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Nuff said
I don’t let anyone know what I do behind closed doors. I don’t know why gays have this compulsion to share their sexuality with everyone. If I told everyone I suck toes I would expect ridicule and probably some non-acceptance. I won’t ask and don’t tell me.
Confused: Has anyone you work with ever met your husband, wife, girlfriend or boyfriend? If they have, then your coworkers probably have a clear idea of whether you are heterosexual or homosexual.
He didn’t really need to bring it up beyond that.
I don’t support harassment of homosexuals. The vandalizing of his car is a criminal offense regardless of the victim’s sexuality but in this country we do have freedom of speech and freedom of association, except when it comes to sexual deviants (no one has discovered a homosexual gene). I can foresee the rise in lawsuits and increased military spending as they will be forced to provide housing to homosexual couples, pay for same sex spousal benefits and accompanied tours.
Wow closet straight – you’re ignorant!! Speaking of costing me money, I wouldn’t want you working for my company because you are a lawsuit waiting to happen. I am not gay; however, people have their rights and if that is the lifestyle they choose, then that is between their maker and does not give you or anyone else the right to ridicule them.
Well said Merle!
I never said people shouldn’t be able to live how they want. I am probably a bigger proponent of live how you want than you are, however keep it to yourself. My coworkers have never met my wife or family and I have never met theirs. That is the way a professional environment should operate. I also don’t condone violence and those at fault should be punished, but not for a hate crime. I don’t want to know your business and I expect others to mind their own business. Merle did not understand my point At all but he comes off as a typical pinhead so I expect no less.
Confused is just a bigot. Unfortunately, there are many like him in the world. It’s best just to ignore him and his ignorance.
The message and methods by emmployees of this company are not much different from the KKK sending a message to blacks. Repeated and public harassment is not just about one guy who might be gay. It is a message to everyone who might hear or see or get the news in print that their kind of people are not welcome in these here parts or within this company.
Here’s some news for you. This is a federal hate crime under the newly enacted Matthew Shepard Act. As such, it needs to be investigated, followed up and tried by the federal government. It is no different than a crime against anyone protected by federal law for whom harassment was motivated based on the person being of a different religion, a racial minority, a handicapped person, a female, etc.
Comments suggesting that gays should keep their lifestyle to themselves are another example of such harassment. It is meant to continue to disempower gays and keep them from any visibility in society. It is a clear example of how the employer treats one class of people (gays) different from another class of people (straights). It is an example of the general animus and hostility against gays in the workplace.
On the other hand, heterosexuality is empowered every day in society. That is what proms are about. That is what wedding announcements in the newspapers are all about. That is what a man showing off his pregnant wife is all about and why he gives cigars out when the baby is born. That is what public dances are all about. That is why a wife uses the word Mrs. That is why straights put pictures of their spouses on their desks and wear wedding bands. That is why the IRS gives income tax deductions to heterosexual spouses. That is why straight sexual messages in advertising sell products.
These are all about supporting, encouraging and underpinning straight lifestyles and straight relationships in society. We see and here these messages every day from straights. To keep gays somehow invisible and not allow them these same public rite-of-life passages is a clear example of animus that much of society still has against gays and gay relationships.
When that animus is demonstrated in the form of harassment it then becomes a crime. When management does not put steps in place to prevent such harassment and in fact allows and fosters an environment where such harassment is allowed to take place, it then becomes a participant in the crime.
Homosexuality is a sexual preference. I could go in and on about why this is a fact not an opinion, but your bigotted self righteousness won’t even take solid evidence into account. If I tattooed my face or shared with you that I pierced my genetalia would you think differently of me? Of course you would it is human nature, but don’t make sexual preference a protected class especially when sex should be no ones business but my own.
To: Confused. Try me with your evidence. Truth is there is no peer-reviewed scientific or medical evidence indicating being gay is a choice (preference). If there is please post your source.
At the present, however, there are dozens of scientific and medical studies which indicate that being gay is predisposed from the womb or shortly thereafter. That is not to say it is genetic, because there is still no genetic connection found in humans as of yet. But there is clear proof that something happens in most gays and lesbians that is part of their physical makeup.
It is seen in studies on the differences in brains, in the length of certain fingers, in the propensity for left-handedness, in the direction of the swirl in a man’s hair, in the order of which gay males are born in multiple male sibling families, in studies of twins, etc. Some of those are major things. Some are very minor, but still show a significant statistical difference between gays or lesbians vs. straights of their same gender.
It is also shown in thousands of anectdotal stories, particularly of people who used to be part of ex-gay reparative programs which have been demonstrated to not work and are not effective in changing people from being gay to straight.
You also don’t have any idea what I accept in others. I do in fact have long-time friends who have tattoos on major parts of their body, including their face. I also know others (both male and female) who have piercings in their genitalia. None of it phases me and has not changed the friendship in any way. I grew up near Sturgis, SD where the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is held and piercings and tattoos are part of the motorcycle drag. I learned early on that none of that mattered. Incidentally most of the people whom I know with piercings and tattoos are devoted Christians — a few even ministers of the gospel.
To: Confused — part II.
We are also not talking about sex. We are talking about love and whom one is designed by God to love. A young kid may readily know they are gay but not yet have any desire for sex. An older person may have been celibate for years, but not be any less gay.
I really don’t care what you do in your bedroom. What I do care about is how you are able to interact with that person you do have sex with and any potential children that relationship brings to society. My taxes pays for that child’s education. As an employee who might work with you, part of my payroll deductions go to help subsidize your spouse’s (if you are legally married) benefits and tax refunds.
Few are the husband and father who ever hides their children away in seclusion. Their lives are integral to community. It is that community that is very heterosexual and strives to continue to be heterosexual at the exclusion of gays.
Think of the places you go with your wife or girlfriend. Do you go out to movies together and buy her popcorn, maybe call her a pet name? Does she come out of a romantic movie with you with her arm wrapped around you? That is being sexual. Would you be comfortable with two guys doing the same thing?
Do you ever leave your spouse and go on a plane trip? What is the first thing you do when you return? Most likely you give her a kiss. Would you be comfortable with two guys doing that?
Most straights are fine showing that kind of public display of affection, then proceed to tell gays they don’t even want to know that they are gay, let alone allow them to do any of the equivalent courting kinds of things even long-time married heterosexuals do in public that make it clear which gender it is that God designed them to love.
Get my point? Most of your words are nothing but hypocrisy.
Yes sir, you are a bigot. Just because you say you aren’t, doesn’t make it so.
Confused.. You definitely are confused.
So I guess hetrosexuality is a sexual preference also then.
Confused, It looks like everyone has missed your original point except for me. Sexual preference should not be discussed in the WORKPLACE. End of story. Noone you work with should know your sexual preference. It doesn’t matter if your gay, straight, etc.
If everyone found out he was gay, then its probably because he told them. This guys issues then should be with the individuals ridiculing him, not with the company. If the company is protecting him from being ridiculed, but not protecting everyone else from ridicule (most likely they were just ridiculing him in good humor and he took it wrong, as they probably ridicule everyone in some way; its just fun goofing off sometimes) then are they showing favortism to gays? Isn’t that prejudice to everyone else? What about me, I have blonde hair; how many blonde jokes are there? I’m also fairly short; how many short jokes are there? Should I sue my employer because my co-worker dropped some short blonde jokes on me? Nope because thats what we call a frivolous law suit.
This post will probably get misconstrued as “Confused’s” post did, but my point is no one will ridicule you for your personal decisions if you aren’t so forth coming with it.
Just for the record I have absolutely no problem with gays or anyone that chooses a different lifestyle then mine, but I do have a problem when they “force” their beliefs and ideas on me. Less than 2% of the American population is homosexual, but then why do I see homosexuality everyday of the week like its the norm on TV, in commercials, and now in textbooks? Tolerance DOES need to be taught to children, but homosexuality does not need to be “promoted” in the process like it is. As much as people want to say its normal, it isn’t, if it were than more than 2% of the American population would consider themselves homosexual.
Have a nice day!
P.S. for those that are offended by my post, lighten up, put your big boy pants on (I’m sorry I should say big girl skirt for those that found that comment prejudice against women), and understand people have a difference of opinion than you, and understand that its OK for someone to think differently than you.
I think you may mean well but your facts and assumptions are wrong. More than 2% of the population is gay. But even if it’s .02%, minorities have rights. Homosexuality is not a choice– anymore than being straight is. Nobody is “promoting” homosexuality to children. There is no evidence that this person “forced” his sexuality or the discussion of it on anyone. Straight people– all people– talk regularly about their spouses, their families, their dates, etc at work. It’s part of being a social being. So by perhaps mentioning that he has a same sex partner, or having his partner call him at work, or showing up at a company function– all innocent social behaviors– this person is “forcing” something on you? Come on. Is he just supposed to say nothing, ever? You also have no idea what the name-calling here was like — you just assume it was in good fun. How generous of you to just dismiss it as no big deal– it’s not your life or career.
Like I said in my post, it would be misconstrued and low and behold it was. When I said its “forced” on everyone else, I was not talking about the average Joe bringing his partner to a social function (I have no problem with this at all, and don’t really care. I’m not some one who is “grossed out” by it or anything; just don’t care), I am talking about the Perez Hilton’s of the media that throw it around flamboyantly just for the attention. It’s almost a fad for some people.
The FACT is that LESS than 2% consider themselves gay. This is just a message board though and nothing of really any importance at all so the accuracy of that fact is not that big of a deal, but it is accurate (atleast it was when the survey was conducted).
I do assume it was in light-hearted nature. I engage in this light-hearted behavior everyday of the week and associate with others that do. On occasion things get out of hand and someone is offended. Its a part of life though. Its a part of my life that I enjoy.
Sometimes you have to pull the stick out of your *** (no pun intended lol) and roll with the punches.
P.S. Just my opinion. If that makes me a “bigot” like it did confused, then so be it lol I don’t care, but i could say the same about those, not open to my opinion couldn’t I?
It’s pretty well known fact that it’s closer to 10% not 2% and that doesn’t include the closeted. Homosexuality is normal. It may not be the norm but it is normal. It even exists in the animal kingdom.
Well said Sarah, Well said.
Apparently Smile and Confused have never actually knew anyone that was homosexual.
Point of the matter is this, look at the flip side. If you worked at a company that was all homosexual’s and you were straight, and they vandalized your car and harassed you, wouldn’t you be upset? You dang right you would.
Why should they have to keep it to them selves? That’s nuts! It isn’t like there it is some nasty depraved thing. I like saying I’m wearing a read shirt today.
I can’t understand how its almost 2011 and intolerance is still so prominent. How bigotry is still a driving force. Aren’t there bigger things to worry about now-a-days
This breaks my heart.