tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2688218899576616463.post7772574300071495292..comments2023-10-07T04:19:14.316-07:00Comments on A CHRISTIAN VOICE FOR GAY, LESBIAN, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDER RIGHTS: SOME DYNAMICS AND CONSEQUENCES OF "OUTSIDER" STATUSJerry Manekerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00748201321055468172noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2688218899576616463.post-58322832719586450202008-03-02T14:23:00.000-08:002008-03-02T14:23:00.000-08:00Hi Don Charles: I'll try. I've really been surpri...Hi Don Charles: I'll try. I've really been surprised at the revulsion expressed by many LGBT people by the prospect of being treated equally and enjoying the same rights that heterosexuals have. I'm not sure of all the dynamics involved in this phenomenon, but it seems to me that "fear of 'success" might well be trumping even "fear of failure." And I have to confess that this phenomenon is mystifying to me. And the vehemence expressed, not only against the ideas but against the people who propose means to achieve equality, is similarly mystifying to me.Jerry Manekerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00748201321055468172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2688218899576616463.post-35418598427726496882008-03-02T14:16:00.000-08:002008-03-02T14:16:00.000-08:00Jerry,I do hope you'll post a rebuttal, even if it...Jerry,<BR/><BR/>I do hope you'll post a rebuttal, even if it's only a brief one, to Nancy Polikoff's book arguing that marriage equality isn't a worthwhile goal for LGBT folk. The stealth support for anti-Gay Rights political positions seems to be coming from all directions these days!DC HAMPTON JACOBShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09884630801131861786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2688218899576616463.post-71718075261795433772008-03-01T12:05:00.000-08:002008-03-01T12:05:00.000-08:00Hi Don Charles: That's a perfect metaphor for what...Hi Don Charles: That's a perfect metaphor for what I also perceive to be happening. And I think that that mind-set of either the boat not sinking or we deserve to sink is a relatively recent phenomenon. <BR/><BR/>I didn't detect this mind-set among the activists of the 1960's and 70's, nor among many ACT-UP groups in the 80's. Moreover, in any civil rights struggle, it is a relative few who participate. <BR/><BR/>What is somewhat different from the struggle for African-American civil rights is that, unlike their plight before their civil rights movement when virtually all African-Americans wanted true liberation, many, if not most, LGBT people resent such a meaningful movement. In my opinion, many are afraid of such a civil rights movement for some of the reasons I mentioned on my post.<BR/><BR/>It seems rational to many LGBT people to settle for second best when the alternative is confrontation with the truth of one's second-class status with which one will be hit in the face once he/she demands full and equal dignity and civil rights.<BR/><BR/>It is a tough swim to "that big deluxe ocean liner," but it must (and will) eventually be done if one wants to live a full, authentic life, and not be entrapped by all sorts of defense mechanisms to avoid confronting the truth.Jerry Manekerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00748201321055468172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2688218899576616463.post-43817322657774906252008-03-01T11:41:00.000-08:002008-03-01T11:41:00.000-08:00'Hence, rather than "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," the d...'Hence, rather than "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," the defense mechanism used might well be "They can't reject me because I'm letting them know in no uncertain terms that I don't want to be accepted by them anyway."'<BR/><BR/>Jerry,<BR/><BR/>I think it's "don't rock the leaking lifeboat we're sitting in"! Some of us have convinced ourselves that the boat isn't sinking. Others of us know, but think that's just the way it is, we can't do anything about it, and furthermore, we deserve to sink. You and I want to overturn that leaking lifeboat, and force the occupants to swim for that big deluxe ocean liner everyone else is cruising on. It's a rough swim . . . the waves are murder . . . but to remain where we are means certain death.DC HAMPTON JACOBShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09884630801131861786noreply@blogger.com