The Gay Rights Meme

[geminigirl]

This is the meme that's going around in LJ circles lately...

"'Why is it that, as a culture, we are more comfortable seeing two men holding guns than holding hands?'- Ernest Gaines

We would like to know who really believes in gay rights* on LiveJournal. There is no bribe of a miracle or anything like that. If you truly believe in gay rights*, then repost this and title the post as "Gay Rights". If you don't believe in gay rights*, then just ignore this. Thanks. "

(Yes I posted it, mostly so I can write what follows with context for people who haven't seen it yet.)

I'm sure there's no question among readers of this journal what my feelings are on gay rights. I won't sit here and write about my feelings on guns.

I will say that I'd rather see two men holding hands than holding guns. I will say that whether or not someone chooses to post this says nothing about where that person stands on the issue of gay rights, civil rights or human rights in general. I will say that the "you're with us or against us" rhetoric is a lot like the language that came from the Bush administration about the "War on Terror" which many people have mentioned strong, negative feelings about.

In summary, if you are curious about I feel about an issue, ask. If I feel strongly about an issue, I might post about it. I might not. But I'm not likely to resort to memes to express my feelings.

Comments

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

What about two men, with guns, holding hands?

Would that make everyone happy, or make noone happy?

[geminigirl]

I've been mulling over that question here too...

[cappyhead.livejournal.com]

It might make me aroused...

I'd be happy to see that

[maxdwolf.livejournal.com]

Or perhaps that's just a gun in my pocket.

[rdhdsnippet.livejournal.com]

I will say that the "you're with us or against us" rhetoric is a lot like the language that came from the Bush administration about the "War on Terror" which many people have mentioned strong, negative feelings about.

I agree. Not to mention that there are many people who can go from "against" to "with" with gentle education and experiences. Like, say, my mother, who before meeting my best friend was extremely intolerant of homosexuality, and when once ranting about gays adopting, stopped dead in her tracks when I asked if what she was saying applied to him, and has actually done a near 180o. Simply because she met, and learned to love, one person. No amount of in-your-face-ness could have accomplished that.

[nminusone.livejournal.com]

Simply because she met, and learned to love, one person.

I've long felt this is one of the best ways to teach acceptance. Yes, some people will get to know and accept one gay person but still condemn all the rest. Usually what I've seen, though, is that getting to know and accept even one gay person often engenders a lot of tolerance for, or even acceptance of, gay people in general. And like you said, this is often a lot more effective than confrontation.

[iamlisabee.livejournal.com]

This is very much what I thought when I saw the meme.

I'm VERY glad to see people posting that they are pro gay rights. I didn't like the implication that if you don't see this in our own journals you can assume we're anti gay rights.

On the otherhand, I think that most people who know me know where I stand on the subject.

[vix.livejournal.com]

I didn't like the implication that if you don't see this in our own journals you can assume we're anti gay rights.

This is precisely the reason I refused to participate in the whole thing. Just because I choose not to post it, you can assume I'm anti-gay rights? Give me a break. That's chain letter memeage at its worst.

[margoeve.livejournal.com]

I actually hate this meme.

I think faireraven put my reasons why pretty well.

That being said, I'd really rather see the men hold hands while holding guns. BFGs to be exact. And be naked. And oiled up. Mmmmm...

[messyjessy.livejournal.com]

Amen.

Talk (posting) is cheap. If you support an issue, do something about it.