On Community

[xoder]

So I was reading this Digg post about Ahmadinejad saying that there are no homosexuals in Iran. There was the predictable "Check the closets" line, and some rumblings about Tom Cruise and mass murder. Of note, however, was the following exchange*:In America - we just ignore their rightsJesus, you're dense. America ignores gay rights? We have hate

Comments

[shoujo_mallet]

Part of me often feels there needs to be a special interest group for white men (WM) of generic Caucasian descent because the phrase "you have everything" is pretty much their description. The ability of a WM to define himself as a WM is increasingly limited. That is, it seems hard to ask the question, "Who should I be as a WM?" with out get stuck into fear that doing so is somehow being offensive to racial minorities or women. So, it appears white male identity branches off into other areas, like ethnicity, lifestyle or profession--making being white seem almost neutral, when it carries with it as many stereotypes, history and biology as any other race. I mean, to say "I'm proud to be gay" or "I'm proud to be black" is quite accepted. To say, "I'm proud to be white" sounds like you're joining a supremacy group. Although having pride, in my mind, is really about self-respect and, by that merit, acceptance. Ah, the myriad of things we're gifted with at birth

[xoder]

And I'm going to say yes, as female and bisexual I have experienced special privileges that would not have been offered to a WM of my same age, education and socioeconomic class. At the same time, I've been physically and verbally assaulted because of my gender and sexuality. [Although, I've also had that pleasure thanks to my ethnicity, race and physical appearance as well.]

And I've received special privileges for no reason at all, and the same with physical and emotional abuse.

So, the question is, does the reason matter?

[rainbowboicmu]

In a way, previously repressed groups always band together, and can demand more, specific rights for them. Like it or not, the gays form a special interest groups, and we want very specific things for ourselves.

I think of hate crime laws as a sort of evening out the game. I don't even mind if it's special rights. If we're especially persecuted, then damnit I'm asking for special rights to protect me.

[xoder]

I want to make it clear, I am for hate crimes legislation for the reason you state there: gays are at risk from (certain segments of) the straight population. And they shouldn't be-and neither should anyone else be at risk from anyone else.

[rainbowboicmu]

Yeah.

Fortunately I'm not at risk from you <3

[faboo]

what "the queer community" generally refers to is an interest group and political lobby. calling it a community is like calling a night club a party.

I've always found it an insult to my intelligence when people refer to "the [minority] community". fuck, it's not like everyone of us all frequents the same bar, sitting around crocheting bucket hats and chatting about last night's episode of Nova. I'm not even sure I'm aware of the minority status of most of the people I know.

but then, being a queer white male is sort of like being bisexual twice, so I guess I could be missing something, but there certainly doesn't seem to be an lobby looking out for my interests.