So let me get something straight re: homophobia
as someone who has lived squarely in 2 letters of the LGBT rainbow, I am pretty fucking certain I know what homophobia is, and what homophobia (or, more accurately, homophobiC) isn't.
And just because some straight, white, Christian, male wants to say something is "homophobic" doesn't actually mean that it is, actually, homophobic. It may be a homophobic statement. Or it may be an innocuous statement that said straight, white, Christian, male ALERTS as being homophobic knowing that a jury is 1) very likely to hide something LABELED as homophobic (even if they don't think it is) because it's better to be safe and hide than not hide and be seen as a bigot or 2) TL;DR. Alerter says homophobic, okay, whatever, I have wanking to do.
referring to someone as "a baby" isn't homophobic. No matter how badly you want it to be a homophobic statement, it isn't. It may or may not be a personal attack. It may or may not be a not so nice thing to say. But it is not a gay slur. It is not an attack on someone's sexuality or gender identity.
Referring to someone as being "a worm" or referring to "a worm" is not a homophobic slur. It may or may not be a personal attack. It may or may not be a nice thing to say to someone. But it is not a gay slur. It is not an attack on someone's sexuality or gender identity.
But let me tell you what *IS* an attack on same sex marriage:
Referring to same-sex marriage as being the same as wanting to marry a bicycle. Or a vole. Or a dead grandmother.
That's a nasty slur. That's an attack on those who are fighting for the right of gender and marriage equality.
Despite all of the wringing of hands and gnashing of teeth and pulling of hair from those who are so concerned, so very very concerned about HOMOPHOBIA and BIGOTRY in a supposed safe haven for all, not A SINGLE ONE of the people so very very concerned said ONE FUCKING WORD about this tripe that was posted (and thankfully hidden by a jury)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1218122885#post112
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1218122885#post181
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1218122885#post176
The only people who called out THAT blatant homophobic, bigoted shit were ATHEISTS and ATHEIST SYMPATHIZERS.
Hell, one of the biggest screamers of HOMOPHOBIAOMGWTFLOLBBQ in the safe-haven was PRESENT IN THE THREAD and said nothing. Not a word. Not one single admonition of "omg dude seriously that's a fucked up thing to say. and say again. and keep saying."
----
So when I see posters who are good people, honest people, loving people who haven't a homophobic bone in their body be accused of being bigots by the same people who sat on their hands and said NOTHING about real hate...It gives me pause and makes me think "gee. I think you're full of shit with your alert."
= new reply since forum marked as read
In any event, I neither reject nor accept these passages, as I wasn't there and I'm not prepared or willing to become involved in that thread and it's context.
Generally, the passages are homophobic, taken out of context.
But this is the Atheists and Agnostics Group, and I only stand by the observation that I made, using Tyson as a vehicle, that suggests that science is a different animal from politics and religion.
Now if you really want to know why "both are wrong" (and I wrote that the chances are that both are wrong), then watch this, Okay?
