Wow. TN really DOES seem to want to head back to the dark ages in a handbucket.

They can make science against the law?

Holy Hell! That state's fucked like Chuck!

Sometimes I really have to wonder if humanity truly is moving forward.

It is, I mean compare today to the Roman empire, or to the medieval times. It just basically takes 1 step back, two steps forward. Even back in the 50s here in the US, to be gay was something that wasn't the least bit excepted, and while it isn't near perfect now it is still much better in most places. So yes, even places like Texas are getting better, just are very slow on the uptake at the moment.

Minnie and I were discussing this and I decided to bring it to this thread for attention.

This was on TV today and I was...well I was shocked by it.

I thought it might interest you. Feel free to put it in the LBGTQI Issues thread if you want.

Tyra Show: Gay Kingdom

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

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Written Summary

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Now as I said, I was shocked by it. I am not sure what I was shocked by the most: that LGBTQI were so eager to use stereotypes against each other or how vilely they all treated the bisexual in the group.

Now, as Minnie had pointed out to me, no group is perfect and this is tv so they are going to make it as dramatic as possible- including the people they get on the show, but this show really made me realize how diverged the Gay community can be and it was rather saddening.

If the show were doing labels and I was giving them out, I doubt i would have given anyone the labels they received. First of all, the 'lipstick' female would have gotten the concubine (hey, she portrayed herself as a slut!), the king would have been the villein because he was an asshole. and just to piss people off, the bisexual would have been king for having to deal with bullshit for all sides. The transgendered would have been pauper (outsider) as she wanted to be because she did not see herself as part of the community.

Midi, agreed. Speaking as a bisexual, it makes me want to cry sometimes to know that the gay community(my community!) that I support so whole-heartedly does not accept me 100%. If I had been born a lesbian I would be accepted without reservation. The comments people make when they think you can't hear or before they know your sexuality are very hurtful(the good has outweighed the bad, though). Sophia has spoken quite a few times about the fact that some transpeople actively hate Goths. I think it's some misguided longing for 'normalcy' that makes them lash out at anything that isn't what they view as 'normal'.

I think it's the preoccupation with being seen or thought of as 'normal' that is part of the problem. People need to just get over it and realize that normal is an illusion.

I rarely say this but I will say it now:

AMEN!!!!!

Well I will share something with all of you, there is animosity from transgender individuals when it comes to the GLB part of things. It is sad really, but in many areas of the country one who is transsexual can and in way too many instances are looked down upon by gays and lesbians. Heck we seen it happen in our government where ENDA which would protect not only gays and lesbians from discrimination but also transsexuals. The thing is that people like Barney Frank butchered it, someone who has shown he does not like transsexuals.

In Washington State this stomping of transgendered people was common as well. Transgender people were seldom welcome at lesbian gatherings, and if some arrived were treated like garbage because the lesbian women just see us as "men in dresses". The community is fractured and divided. In Phoenix on the other hand GLBT do walk hand in hand but sadly from what I hear that is the exception, not the rule. I really cannot blame many in the transgender community who want to break off.

Let's face it, it is a different issue to be gay/lesbian then being transgender. And the way we've been treated, in many cases it is "When you have friends like that who needs enemies".

It is disgusting to me to know that rather than rallying together and supporting one another that so many in the community would rather shun those that they mistakenly believe are 'lesser' than them. Doing the cruel things to innocents that were done to us is reprehensible and does only harm to ourselves and the people that it is done to.

I couldn't agree more, Wolfie. Without wanting to come over all Civil Rights, it's really not that long ago since our community was effectively an "oppressed minority", and to be fair the prejudices of that era linger in many, many parts (and, as we know, in some countries the oppression doesn't just continue to exist, but in fact is worsening). So, from a community perspective, it REALLY pisses me off when sections of that community start building walls between themselves and other sections. We shouldn't be inflicting this on each other - there's a reason why that set of initials at the head of the page is so long; it's because we're all people with a SHARED experience, a SHARED interest, COMMON ground. Now, that sounds potentially as if I'm saying, "Well, it's us versus them" - I'm not; to take that stance would be to make us no better than those who wanted us swept under the carpet and into closets for so long. We need to go forward and help change hearts and minds, open eyes and ears, and show that in the end we are all united by LOVE.

LOVE: Longing Of Valueless Equality.

Something a bit more positive :
Starting 2nd of May is Dublins Gay Theatre Festival
There will be various plays performed around Dublin between the 2nd and 15th of May, either using Gay actors, directors, writers etc. or just about the LGBTQI world.
I have no plans as of yet to attend anything, but I do hope to.
Also, while not actually connected to the festival, I am planning to attend a showing of A Portrait of Dorian Gray this Saturday (if I can get tickets), and obviously Wilde is somewhat related to the subject

On a slightly unrelated note, why is there no "A" at the end of LGBTQI in the thread title? I am not Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer or Intersex but I consider myself to be an outspoken and active Ally of all those who identify as such.

I think there's a silent "A". Although to my mind it would be too confrontational to describe the grouping of the communities involved as an "alliance" (because that has all kinds of unpleasant connotations) it effectively is... And as such, by implication it also includes our (very welcomed) fellow travellers.

Instead of a letter to add to the list, would you like a nice warm hug for being so kind-hearted?