Why Gay Olympics??

[Asher]

Originally posted by orange
Can you explain that a little more?

I have a friend involved in the one at Arcadia University, and he is straight...but I never really got to talking with him about what it is.

I don't know what they're like at other universities or cities, but here it's essentially a support program.

They all meet up and hang out and can be themselves. Most of the people in the Alliance here are gay or bi, and a lot of them bring straight friends with them. Much of the time the friends just come for the first time as a symbol of support, but keep coming back because they simply have fun together.

They have movie nights here sometimes, othertimes it's just them all meeting and talking and hanging out.

But the main purpose of it is to help out gay/lesbian/bisexual youth who are feeling alone/depressed/angry/confused.

[orange]

Originally posted by Osweld
I don't see it as meaning that, for instance gay pride parades (as far as I know) let everyone participate, it's not about being gay per se, it's about celebrating - The same reason which is behind any other parade

Celebrating what? Celebrating something that is a part of you - your sexuality. So why is celebrating heterosexuality - also allowing homosexuals to participate - bigotry? Why the double standard?

Technically speaking, yes... but I don't know if i disagree with you on this student union thing - I'm talking about events and celebrations.

I have a feeling it would be just as frowned upon in China India and especially South Africa if a bunch of white students started a white Student Union. In fact, I guarantee there would be backlash and claims that it was a 'racist' group.

White and heterosexual pride is redundant in this society.

Why? WHY can I not be proud of being white if someone else can be proud of being black??

[orange]

Originally posted by Asher
I don't know what they're like at other universities or cities, but here it's essentially a support program.

They all meet up and hang out and can be themselves. Most of the people in the Alliance here are gay or bi, and a lot of them bring straight friends with them. Much of the time the friends just come for the first time as a symbol of support, but keep coming back because they simply have fun together.

They have movie nights here sometimes, othertimes it's just them all meeting and talking and hanging out.

But the main purpose of it is to help out gay/lesbian/bisexual youth who are feeling alone/depressed/angry/confused.

Thanks.

See I don't have a problem with this at all. To me it sounds like a support group, a way for people to destroy steriotypical 'differences' and just be themselves. Because really, who cares about sexuality when it comes to friends and fun? It shouldn't matter.

But if a group is called a gay student union, it applies that only homosexuals may join, or that they wish to be separated from heterosexuals for the duration of that club's meeting, etc.

I don't like the double standard. It makes no sense at all.

[MrFun]

Orange, if white heterosexual men have had a history of overcoming institutional discrimination in all shapes and forms, then they would have reasons to celebrate their pride in their identity.

Clearly, you are distorting the legitimate reasons why minority groups are affirmative of their identity and history.

[General Ludd]

Originally posted by orange


Celebrating what? Celebrating something that is a part of you - your sexuality. So why is celebrating heterosexuality - also allowing homosexuals to participate - bigotry? Why the double standard?

It's not. Heterosexuality is celebrated every day and quite thoroughly, with out the need for parades or rallies. But when you take it to an excessive level, it is bigotry - just as anything would be.

I have a feeling it would be just as frowned upon in China India and especially South Africa if a bunch of white students started a white Student Union. In fact, I guarantee there would be backlash and claims that it was a 'racist' group.

Why? WHY can I not be proud of being white if someone else can be proud of being black??

I don't think it's about celebrating the colour of your skin - it's about celebrating your heritage, culture, history, and identity. I'm sure europeans can do their thing in the countries you listed. Of course, you don't need to celebrate being european when you live in a european country - it's redundant.

[WhiteElephants]

Originally posted by MrFun
Orange, if white heterosexual men have had a history of overcoming institutional discrimination in all shapes and forms, then they would have reasons to celebrate their pride in their identity.

Well, we did flee the oppression of England among other European states, no?

[WhiteElephants]

Originally posted by Osweld
I don't think it's about celebrating the colour of your skin - it's about celebrating your heritage, culture, history, and identity. I'm sure europeans can do their thing in the countries you listed. Of course, you don't need to celebrate being european when you live in a european country - it's redundant.

So celebrating say, my German heritage would be OK, but not being white? Yet, blacks aren't celebrating, say, their Zimbabweian heritage their celebrating being black, no?

[orange]

Originally posted by MrFun
Orange, if white heterosexual men have had a history of overcoming institutional discrimination in all shapes and forms, then they would have reasons to celebrate their pride in their identity.

I don't think that's a good enough reason to allow one kind of pride and shun another.

Clearly, you are distorting the legitimate reasons why minority groups are affirmative of their identity and history.

No. I recognize legitimate reasons for having a group. What I don't recognize is how a double standard can exist for the 'majority' of that issue to not have a group for fear of being labeled bigots and racists, or even not allowing them to have that group.

[orange]

Originally posted by Osweld
It's not. Heterosexuality is celebrated every day and quite thoroughly

How so??

with out the need for parades or rallies. But when you take it to an excessive level, it is bigotry - just as anything would be.

"just as anything would be" so gay pride parades are bigoted?

I don't think it's about celebrating the colour of your skin - it's about celebrating your heritage, culture, history, and identity. I'm sure europeans can do their thing in the countries you listed. Of course, you don't need to celebrate being european when you live in a european country - it's redundant.

This is not a heterosexual country, nor is it a white country. Why can't someone celebrate those aspects of their heritage just as there can be homosexual pride and black pride?

[General Ludd]

Originally posted by orange


How so??

"just as anything would be" so gay pride parades are bigoted?

are blind? we live in a heterosexual society - you turn on the TV, there is a male and female couple, you see an advertisement, and it targets heterosexual values, ect...

Take a look around you!

This is not a heterosexual country, nor is it a white country. Why can't someone celebrate those aspects of their heritage just as there can be homosexual pride and black pride?

[orange]

Originally posted by Osweld
are blind? we live in a heterosexual society - you turn on the TV, there is a male and female couple, you see an advertisement, and it targets heterosexual values, ect...

There is more than one show on Television about homosexuality, and many that have had homosexual themes to an episode or homosexual characters.

And I hardly think that any of this is 'pride' or a display of pride.

[Guynemer]

Come on Orange. Turn on a random TV station at a random time of the day, and exactly what would be your odds of seeing a gay couple?

One or two gay shows? Wow. Progress.

[WhiteElephants]

Originally posted by Osweld

are blind? we live in a heterosexual society - you turn on the TV, there is a male and female couple, you see an advertisement, and it targets heterosexual values, ect...

Take a look around you!

Hey Toto, this isn't Kansas anymore, you ought to take a look around. How many sitcoms now have an obligatory gay character in them? How many movies? How often do I gotta hear about gay issues? Is this proportionate to the percentage of homosexuals who make up our society?

[Guynemer]

Originally posted by WhiteElephants
Is this proportionate to the percentage of homosexuals who make up our society?

It hasn't even begun to approach the percentage of homosexuals in our society, WE.

[Tuberski]

Um.....Is it okay for me to be a heterosexual......but still like the thought of two women making love?