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Gay Rights Issues
by Michael Dickson
(Virgin Frost)
A large percentage of the voters in Canton, Ohio do not
care one way or the other about a "Gay Rights Bill" or
"Gay Marriage". They do however agree that everyone should
have the right to chose their own partner / lover.
The right to be openly Gay in Canton, however, is still
frowned upon. Fifty percent of the Gay males in Canton go
to the bars, act like queens, flame out, only to go home
and act as though they are totally straight. If they pass
another Gay person on the street they act like they don't
know them. The rest of us are completely out and open about
our sexuality. We do our shopping, our laundry, receive our
mail, and introduce each other as partners.
The women's point of view (as expressed to me) is that
they do not want Gay marriage, they just want partners.
We all want to end discrimination in jobs so that we
don't have to worry about being fired for no other reason
than being Gay or Lesbian, but we do not support a Gay civil
rights bill that would insure us this protection under the
law. This is a paradox that we must change.
Unfortunately, Gay youth are not concerned about Gay
rights, although they would be the ones to ultimately benefit
the most from a Gay Rights Bill. All they seem to care about
is going out to the bars, and sex.
We have got to wake up. Are you saving face by denying your
sexuality? We have to give a little to get anywhere on these
issues.
The religious right refers to us as degenerate perverts and
child molesters. They use bible scripture to condemn us to hell.
Their beliefs do not give them the right to harass, beat up or
kill us, but, that is what is happening. Gay hate crimes are up,
fellowship is out, support is down. It is time to demand equal
protection under the law. As a community, we need to support one
and other spiritually, physically and financially.
We must unite behind our common goals. Only through love,
caring and tolerance amongst ourselves can we become a true
Gay and Lesbian community, and only then can we "overcome."
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