4 ms·

If you are in a country where such discrimination is OK, I don't think that the general population is going to look too kindly on the oppressed class protesting

If you are in a country where such discrimination is OK, I don't think that the general population is going to look too kindly on the oppressed class protesting. There are already cultures where if you go against the majority opinion you can end up burning all the bridges to your family and friends.

Broken_Hippo 9y ago
The US, though? That's where I've experienced this stuff. It isn't always "kill the gays", just like it isn't always "kill the minorities". The social backlash can be bad enough: I was 13 when some girls figured out I was interested in other girls. I sat alone the rest of the year and folks wouldn't speak to me. The high school I gradutated from (different school system) would not allow same-sex couples to go to prom together. I know of a school superintendent that tried not to hire gay teachers, as he thought a gay teacher turned his son gay. I personally identify as bisexual, but the options I had with women in the US weren't the same as men. A woman couldn't adopt my child, nor could we be legally married until recently. As recently as 1998, oral and anal sex was considered sodomy by US military code. Guess what that means? Same sex sexual relations can get you dishonorably discharged. And you are correct - few in the states look kindly on the oppressed class protesting. And it is supposed to be a right.
- kelukelugames 9y ago
  Sexual orientation wasn't considered a protected class until recently. EEOC took their first case only a year or two ago.
jononor 9y ago
There is often a large discrepancy between what people say that they believe, and what they actually believe. In a 'Christian middle-class family', it may be that everyone believe that everyone else is against homosexuality. The priest says it is a mortal sin, and no-one has said they disagreed. Secretly the kids might think homosexuality-as-sin is an disgusting idea, the wife might think 'of course gays rights should be respected', and the father might feel 'whatever, I don't care what people do in their bedrooms'. In this example the personal opinion has shifted in favour of homosexuality, however the public opinion has not caught up yet. To break the stalemate of everyone holding their potentially-controversal-but-not-actually opinion to themselves, some external nudge might be needed. A protest might be what brings the topic up, so that peoples actual opinions can come forth. Such outing can have ripple effects. Kid talk about their family fight-which-wasnt to other kids, and find out their families also are in support. Soon everyone in the church is collectively rolling their eyes when priest harps on gays. Eventually the priest picks up the vibe and stops mentioning homosexuality as a sin altogether.

Broken_Hippo 9y ago

The US, though? That's where I've experienced this stuff. It isn't always "kill the gays", just like it isn't always "kill the minorities". The social backlash can be bad enough: I was 13 when some girls figured out I was interested in other girls. I sat alone the rest of the year and folks wouldn't speak to me. The high school I gradutated from (different school system) would not allow same-sex couples to go to prom together. I know of a school superintendent that tried not to hire gay teachers, as he thought a gay teacher turned his son gay. I personally identify as bisexual, but the options I had with women in the US weren't the same as men. A woman couldn't adopt my child, nor could we be legally married until recently. As recently as 1998, oral and anal sex was considered sodomy by US military code. Guess what that means? Same sex sexual relations can get you dishonorably discharged. And you are correct - few in the states look kindly on the oppressed class protesting. And it is supposed to be a right.

kelukelugames 9y ago
Sexual orientation wasn't considered a protected class until recently. EEOC took their first case only a year or two ago.

jononor 9y ago

There is often a large discrepancy between what people say that they believe, and what they actually believe. In a 'Christian middle-class family', it may be that everyone believe that everyone else is against homosexuality. The priest says it is a mortal sin, and no-one has said they disagreed. Secretly the kids might think homosexuality-as-sin is an disgusting idea, the wife might think 'of course gays rights should be respected', and the father might feel 'whatever, I don't care what people do in their bedrooms'. In this example the personal opinion has shifted in favour of homosexuality, however the public opinion has not caught up yet. To break the stalemate of everyone holding their potentially-controversal-but-not-actually opinion to themselves, some external nudge might be needed. A protest might be what brings the topic up, so that peoples actual opinions can come forth. Such outing can have ripple effects. Kid talk about their family fight-which-wasnt to other kids, and find out their families also are in support. Soon everyone in the church is collectively rolling their eyes when priest harps on gays. Eventually the priest picks up the vibe and stops mentioning homosexuality as a sin altogether.