Gay men in straight marriages

[IVoteDFL]

Last edited Fri Nov 2, 2012, 02:00 PM - Edit history (1)

on Ricki Lake right now....

She has on some men claiming that they were cured and are capable of being faithful to their wives. I thought Ricki Lake was a solid ally of LGBT rights, trying to figure out why she'd do a show like this.

One guy has only ever had sex with his wife but claims to be attracted to her AND to men. My mom and I are arguing that this makes him bi-curious at the very least. I'm not watching this dumbass show anymore.

[MineralMan]

1. I'm at a loss to understand why this is particularly interesting

on DU. Can you explain how it relates to DU in any way?

[IVoteDFL]

4. I thought it was offensive that Ricki Lake is promoting cures to homosexuality.

But I guess nobody else cares.

[Fearless]

5. That is unfortunate.

[MineralMan]

6. But, you see, you didn't mention that in your post.

I've never seen Ricki Lake even once, and have no idea what's on that show. If that person is promoting what you say, why not mention it in your post? You just can't assume that people know the background of what you post about. Most DUers don't watch Ricki Lake.

[IVoteDFL]

7. apologies I'm on a really old phone

there was supposed to be an additional line about Ricki supposing to be an ally. Trying to figure out how to edit my original post.

[merrily]

2. Unless you plan to try to sleep with him, why do you care?

[IVoteDFL]

8. she is saying that he is cured and I don't believe in cures

that is why I care

[closeupready]

12. Wait, back up - are you saying Ricki supported his claim

that he was 'cured' - of something relating to his sexual attraction to other men?

If that's what she was stating, then I have lost almost all respect for her.

[msanthrope]

3. Your concern is noted. Please feel free to share more of your concerns, and enjoy your stay. nt

[closeupready]

9. 'Bi-curious'? You mean bisexual. Yes, if true, he is bisexual according

to what I understand about sexuality.

[dawg]

10. Well, in your defense this is General Discussion.

So I think it's a perfectly valid topic to discuss.

I don't think it's possible to change one's sexual orientation, but I do think it's very possible for a bisexual person to be faithful to their spouse.

[hunter]

11. The right wing commonly uses stories like this to defend their homophobic position...

... they'll claim that "Defense of Marriage Acts" and other similar legislation don't infringe upon anyone's civil rights. They'll say, "See, a gay man can get married, just so long as he marries a woman."

Throughout history homosexual and bisexual men and women have married people of the opposite sex and the nature of these relationships isn't for anyone else to judge.

Nevertheless when same-sex couples are not allowed to marry their civil rights are being violated.

[closeupready]

13. Anyone else here remember Tom Braden?

He was the liberal foil to Novak's arch-conservatism on the earliest seasons of "Crossfire" in the 80's - apparently, he and his wife had an open marriage. Or at least, the wiki entry on him claims that this is so.

I find that really remarkable, and would be curious to know if anyone else here knows anything about that.

[begin_within]

14. I didn't even know her show was still on...

She had a talk show a long time ago, did she stop and then start again or has she been on all this time?

[Hugabear]

15. You're not giving us the full context of the show

Just because Ricki Lake has someone on her show, doesn't mean that she agrees with their views. Sometimes, talk show hosts will bring on guests with controversial views in order to challenge them. Your post does not mention Ricki's reaction to her guests. Did she challenge them, or was she supporting their views?

[EmeraldCityGrl]

16. I really wish the LGBT community would educate people

like the OP. The OP is not malicious just uninformed.

I learned on DU this week Gay men are not allowed to
donate blood because someone took the time to explain
it to me and how it was a government agency responsible
not The Red Cross. I appreciated them taking the time to
educate me and not make me feel like a dumbass for
not knowing this.

[Zorra]

17. We've been trying our very best to educate people for many years.

Over the years, the DU LGBT community has endured more subtle attacks by concern trolls here at DU than you could probably ever imagine. Sometimes, it is possible that some of us may make a mistake in judgment when a sincere poster makes a post that has certain characteristics in common with many anti-LGBT concern troll posts that we have often seen in the past. We've literally seen hundreds of anti-LGBT concern troll posts over the years.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/11373759#post8

No snarkiness intended here whatsoever ~ Could you please express exactly what you would have us say to the OP? Any advice or ideas that will help us educate folks would be very greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[William769]

18. +1

Education only works if we have receptive people to listen.

Don't believe me just take a look at any numerous Posts in Meta!

[EmeraldCityGrl]

20. There were several really great responses...

closeupready, hunter and dawg are three examples. I'm not going to call anyone out,
but when I read what appears to be an authentic request for information and it's responded
to with sarcasm or dismissed it just seems like a lost opportunity to further educate the OP
or just as importantly those reading and not posting.

I imagine it gets really frustrating dealing with peoples ignorance but there is so much more
the general public needs to understand beyond "same sex marriage." I just think the next
four years every thing needs to be brought out into the public and the LGBT community
needs to be given full civil rights. If not now under Obama's 2nd term then when?

For whatever reason being denied the right to donate blood is so archaic it made me wonder
how many other things many of us don't know that think we are really well informed.

[William769]

19. Ricki Lake is definitely a friend of Dorothy!

Without seeing the show or exact quote, I reserve the right to hold judgement.