To LGBT on DU

[boston bean]

Yesterday, was a historic day, reaffirming your rights to marry. It was the civil rights victory of our era. Thank you to all who worked and fought so long for these victories! You have moved equality forward for all in very meaningful ways!

Thank you and congratulations.

I want you to know that hateful things posted, are certainly not how most feel.. And I feel disgusted that in safe places on the net that you have to read hateful garbage. I am sorry that happened to you!

If I could shut them up, I would do it in a heart beat!

Most importantly, though, those people were shut up by equality winning the day. Feels good!

[Bluenorthwest]

1. I blame those who post that shit and the admins who have coddled bigots and liars

who are known to be bigots and liars. It is established, they repeat the cycle because they do not respect us as a people and the larger community refuses to stand up for us to those admins.

[TxDemChem]

2. I celebrated the DOMA and Prop 8 determinations yesterday

Now, we've got to work at the state level. It will be more difficult in some states (like Tx) but it is our next move. Equality for all!

[Puglover]

3. That post didn't impact my day in the slightest.

All it did was reaffirm an opinion that was formed a long time ago. What gobsmacks me are the posters that swoop in to defend that shite.

Whatever, no importa. Thanks for your support.

[boston bean]

7. I agree.

Congrats!

[MineralMan]

4. Although the battle for marriage equality is not over,

the momentum is clear. K&R

[The Link]

6. It cannot be more clear to me what your game is here.

The little "satire" that you left up for way too long has run its course. You really must be untouchable, because your game is obvious.

[MineralMan]

8. I self-deleted that as soon as I returned to DU

this morning and saw the reaction to it. That satire was intended to mock those who oppose marriage equality and who make ridiculous claims regarding it. It failed as a satire, and was not taken as I intended. So, I deleted it, as soon as I got on DU this morning.

I apologize for my clumsy attempt. I am 100% behind marriage equality, and have worked toward that goal as chair of my DFL precinct in Minnesota. I've written on that precinct's website to encourage that goal.

I wrote a poor satire. For that, I apologize. I do not apologize for my efforts on behalf of marriage equality.

There is a link to the website for my DFL precinct in my signature line. Anyone can read my public statements in support of marriage equality.

Again, I apologize for posting a lousy satire piece.

[Bluenorthwest]

9. What is it about your history and admitted anti gay past that made you think you should

attempt to EVER make any sort of attempt at satire about the very people you libeled on FR for years?
Your history here and the troubles you have caused because of your past makes you pleading here impossible for a thinking person to buy into.
Why would you think you of all people should so much as attempt any form of 'joke' about this issue, a people you have attacked aggressively for years?

[MineralMan]

11. I made a mistake.

I should not have attempted a satire on the subject, and did it badly. My intent was to ridicule the arguments of the people who oppose marriage equality. That was clearly not successful. I have deleted the post, and am apologizing for it.

[Bluenorthwest]

12. Did you not see the questions? Let me repeat:

Why would you think you of all people should so much as attempt any form of 'joke' about this issue, a people you have attacked aggressively for years?

[MineralMan]

13. I take your point.

You'll also find several posts of mine in threads celebrating the SCOTUS decision.

See this link: http://saintpaulw6p13.blogspot.com/
I'll not be posting any further satires that touch on this issue.

With that, I'm not going to continue discussing it. I support universal marriage equality. Period.

[Bluenorthwest]

16. I'm repeating the question you did not answer:

"What is it about your history and admitted anti gay past that made you think you should attempt to EVER make any sort of attempt at satire about the very people you libeled on FR for years? "

Refusing to answer questions makes your lack of respect very clear.

[snooper2]

40. He said he was sorry and you continue to ride his ass

Why so mad bro?

He obviously meant no ill will-

[The Link]

46. bullshit.

[snooper2]

48. are you channeling B.I.G.?

greatness!

&nofeather=True

[Skittles]

42. maybe he learned a valuable lesson, Bluenorthwest

let's put him on probation

[Bluenorthwest]

10. To provide context, from your Journal, another 'apology' from 2012

I apologize abjectly.
I did write that, although not in those exact words. I was very wrong to do so, and it is not true. What I wrote was based on incorrect information. I no longer believe that in any way. After writing that, a number of years ago, I learned the actual facts of the matter. I learned that there is no connection between orientation and the likelihood that someone is likely to desire sex with underaged people.

Knowing that, I'm ashamed that I once thought otherwise, and wrote what I wrote. Since the time I wrote that, I've gotten a thorough education on the subject, thanks to some very kind LGBT people I've met. I was wrong. I am very sorry that I ever said such a thing. Since I learned the truth, I have come a long way in my understanding of LGBT issues. I'm in full support of erasing any prejudices against LGBT people. I'm actively working for marriage equality in Minnesota, where a constitutional amendment is going to come up for a vote in November. I've posted a call to other DFLers to work against this amendment on the web site of the DFL precinct where I am the chair. A link to that call is in my signature line.

I cannot delete the post on Free Republic. I was banned there in 2006 as an anti-freeper. If I could delete it, I would. I kept the same screen name I used there, knowing that people would find the things I wrote there. I'm not anonymous, and my real identity can be found at the links in my signature line.

I won't ask for forgiveness for what I wrote. I will say that I would never say anything of that nature again. I was misinformed. I am not misinformed any longer. I am sorry that I wrote that and know that it was hurtful and damaging.

I normally do not post in this group. I still won't, because I know that many here don't want to see my face, and I understand that. I'd probably feel the same way. I will never say anything of the sort again, because I don't believe anything of the sort.

I apologize. I deeply regret my ignorance and my words that were based on that ignorance. I was woefully mistaken, and regret that very much.

You can count on my wholehearted support for LGBT rights issues, for marriage equality, and you can count on me not to say such things now or in the future.

I ask for your understanding, if not your forgiveness. I can't ask for that forgiveness. I can only try to demonstrate my good faith now and in the future.
Posted by MineralMan | Sat May 5, 2012, 06:28 PM (2 replies)

[pipi_k]

18. I didn't

think it was lousy satire...

What I thought was lousy was how many people who perceived it in a different light than how you intended it could act in such a disgusting manner based on what activities you did in the past.

Aside from that, I can't even count how many times I've seen OPs by you that it would really be a stretch for anyone to label as offensive but, some way or another, someone (or a group of someones) will find a way to jump down your throat.

I get who you are, MM. I have a sister who is often misunderstood. She often says or does things that look out of place, but she doesn't really mean any harm, and it took me a long time to realize that.

[MineralMan]

19. The thing is that I should have realized that

it would have been taken in a way I did not intend. I shouldn't have posted it at all. I should have realized that, no matter how ridiculous I made it, some would take it as an attack on marriage equality, rather than a mocking of those who oppose it.

I saw that many understood my intent, but many did not. I should have anticipated that, but did not. That's why I self-deleted the post this morning. It was not my intent to offend anyone except for those who use stupid arguments to oppose marriage equality.

It was a failed satire. I'm sorry I posted it and offended people. That was never my intention.

The past is always with us. I've apologized for my failure to understand in the past. That apology is sincere. Since then, I have taken steps to support marriage equality and other LGBT issues in a public way and those efforts have produced some results. That's why I refer to the link to the DFL precinct site I maintain. That is what I am doing now. What I wrote in some thread in 2004 is behind me. I was wrong, as I point out in the apology in my journal. That apology is posted in this thread. I learned. I changed. I'm working to support issues, as a means of making the apology real.

I cannot change the past. I can only move forward.

[boston bean]

20. How many more apologies is one expected to accept,

And believe is sincere?

[MineralMan]

21. That, of course, will be up to each person to decide.

I'm sure I will make other mistakes in my life, and I will apologize for those, as well. When I apologize, it is sincere. Apologies are made by people who have erred. Accepting apologies is a matter for those to whom the apology is directed. I can only speak for myself, and continue to work toward doing the right things.

[boston bean]

22. Not always the case.

Some continue with the same behavior, and sooner or later the apologies fall on deaf ears.

[MineralMan]

23. As you say.

You are the only one who can decide how you feel, and I am the only one who is absolutely certain what I believe. I see no way to alter that situation.

[Bluenorthwest]

25. Belief is for religious folks, as a pargamatist all I see are the actions others take, the actions

stand as the only evidence of any thought or belief residing within. So you are what you bleat.

[pipi_k]

38. Here's a little something

to consider...

Let's equate this situation with an intimate relationship.

Person A cheats on Person B repeatedly, but Person B decides to stay with Person A for whatever reasons s/he may have. Person A admits the wrong and promises never to do it again.

You know what sucks?

For Person B to keep rubbing Person A's nose in what s/he did in the past. Why the hell doesn't Person B get the fuck out of the relationship instead of continually harping on the past??

So I ask the same question here.

If someone has done what you consider to be heinous things in the past, why not just end the relationship by putting that person on ignore instead of flinging the bad behavior in his face time and time again?

[boston bean]

41. This is like person B having another affair

And expecting one to believe they are really sorry, again.

[Puglover]

53. The poster you are trying to reason with

tends to jump into threads where LGTB posters are taking issue with a bigoted and offensive remark and vigorously defend whatever that remark or post may be. And despite having LGTB posters tell them why they are taking offense will doggedly insist that they are being silly.

I guess they know best what is offensive to us. Frankly I'd let it go.

[Sissyk]

43. More often than not, I agree with your post pipi k.

This one I do not; and here is why.

IF MM really felt bad and realized that EVERY TIME some LGBT People are starting to move on from his slanderous, sickening, revolting language at FR; he then EVERY TIME has to make an OP about LGBT in some form or fashion. You must admit, he is the last person on DU that should be posting OP's of this nature.

He didn't cheat and get forgiveness and go on with life. He cheated, kept throwing it in Person B's face, and knowingly continued to text his ex-lover (post OP's concerning a subject he should WANT to stay away from), and continue to apologize to Person A because he hasn't exactly cheated again.

[pipi_k]

34. You know something, MM?

From what I've seen from people here, if you have to second guess yourself all the time, you'll find yourself not posting anything at all.

Which, I suspect, is something many here would love.

For some, it doesn't matter how many times you apologize. In their minds, what you were is what you'll always be, and I don't think you need to keep asking the pardon of people who will never give it, even though whatever you did in the past didn't hurt them personally.

Maybe I'm crazy, but I reserve my greatest hatred for people who actually hurt me or someone I care about. If you haven't stolen money from my bank account, or set my house on fire, or punched me in the face, then I'm willing to be polite, even if/when there are issues on which we disagree.

[yardwork]

28. You didn't self-delete when gay posters told you it was offensive

Instead, you argued with us. You told gay people how we should feel about something. You responded in the thread and left your OP up. It was only when you saw that straight people were offended that you finally self-deleted.

[Bluenorthwest]

33. Yep.

The level of dishonesty is once again stunning.

[yardwork]

35. It's very consistent

Same pattern over and over again. It is fooling fewer and fewer people.

[Sissyk]

44. BAM!

Yes, yardwork.

Also, I know you don't "know" me; but it is good to see you back on DU. You have been missed.

[yardwork]

49. Thank you!

That's very kind of you.

[closeupready]

36. While I accepted your apology previously, I will admit

to being a little bothered by what seems to have occurred yesterday (though I didn't see the thread until just now, so I don't even know exactly what you posted).

Can I ask you something, though:

How many gay people do you know?

And of those gay people you know, how well do you know them?

[Bluenorthwest]

5. This place is a home for bigoted jerks

Too bad the straight community is going to try to keep playing that shit to the end. I hope they know they will fail, fail, fail and when they are in the grave they will be cursed.

[Zorra]

14. Thank you, bean. It is unfortunate that some right wingers have found a niche

here at DU by learning how to play the game. They are like toenail fungus, ugly, embarrassing, annoying, and difficult to get rid of.

I know that most here are totally stoked that DOMA was declared unconstitutional. Hopefully, someday soon women and all LGBT will have full equality under the law, and beyond.

[Bluenorthwest]

17. Glad to see you say that Zorra.

nt

[Zorra]

26. I totally owe you a huge apology, Blue.

And it is coming, I'm strapped for time today ~ a celebration brunch.

Don't worry, I'll save plenty of room for crow.

[Bluenorthwest]

37. That's all I needed to hear, Zorra. Your intentions were always of the best kind.

nt

[Ohio Joe]

15. K&R - nt

[Sissyk]

24. Let me add my Thanks and Congratulations to all

LGBT on DU.

When I first saw your post, I wasn't sure where it was coming from. I wasn't around last night, but out celebrating with good friends (and had a few to many margaritas), so I had to go looking to find what you were referencing.

Let me say, I was appalled.

One thing I noticed was the fact that he was ask as early as post 20 something to delete it. He wouldn't. This is after knowing TO BEGIN WITH that he was THE VERY LAST PERSON that should be posting or making an OP having anything to do with LGBT.

[Bluenorthwest]

31. you make very good points

The context, the set and setting, the speech and the speaker are all factors in the meaning of a text.

[Sissyk]

45. Thank you, bluenorthwest.

[hrmjustin]

27. K&R!

[Aristus]

29. We love our LGBT's!

[Democracyinkind]

30. I too, am sorry that you must put up with the hate.

It is a reminder of the fact that this struggle goes way beyond legal issues though. True equality will not come from the courts but through social and moral evolution. This fight will not be over for me until each and everyone of you can lead a life free of legal, social and bogus "moral" reservations about your personal choices.

[yardwork]

32. Thank you for your support, Boston Bean!

[William769]

39. Thanks

Last edited Thu Jun 27, 2013, 11:53 AM - Edit history (1)

It's been a battle. Will edit my post later typing on phone right now.


In general DU has been very supportive we have seen our share of bigots (but they have mostly been dealt with, Then we have the kool-aid drinking crowd that can't see the forest because of the trees (I'm sure you know the one's I'm talking about.

[cordelia]

47. Your support is much appreciated. n/t

[Orsino]

50. Unfortunately, it didn't affirm a right to marry.

But we're getting there, bit by bit.

[BainsBane]

51. I didn't see any of that hateful stuff

I'm sorry to hear that.

[Ms. Toad]

52. I was actually more offended

by the post I ran across asserting that DOMA was enacted/supported by good liberals in order to protect us LGBT folks from the evil right wing folks who were about to seek an amendment to the constitution.

That post was serious.

I saw this post - it didn't even register with me who had posted it (although it wouldn't have made a difference to me). It was dumb. It wasn't funny. But it was clearly trying to poke fun at the right wingers who predicted gay marriage would be the slippery slope to people marrying their dogs and such nonsense, and not worth the time to respond. Unlike the first post I mentioned which, on this day of celebration, attempted to resurrect the reputation of the "liberal" supporters who helped force DOMA down our throats in the first place.

[Puglover]

54. I saw it too.

Consider the poster.