What if it was a gay world?

[judecorp]

I receive quite a bit of email from the Human Rights Campaign. Since all of this marriage stuff, I've been receiving more. This is totally fine with me - I actually enjoy reading it, and like to see where they're going with things, and well, I'm lazy and like having random news sent directly to me. Sometimes they have really wacky subject lines. Today's was, "What if it was a gay world?"

In actuality, that's the slogan of a new ad campaign they're beginning where they attempt a little "role-reversal" on opposite-sex couples in order to illustrate marriage benefits. But I got so irritated seeing that in my inbox. "What if it was a gay world?" Well, my answer was, "That would really suck, too."

Because I don't want a Gay World any more than I want a Straight World. For goodness sakes, people, I just want a world with civil rights for all under the law. I wish this wasn't such a polarized "Gay/Straight" thing, because if we could just get off of that for ten freaking minutes, we might actually make progress. Let's not isolate our heterosexual allies, hmm? Let's not let this little smokescreen divert us from the mess that man has made of our economy, our job market, our global image, our military, our schools, and our vocabulary. Sheesh!

I hope this doesn't mean I'll be bitchy all day. Yikes.

Comments

[luloubelle.livejournal.com]

YES! Thank you for verbalizing that. I'm so frustrated over this debate for so many different reasons.

I hope you have a great day, sweets.

*big hug*

What if it was a smurf world?

[auntiesiannan.livejournal.com]

:)

[grrlpower.livejournal.com]

That reminds me of an episode Ellen did way back when, when Spencer was a closet heterosexual. I think it was supposed to be witty, but yeah, it didn't do much but show how foolish it is for us to try to polarize things.

[khaosworks.livejournal.com]

A campaign like that would be effective if it showed how absurd the situation would be... like, "In a Gay World, straight men would be taunted as 'Breeders' and mocked by jerks with exaggerated deep voices."

[elspazz0.livejournal.com]

In a Gay World, I would look like this icon *all the time.*

[starstealingirl.livejournal.com]

You know what bugs me? The notion that if it was a gay world, it would, by its very nature, discriminate against straight people. (Not to mention, where the hell did all those other lovely shades of sexuality jaunt off to?) To me, it belies self-hatred, and the belief that true equality can never be achieved.

Jeezus. The only thing I dislike more than the Human Rights Campaign is feeling like I have to align with them to get any action accomplished up in here.

Just my opinion...

[sunshyne72.livejournal.com]

I didn't think you sounded bitchy, but I guess I revert back to thinking why are these LABELS out there? At the core it is all about sex/sexuality. I guess I'm naive in the line of thinking that it doesn't change WHO I am, whether I'm gay or straight, that is just a facet of my personality, or human character or whatever. In general we don't discriminate against idiots or intellectuals because they have those traits. I don't know, I'm just so frustrated about labels and discrimination and politics just brushing it under the rug to get a pay check. Anarchy anyone?

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

I hope you have a great day, too!

Re: What if it was a smurf world?

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Now a smurf world is something I think I could really get into. :)

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

It's like that whole "Straight Plan for the Gay Man" show, and all of that stuff - like there always has to be a comparison, always has to be a versus. It just fosters more us/them, don't they realize that?

Argh.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

But even if that happened, I think it would only serve to make the "mockers" look ridiculous, which would only bring more ridicule back on "the gays."

Or maybe I'm just paranoid.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

And I would look like THIS!! :)

[grrlpower.livejournal.com]

It just fosters more us/them, don't they realize that?


heh.


btw, semiradgyrl lives close to Boston, I believe.. she may have some advice for y'all as you prep for the Big Move™

[kjtoo.livejournal.com]

Queer Eye for the Straight Guy fostered the "us/them" mentality long before Straight Plan for the Gay Man came along. The comparison is just on a different level. Before Comedy Central introduced Straight Plan, Queer Eye was making light of the stereotypical differences between two groups of people.

Straight Plan just throws the whole thing into a sharper contrast. Like Queer Eye, Straight Plan pokes fun at the same stereotypical differences. But the contrast is made sharper because Straight Plan is such a blatant imitation of and reversal of Queer Eye's premise.

Before Straight Plan, the "us/them" was on a "hey, you're different from us" level. Straight Plan, from the shows premise to its name, adds the "if you can do it, so can we" factor.

[elspazz0.livejournal.com]

i might have to bail on survivor night tomorrow... i am muy infected. i'm actually working from home today because i'm so nasty. but i'll be with you in SPIRIT!

Preach it, brother!

[etherial.livejournal.com]

Those monosexuals are so racist!

[mermil.livejournal.com]

I agree with you all the way. It's much easier to fret about standards of "decency" than to deal with the war in Iraq, the shrinking education funding to public schools and colleges, and don't even get me started on the job market.

Besides, labels are good for, say, jam. Not so much for people. Unless, of course, you happen to be Strawberry. in which case more power to you.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

I believe from now on you can call me "Orange Marmalade." Get with the program.

I think labels are good for people to band together and identify themselves, but it becomes problematic because the labels tend to be based on one aspect of a person, which always leaves things more than a little skewed.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

If you can't come we will miss you. But we'll understand. Jen will be late for Survivor, so we are taping.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Oh, I definitely agree that Queer Eye fostered the same sort of attitude, but at least it wasn't a mockery. I'm sure it's all in good fun, but it seems more than a bit silly to me. I thought Queer Eye was playing on that whole "metrosexual" phenomenon more than us/them stuff, but it could be I'm only seeing things one way.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Ha! You got me! I guess that was "me vs. television people."

Thanks, I'll check out semiradgyrl. And off topic, do you have Beth Oliver's email address? She interviewed at my job today and I'd love to chat her up about it.

Smooches.

[grrlpower.livejournal.com]

I have her aol sn, not her email tho... but I will be seeing her on Sunday, if ya can wait.

Re: Just my opinion...

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

You're right that the label is based on just one little thing, but a lot of people take comfort in those labels - perhaps everyone has to choose something that is at the forefront of their identity, and that's what they want. Other people use their jobs or their children or their hobbies or whatever.

It's hard when it's a minority trait, though, because you have to give /some/ acknowledgement to it or you will be assumed to be in the majority. It's like a catch-22... you don't want to /only/ be that, but you want to make sure to /be/ that, too.

Sigh.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

The only thing I dislike more than the Human Rights Campaign is feeling like I have to align with them to get any action accomplished up in here.

I know. It's sad that even in the queer community, you have to link up with the rich whiteys. Blecch. And even the HRC has that whole "fear of difference" thing going on. It's disheartening.

I still sent them money, though. They definitely have the power to keep this marriage thing going... even if I disagree with their tactics.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Yeah, totally. She just asked me (I saw her in my workplace) if I liked my job and stuff, and I didn't know what to say because there were work peeps around. I'd just rather give her my actual out-of-work opinion. :)

p.s. When you see her, tell her I marched straight into my director's office and told them to hire her. :)

[grrlpower.livejournal.com]

coolio :) we have our first softball meeting this weekend, yay!

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

I'm way jealous!!

[grrlpower.livejournal.com]

Hmmm, well if ya weren't moving, you know, someplace great...

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Yeah, yeah. But it would be fun to play softball with you girls!

[grrlpower.livejournal.com]

did you get the email I sent you with Beth's email?

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Yes! Thank you so much! I just got around to emailing her. :)