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Why I like gay allies
13 years ago
Heh this is a rant posted on LiveJournal to address some of the over-PC, first world problem, internet crusader bullshit I see on there:
Sorry there's something I don't get around [LiveJournal]. I don't see the appeal in being endlessly cynical about everyone. This is all because of that one article I've seen on that one LiveJounal group that would go unnamed about Oreo Cookies putting out an ad supporting gay rights and the Facebook-originated outrage and boycotts that followed.
It was quickly brought up that it's so freaking terrible that corporations and business out there are showing support for LBGTQ rights because they're probably just doing it to make money.
And to that I say, of course, businesses are always in it to make money! I do not expect anyone from the smallest mom-n-pop store to the largest international, intergalactic corporation out there to do anything that isn't for their own benefit. So rather then fuming at this idea that corporations want to make money, I am happy that at the very least the LBGTQ community is being supported instead of being shunned like they once were. It does not bother me that supporting gay rights is popular now, because if you're only supporting gay rights because of its obscurity then it is clear that you are doing it to make yourself look hip and therefore doing it for the wrong reasons.
And to that end, it doesn't bother me what reasons any gay ally has to be a gay ally. If they do it because it makes them feel good, I don't care, it does not bother me.
Here's a list of what bothers me:
People that tell me and people like me that God finds me abhorrent or an abomination, it's just some fancier way of saying "God Hates Fags". If you don't have anything nice to say don't say it at all, that goes for your god too.
People that pass their hatred as family values, people that act like they're being a saint whenever they insist on treating us like second class citizens.
People that put "protecting marriage" above protecting our own pursuit of happiness.
Movies that make being gay into some kind of joke.
People that express how disgusting it is when two gays kiss, then turn around and objectify two lesbians kissing, here's a hint: we don't do it for you!
That it is still very possible and legal to be discriminated again in the workforce if you were outted.
That it is still illegal to be gay and often punished by death in other countries that have a much, much more dire situation then we do on human rights.
But straight people that want to support gays? That does not bother me, I like to see it and would like to see more of it. And I support straight people, I think they have as much a right to their own pursuit of happiness as we do. In the end it's just a sexuality anyways. It's something that we enjoy, to me the label doesn't matter so much. If you enjoy what you enjoy so what? And I don't make that sound petty, enjoying life is important and is a much better thing to do with it then the alternative.
Sorry there's something I don't get around [LiveJournal]. I don't see the appeal in being endlessly cynical about everyone. This is all because of that one article I've seen on that one LiveJounal group that would go unnamed about Oreo Cookies putting out an ad supporting gay rights and the Facebook-originated outrage and boycotts that followed.
It was quickly brought up that it's so freaking terrible that corporations and business out there are showing support for LBGTQ rights because they're probably just doing it to make money.
And to that I say, of course, businesses are always in it to make money! I do not expect anyone from the smallest mom-n-pop store to the largest international, intergalactic corporation out there to do anything that isn't for their own benefit. So rather then fuming at this idea that corporations want to make money, I am happy that at the very least the LBGTQ community is being supported instead of being shunned like they once were. It does not bother me that supporting gay rights is popular now, because if you're only supporting gay rights because of its obscurity then it is clear that you are doing it to make yourself look hip and therefore doing it for the wrong reasons.
And to that end, it doesn't bother me what reasons any gay ally has to be a gay ally. If they do it because it makes them feel good, I don't care, it does not bother me.
Here's a list of what bothers me:
People that tell me and people like me that God finds me abhorrent or an abomination, it's just some fancier way of saying "God Hates Fags". If you don't have anything nice to say don't say it at all, that goes for your god too.
People that pass their hatred as family values, people that act like they're being a saint whenever they insist on treating us like second class citizens.
People that put "protecting marriage" above protecting our own pursuit of happiness.
Movies that make being gay into some kind of joke.
People that express how disgusting it is when two gays kiss, then turn around and objectify two lesbians kissing, here's a hint: we don't do it for you!
That it is still very possible and legal to be discriminated again in the workforce if you were outted.
That it is still illegal to be gay and often punished by death in other countries that have a much, much more dire situation then we do on human rights.
But straight people that want to support gays? That does not bother me, I like to see it and would like to see more of it. And I support straight people, I think they have as much a right to their own pursuit of happiness as we do. In the end it's just a sexuality anyways. It's something that we enjoy, to me the label doesn't matter so much. If you enjoy what you enjoy so what? And I don't make that sound petty, enjoying life is important and is a much better thing to do with it then the alternative.
http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2012/.....-oreo-boycott/
Also, the problem with having allies who are only in it for the money is that when the money dries up, so does their support.
I suppose it's a good thing because while they're still on our side, they can help us get some legislation passed to jam the door open, but in 10 or 20 years, who's to say they won't turn on us and lobby to overturn the same things they helped us start?
Allies are good. Loyal allies are better.
I'll take support even for selfish reasons as long as it's not more opposition.