Apparently we are ALL gay Americans today.

[Liberal Veteran]

And I don't mean that in the happy, happy, joy, joy sense of the word.

From some of the posts I am reading, it is evident that many people are experiencing (possibly for the first time ever) the kind of isolation and rejection that comes with coming out of the closet.

Hearing about family members TAUNTING other family members because Bush won and then trying to make us feel guilty about our politics if we get angry about their callousness?

Even spouses have gotten in on that action from a couple of threads I have read.

Hearing about friends jeering supposed friends?

This may sound odd, but as a gay man, this is EXACTLY the kind of callous disregard for another person and who they are that gay people have been experiencing forever.

We have experienced the "friend" that turns his back on you for being gay instead of being there or the "friend" who is unaware of your sexual orientation and makes a bigotted remark that hurts you deeply.

We have experienced the so-called tolerance from family members who tell you to your face they love and accept you only to draw lines in the sand at where that tolerance is (don't bring your boyfriend home).

It breaks my heart to hear some of the stories from people who have been laughed at because Bush won and they lost.

But one thing I have learned from a lifetime of this: Don't ever let yourself be a doormat and do not let yourself be cowed into being someone you are not to please someone else. It is SO not worth it.

[Liberal Veteran]

1. Bump to the top again.

:)

[SeanQ]

2. :)

[Dob Bole]

3. I feel TOTALLY gay today.....

But this isn't over. You saw how big the left grew in the last 4 years...imagine 4 more.

[eriffle]

4. Well there's a sign I saw today in WV

that says on faries vote for Kerry.

[blondeatlast]

9. And it made you feel how???

Thanks for the brilliant insight.

[phish420]

5. Right on, I hear ya bro

As a gay man, I do know what you are saying. We are all gay today. I have lived through the ignorance when people talked shit about gays not knowing I was...hell just the other day I was invited by a repube to move to CA with the other 'liberal fags'

Im done with this country. It has turned its back on me, and now I am turning mine on it. No more elections. No more disputes. No more ideology. I have no more soul. Im going to work hard, save up some money, and find a country where I will be more accepted, and where morality is not legislated.

[Iris]

6. I was 1 of 600,000 votes AGAINST a gay marriage ban in GA.

I'm feeling pretty Gay today.

And African American.

And Homeless.

And Poor.

And Disenfranchised.

[Dob Bole]

8. Me too! nt

[Iris]

12. At least I'm in good company! n/t

[Soup Bean]

15. Hello, Dob.

It's a tough day up here on Rocky Top, too.

[blondeatlast]

7. My husband has brown skin; I know the feeling myself.

We really are all brothers and sisters in oppression today.

Nice sentiment, guy, and know that most of DU has your back, friend.

[Justin54B20L]

10. Yeah, I don't know why so many Americans support . .

. . banning gay marriage, seeing as how they so obviously love getting fucked by this administration.

[Kingshakabobo]

11. I hate to say it, as a gay man, I took this election very personally...

My non-political boyfriend is especially distraught because he comes from a very affirming family and never realized, I guess, how much hatred there was for us. I guess he has been in a dream world. Now he realizes that we are the last bastion of acceptable bigotry.

Twenty years from now I hope America will look back and realize how backward we were on the "gay issue". Hopefully, the people who sided with the fundamentalists will be embarrassed. Until then, I'm ready to start knocking heads and kicking ass of anyone who tries to trample my rights.

I had a bit of a violent temper in my youth and was quite a brawler. I'm in no mood to put up with any shit and my temper isn't far from the surface.

[Liberal Veteran]

17. I'm sorry for your boyfriend's rude awakening....

....but he needed to learn it regardless. They really do hate us and trying to play the game as if they didn't is not a winning tactic.

[info being]

13. I had that thought this morning, and I'm straight.

I feel like a full-fledged minority. The core of who I am in my soul has been rejected.

BTW, I'm a straight white male businessman.

[yardwork]

14. We have your backs

I'm not much good at brawling, but this chubby, not very tall or athletic, middle-aged straight woman is on your side.

I'm disgusted with a lot of Americans today. However, they are cowards who will cut and run when they are challenged. We will get through this together.

[Liberal Veteran]

16. If they are cowardly enough to try to force the law to prevent...

...me from staying with my partner of 14 years, they are truly cowards.

What they don't realize is that by making things more difficult legally, they strengthen my resolve to cleave to the one thing in life that I can count on.

[Hav]

18. .

Yeah...that election was really gay ;).