for the gay rights cause, but generally very likely to support it.

*Gay Terrorist: Anyone who advocates for gay rights

mytmouse57

I would say the religious right -- which in and of itself is sort of an arbitrary category and hard to pin down to one exact group -- would fall largely into what I defined as "gay intolerant."

They sometimes unfairly and incorrectly get lumped in with the likes of Fred Phelps -- who IMO, would be at the far end of the "gay hating/fearing" category. If he were in charge, I've no doubt he would call for an extermination of gay people.

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If at first you don’t succeed – try, try again and then quit. There’s no sense in making a damned fool of yourself. – W.C. Fields