Stop the Hatred - Homosexuals Are People, Too

I guess I have been a little naïve that people were becoming more accepting of homosexuals. It's true that many doors have opened for homosexuals with Civil Unions being allowed in many states, and being gay isn't so much a taboo anymore. There are many people who are accepting of gay and lesbians but there are just as many who aren't. I was shocked at how much hatred is still out there against homosexuals. It's sad that so many people still feel hate towards other human beings just because they are different.

I was surfing the net and came across a website, www.topix.net. It is a web site that lists many different forum names and people can go and post on them. One forum heading, of course, is gay/lesbian. It's where gay and lesbians can go and post news related items and you can respond and give your opinion. You can also do discussions of what is on your mind. This has also been a forum of hate. I never imagined that some people could be so hateful and do it in the name of God. Some of the words that people use to describe some of us homosexuals are just uncalled for. Not to mention it's flat out hurtful and discriminating. Also, we are called haters on that forum because some anti-gay person comes on, singles us out, and then says hateful derogatory words against us. Do we not have the right to defend ourselves either?

Many who use hate are backing it up in the name of God. On this site they throw out scriptures and condemn us and at the same time throw in slang words to discriminate. God wasn't about hate and discrimination. If you look back over the Bible, God seemed to take the ones who were shunned by society or outcast. He took them under him and taught love and to be respectful of one another. Many have seem to forgotten that. Not only are they backing their hatred in the name of God, but also the names we are being called are unfair. It seems mainly directed to gay men though. One person keeps referring to everyone on the site as a "perverted homosexual." This person also made a statement in one of his posts saying, "Happy days are here again the queers are in the closet." Gay males are being called names that are derogatory. I won't even post them in this article. Many truly are speaking out of ignorance and stereotypes. One person even said that we are trying to have "bogus hate crime laws passed." I responded by saying that I wish they would call that a "bogus law" to Mathew Shepard's mother's face. There have been so many hate crimes against gay and lesbian people, and these people act like it's all ok. It's like we deserve to be discriminated against and yes if we lose our life because of someone being so hateful, then whatever. It's just another homosexual they don't have to deal with. If we get beat up because of our sexual orientation then that is all well and fine to. Many people on the forum, who are anti-gay, think we should just suck it up and not do anything about it, including trying to pass a hate crime law. We have the right to be protected to and free from harm.

My girlfriend and I have also been on the receiving end of people who are anti-gay. Not just on this forum but in life as well. Just the other day we went out for lunch. We are never all over each other nor do we make out in public. We don't even hold hands. Yet two women, eating lunch at the same place, sat there whispering to each other about my girlfriend and me. They kept looking over at us. One would throw a hand up and say something to the other and vice versa. A couple of times they even gave us looks of disgust. We weren't throwing our sexuality in their face; we were only having a nice lunch. This isn't the first time it's happened. We were out shopping and in line checking out. There was a teenage girl and her mom behind us. I bent down to say something to my girlfriend. When I rose up, I heard the daughter tell her mom, "They must be gay." Her mom then replies, "ya think." I was floored. I thought how could people be so blatant. To just speak out like that and make assumptions, well I was just shocked. I looked back when they said it and both seemed to be shooting daggers at us with their eyes. They hated us because of our sexual orientation. How can you hate someone without really knowing that person? Being gay is only a part of us; it's not all that we are. We are doctors, lawyers, nurses, waitresses, and yes mothers. Many do not know we are gay and lesbian. We live lives just like everyone else. We have ups and downs just like everyone else. We feel and hurt just like everyone else. It is real hurtful at the hate that is out there still against gay and lesbians.

I feel that if people have nothing nice to say about someone then just don't say it. If you do not agree with homosexuality, then that is your opinion. However, do not throw hatred towards me or tell me what to believe. We are ALL human beings who deserve the same respect as everyone else. It's really time to stop the hatred.