Re: Gay Wrath

[rynling]

I should probably say that my husband's family, despite living in an insane part of the Middle East, is totally normal, and my relationship with them is totally normal. I'm not, like, crying alone over the holidays because my family doesn't love me or whatever. It's just that, because I'm surrounded by good and decent people, I sometimes forget just how weird and bigoted other people can be.

And there's not much to be done about this, you know? If nothing else, being kind and friendly and agreeable to bigots doesn't really seem like the way to go. Idk, I kind of want to start drawing art with a cartoon version of myself saying things like ✨ I LOVE ABORTION ✨ and see where that gets me.

Comments

[lassarina]

It's just that, because I'm surrounded by good and decent people, I sometimes forget just how weird and bigoted other people can be. This is SO true. I like to think I'm, you know, mostly not an asshole to people and I genuinely try to be thoughtful and respectful and understanding even when there are differences of opinion and look for common ground, and it's baffling to me how much some people just....have no interest, curiosity, or care for things that are Not Them. Sometimes I think about how many adults would be failed out of the basic concepts of kindergarten (sharing, kindness) and it makes me really sad.

[rynling]

You know, I once had a (second cousin? third cousin?) older relative who was always very kind and polite and friendly at family gatherings. When it seemed that I was getting too close to him, one of my aunts took me aside and explained that he was a serial wife beater and had put multiple women in the hospital (which I later learned was true, to my dismay). After that, you can bet I kept my distance from that guy. And I wonder if maybe the same thing isn't going on with the way my family talks about me.

I guess there are still a lot of religious people who genuinely think gay=pedophile, or something to that effect.

I'm not Catholic, but I was very happy when I heard that Pope Francis urged Catholics to welcome LGBTQ members to the church around this time last year. A lot of people have criticized his remarks as being hollow words with no real substance, but I'm like, "Hang on, I think we need to let the man talk."

[lassarina]

I think you're right about gay = pedophile assumptions, and it makes me angry.

I'm not Catholic either, but I attended Catholic high school and dad's family is nominally Catholic. I am of the opinion that I want Francis to go farther, but I also recognize his constraints and respect that he has said anything at all. It's such a huge difference from Benedict.