The Ultimate Gay Pride Message

[BronkBusterTX]

Robby Johnson? What the heck do you mean by being accessible?

Anyways…

Choice? What choice? I don’t remember ever making a CONCIOUS DECISION to be gay. Did you make a CONCIOUS DECISION to be straight? Did my mom? I know my dad made a CONCIOUS DECISION to be straight, at least for 6 years. Then he made the CONSCIOUS DECISION to be honest with his family, friends but more importantly with himself.

And as for the US Population being approximately 10% GBL&T, OMG PLEASE! That is the percentage that made the CONSCIOUS DECISION to admit to being gay/lesbian/transgendered. I wonder what percentage is, of the nations population has not made the CONCIOUS DECISION to be honest with themselves.

[Jair]

Consider us friends Laurie

Oh, I don’t know about the fan club part Big Dreams!! I’m sure I’ve ruffled a few feathers out there along the way. But you can still be president

Thanks everyone again for such kind words

This thread is reading the way I hoped it would. Very positive indeed!!

[Jumphigh83]

The pinial body in the brains of gay men are very different than the same structure in a “straight” man. In fact, they are similar in size to that of women (straight women) You don’t “choose” to be gay (or straight) you are born that way. If you were able to choose and society being what it is why would any gay person want to go through what ignorant people put them through…ridicule, social stigma etc…they could choose to be “straight” and avoid all that crap. Anyone who thinks that they can “choose” should take a day or a week and “choose” to be the opposite of what their orientation is “naturally”…good luck. You are what you are and god bless you. The choice is only in HOW you deal with your orientation. WHo cares what people do when they close their bedroom doors at night??? I don’t need all that information. Just like you can’t have a bad breed on a good horse, you can’t have a bad sexual orientation on a good person.

Oh Jair…My HUSBAND owns a flower shop so stp the stereo typing!!!

[Colin]

Jair - You are a true inspiration to many…and you know I love you bunches!

[Portia]

Rags, sounds like you understand things pretty well. Kids and teens can be very cruel, whether they mean to be or not, and most of the time they don’t realize what effect their words might have. You just have to try to remember that when you’re talking to them, and maybe try to remind them that careless words can still hurt.

Regal, any teacher who says those things should be reported to the school administration immediately. Who knows what effect such negative things could have on the young people in the class, who might not see that the teacher is a major league jerk.

Heidi, your friend Jim, my friend Frank – same terribly sad story. I miss him. It’s a terrible thing that he spent his life in fear because he, wrongly I very much believe, thought he couldn’t be honest with people about who he was.

Thank goodness things have changed and continue to change! As much as we complain about TV and the movies, TV shows like “Will & Grace” and movies like “My Best Friend’s Wedding” show the world that gay and lesbian people are just regular people.

[Magnolia]

This is another Kumbaya moment brought to you by the COTH BB members!
There is so much hate and venom in this world and on the web. It is good to know that there are good people everywhere. Jair - hats off to you for making your post. I think it was a pretty brave thing to do, especially in this day and age!

[B.G.M_heidi]

I’m not the only one who noted your plaid fashion faux pas! Here’s a rhyme for you - Jair, glad to be plaid.

Tell you what, I’ll give you my book, and throw in Hans’ Prada shoes and suit from the winter 2000 collection if you send Alice to me.

[Raincloud]

Many of you probably don’t know I even exist on this BB but I wanted to let you know I am proud to be a part of it. You all stand up for one anouther when times are hard and you also know how to joke and have fun.
~EM

[Inverness]

“Tasteless” BobO? Tasteless is as tasteless does.

[Blinky]

Jair that was a wonderful message. I’m sure it will help many people on this BB.

I’ve always felt fortunate that because of the horse world I’ve been able to meet and make friends with so many types of people. Most people live in such a sheltered world that they are intolerant due to ignorance. I feel pity for those indivduals not for their ignorance but for the fact they are the ones losing out on so many friendships.

[BronkBusterTX]

LMAO!! (I don’t have much of one so maybe I should not laugh too hard.)

BOBO-

You are entirely correct. You do have the right to free speech. Just as much as we do. (I hope your free speech is spoken better than it is typed.)

And what is this theory that you are only gay if you say you are? Please, no one can be that ignorant. Homosexuality is neither a choice nor a disease. It just is. If you don’t like it, too bad. Homosexuality is never going to go back into the closet. My suggestion, DEAL WITH IT!

About the politically correct issue, I was once young and stupid and believed I did not need to be “PC”. All I can say is that at some point in your life you will realize the error of that philosophy.

M.

[Louise]

Thank you for saying that Jair. I think that this BB community would be a much poorer place without you.

[Spunky]

A choice to be yourself, or not to be yourself.

Jenn’s quote from Magic’s Pawn, by Mercedes Lackey was one of the most beautiful things I have ever read.

Spunky

[B.G.M_heidi]

My bestfriend Jim was closeted for the entirety of his short life, and I cannot stress how much emotional pain that caused him.

Despite the fact that he ventured home for the holidays with his lover, the issue was never broached and his parents continued to hold steadfastly to the false security of a heterosexual son.

Jim lived in fear, self-hate, discomfort, and pain.

Jim was diagnosed with HIV and dead within two years - mostly because, I believe, he’d lost the will and spirit to live. His death was, and will continue to be, a tragedy.

We must live life honestly, with integrity, and on our own terms. Parents cannot expect that their children will fulfill their dreams, assume their burdens, and resemble their vision.

KatyO, at the very least, I am hopeful that your girlfriend has a community of friends who love her and cherish for exactly who she is. It is her family’s loss and perhaps one day they will learn to accept the child they have – not what they’d homophobically hoped for.

And as a parent, perhaps because we have always had wonderful, dear friends (who happened to be gay), it would not upset me or my husband if one of our children were to disclose their homosexuality. It would, though, devastate me if they lived with the pain that Jim did. I wished all parents understood this. At the end of the day, it’s the parent who has to change - not the gay child.

[LaurieB]

I don’t think any of us, straight or gay, makes a conscious decision about who we’re attracted to. If I (a heterosexual woman) walk into a room filled with people there will be some I find sexually attractive and others I won’t. I don’t choose that. It just IS.

In my case, I’ll automatically check out the men. Again, not a choice, something that just happens. Will I find all of them attractive? No. But–once again–I’m not making a choice, I am simply reacting instinctively at the most basic human level.

To me, making a choice about who I’m attracted to would involve making decisions like “I only want to marry a rich man” X is rich, therefore I will find him attractive. Do I think you can do that? Yes, I think it’s perfectly possible for money to become a sexual turn-on. Do I think that gay people think to themselves, “I only want to be attracted to my own sex?” NO! Why on earth would they? For whatever reason, God made some people gay and some people straight. It would be nice to think that He knew what he was doing.

[AHC]

Jair, I was in a meeting all day and just read this. Great stuff as usual… And if you ever arrive at the barn and see the video of the movie “Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore” playing, you will know where to look for her.

[Jeannette_formerly_ponygyrl]

You know, some people got a lot of nerve. Sometimes I don’t believe the things I see and hear.

Have you met the woman who’s shocked by two women kissing and, in the same breath, tell you she is pregnant? But gays shouldn’t be so blatant.

Ot this straight couple sits next to you in a movie and you can’t hear the dialogue because of the sound effects. But gays shouldn’t be so blatant.

And the woman in your office spends an entire lunch hour talking about her new bikin drawers and how much her husband likes them. But gays shouldn’t be so blatant.

Or the “hip” chick in your class rattling like a mile a minute, while you’re trying to get stoned in the john, about the camping trip she took with her musician boyfriend. But gays shouldn’t be so blatant.

You go into a public bathroom and all over the walls there’s John loves Mary, Janice digs Richard, Pepe loves Delores, etc, etc. But gaays shouldn’t be so blatant.

Or you go to an amusement paark and there’s a tunnel of love with pictures of straights painted on the front and grinning couples are coming in and out. But gays shouldn’t be so blatant.

Fact is, blatant heterosexuals are all over the place. Supermarkets, movies, on your job, in church, in books, on television every day and night, every place - even in gay bars - and they want gay men and women to go and hide in the closet.

So to you straight folks I say,“Sure, I’ll go if you go too. But, I’m polite, so after you.”

                       -Pat Parker

I was looking for this poem a few days ago to share, but just found it. So there’s a few seventies references, but food for thought for a few, I hope.
The world I am creating for myself, and invite you to join in, is one in which it is no more blatant for me to mention my partner and our plans than it would be if she were male.
Slowly, I believe it is happening.
On a lighter note, you know the saying - better blatant than latent…

[jreventer]

Jair-you’re amazing.
I have been blessed to have been raised by two very open minded parents. When I was young I started foxhunting, there were several gay couples who hunted and still do. To me they were like a married couple and I never thought otherwise. My parents never gave me the opportunity to think they were “different” A couple of years ago two of my coaches(not horse related) divorced their husbands and moved in together. Everyone knew they were lesbians and many of the teenagers had difficulties with it. They often criticized me because these two people were my friends and that never changed. Many of my friends couldn’t accept they fact that homosexuality is normal. I am still at times criticized for my relationship with these women-I house sit for them, am good friends with them, the same as before, but many of my friends will no longer associate with them. I have many gay and lesbian friends and they are great. I love them for who they are and wish everyone would be as accepting of diversity as everyone on here is.Ya’ll are all amazing.

[SBT]

…I do have something to say that I don’t think has been said yet.

I will admit to being somewhat of a homophobic. I am a religious person, and I believe that homosexuality is Biblically wrong. THAT SAID…
Should I really concern myself with what OTHER people do in their PRIVATE lives? Since when is other people’s sexuality any of my business? Is it MY job to condemn someone based on their private life? Is it up to me to make a big deal out of someone ELSE’s sexual preferences? And is this whole thread really appropriate?

The point is, I really don’t care, and personally I am absolutely sick and tired of the whole gay vs. straight and straight vs. gay arguements. To me, it is a moot point. People are going to make their own choices. As long as those choices don’t affect ME, why should I care? ESPECIALLY if those choices are of a private, personal nature. Do we care, or even ask, what brand of condoms/tampons/contraceptives/renal suppositories people use? NO! So why should I care about the relationships of people I don’t even know? Why should I care what OTHER people are doing in their bedrooms? Why, when I see two women holding hands, should I assume they are gay and not just sisters, or best friends? Why should I EVER be afraid if people think I’m gay?

Why? Because SOCIETY tells me I should. Society thinks intimate relationships should be everyone’s business. Society thinks we should make a big deal out of “deviant” behavior, and that we should judge people based on their preferences. Personally, I could care less what society says I should think and do and believe. I have chosen my own way of life, and my own set of values and beliefs. And that includes abstinence from the whole “gay issue.”

If anyone asks what I think, I will simply say, “I am straight, I feel that homosexuality is wrong, but what other people do is really none of my business. And I am deeply offended by people who think it should be.” That’s it, in a nutshell.

Digging out the flame-retardant suit…

~Sara

“If you stand for nothing, you will fall for anything.”
~Member of the “I Know the Secret of the Universe” Clique.

[Kennett_Square]

Jair, Mon Ami…

I have always adored gay men over the straight men. Way more secure in their beliefs even if inwardly struggling. It’s not easy to go through life “not like the rest”. I know, all my life I have been overweight. While the two are not one in the same, the world still views you as “different” and you get treated by many unfairly. I have been so lucky in my life to have good friends who have NOT judged me by my appearance that it taught me early on NOT to judge others by any of their beliefs, appearances or sexuality. I would never give up a single one of my “gay” friends just to be thin or have someone think better of me. Those that have stuck with me in the bad times will ALWAYS be with me in the good. I wish more people had the strength to be that way and not worry what their “other friends” would say. I wish you much love and happiness in your and your partners life.