I wonder if people of religion realize that as an American citizen in America I have every right to ignore any and all religious tenants. I can go into a temple and eat a bacon cheeseburger, I can draw pictures of Mohammad on paper in a Mosque, I can do many things, but as a good person I don't do these things. It's called respecting my fellow man and I'm tired of not getting the same respect.
As a gay man I get the shitty end of the stick from my government, from many religions and from the ignorant from many walks of life, and yet I try to always live up to the ways of peace and love that many Religious people swear they are living and yet tell me I'm evil and going to hell. I'm really getting to the point where if I continue to be disrespected I may snap.
I don't want a world where everyone is the same, that's stagnation, but I do want a world where people have learned not to hate one another. Do they really think that their god wants them to behave so anti-life?
Hi Joseph,
ReplyDeletethis makes me very sad, reading your story. I can't even start to imagine what you are going through. Living in The Netherlands I was brought up with religious tolerance and respect for all people. Being gay isn't an issue here. In some orthodox religious groups it is, but they aren't big here, so no problem there.
I do hope things will change for the gay community in The States. You should be able to marry if you like and have children if you chose to. That should be every persons right. I do hope they will see the light in The States and I hope it will be soon.
Have a great day.
Thank you so much Moncha,
ReplyDeleteThat's very nice to hear. I actually have tried to convince my husband John to move to Europe but he refuses. He wants to retire to the state of Maine here in the USA. I have to ask, How did you hear of me? I get amazed that someone from across the world would read my humble blog.
Often these 'other' people get such opinions from what and whom and how they are exposed to others [re:different] growing up. In junior high and high school, what were your attitudes toward gay?. [Evil Otter using his intimate knowledge here.] How did you feel to the one openly gay man that you knew at this time? You grow more from knowing others than just having an epiphany one night. Think of how gays were viewed 50, 30 and 10 years ago. yeah, its an agonizingly slow process and often back-pedaled on, but it is changing and for the better because of people like yourself saying, "Here I am and I'm a lot like you... deal with it and get over it." Look at the people you know who do and don't know you're gay. Those who do know don't treat you like a pariah, and those who don't, few that they be, would they turn on you? The more isolated people are [whether physically or socially] the likely they are to not except differences. The more they are told that their group or selves are right/ best/ first/ chosen/ special, the more they are to look down on others. Yeah, its all very simplistic and we've all heard it before, but it still rings true. Time, my friend is both our friend and foe, and like those who remain steadfastly intolerant, we wait for it to advance to a better, more [dare I say it] enlightened world.
ReplyDeleteWith love from your brother.
Dear Eric,
ReplyDeleteYou're being the wise brother again. But that's why I came out and shattered the closet door on the way out. If people never know they know LGBT people they can never understand them.
Hi Joseph,
ReplyDeleteTo a degree I can understand where you are coming from. I have been F2M T/S for 17 years. I have people within my family who are born again christians and constantly forcing their 'do-good ways' down my throat.
They believe that my lifestyle disrepects their faith....Yes! Of course I changed just so I could piss everyone off!!! Give me a break.
It takes an awful lot not snap when shown disrespect by those ignorant bastards. They need to take a good long look in a two way mirror and read the page in their book about judging.
i totally agree! i think more people need to just "get it". what exactly, i dont know. not tolerance because tolerance isn't acceptance. not acceptance really, because there's nothing to accept...it's not like this is wrong, but i'll accept it anyway. maybe they just need to learn how to live and let live, fairly take and fairly give.
ReplyDeleteHi Joseph,
ReplyDeleteI found your blog through Alex's blog. He found my blog and so the ball rolls ; )
You can tell your husband, that we have a wonderful province, called Zeeland, which is near the coast and people like to retire there too. It's the province I live in, so I know ; )