Do you know what happens when you don’t instill religion on little gay boys and girls to teach them to hate themselves? Then you wind up like memoirist Augusten Burroughs, confusing Santa and Jesus. [Big Think]
being a homo
Augusten Burroughs Isn’t Proud to Be Gay, ‘Cause He Didn’t Work to Get That Way
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Blake J
Would any of us beyond a certain age consider being cured of our ‘gayness’?
At some point you learn that it is orientationists with the problem that needs to be ‘cured’, not us.
fredo777
I happen to agree on the whole “proud v. non-proud” matter. I’m not proud of my sexuality. I’m not ashamed of it. Just like I’m not proud (or ashamed) of my race, the fact that I was born in Detroit, or that I’m artistically-inclined. These aren’t things I chose or worked toward. They just are. And I’m cool with that.
Larry
I agree with him too… People should be proud of their achievements and actions, not of things they didn’t choose and can’t change about themselves. To paraphrase George Carlin, “I’m happy to be gay.”
THeAwfulTruth
Well, he is a phony. He made up lots of stuff in his books. Liar liar pants on fire.
Lamar
@Larry: I’m not sure I agree with his reasoning. If a had a son and he came to me and said he was gay I would be proud to have a gay son, I wouldn’t feel ashamed or simply indifferent because I didn’t work to make him gay.
DEREK WASHINGTON
I never really thought about it, but, I’m proud of what I’ve done. I just happen to be who I am.
ewe
Heterosexuals prance around daily very proud of their sexual orientation. They throw huge parties depicting roleplaying and it goes on and on ad nauseum from there. No reason why gay people cannot feel the same pride about themselves. Why not attack straight people and their pride instead?
papparon
I think Augusten’s point is to distinguish the difference between “proud” and “unashamed”. Semantically, he is correct to make this distinction, but colloquially, we all prefer to use the word “proud” to mean that we are unashamed of our orientation. We do this because the term “unashamed”, though correct, has a negative derivation, while “proud” is a positive.
AND anyway, as the man says, one should indeed be “proud” of their orientation of they have overcome obstacles to get to their own place of comfort.
Felix
Isn’t GAY PRIDE about being proud of being socially ‘out’ and not about being gay anyways?
Chitown Kev
@fredo777:
Pretty much my attitude about it (other than that “born in Detroit thing, lol…that sticks with me for some reason).
I mean, it’s nothing something, per se, to be proud of.
It just is.
TheAwfulTruth
He is a pathological liar.
alan brickman
an ugly looking liar too…
fredo777
@Chitown Kev: lol Well, you can’t share my sentiment on being born in Detroit if you’re not from the Motor City, Motown, Detroit Rock City, The D, hmm…need more catchy nicknames. I’ll get back to you.
The Artist
He seems attention seeking. 2bgayis2bhappy! PEACELUVNBWILD!
nikko
Sorry, ALAN, but that’s fucking rude. He is attractive. How does your insult bring a dialog?! I just don’t get shooting from the hip in such a mean-spirited way. I find both sides of the argument valid and legit. EWE,so true, you are stating the obvious!
SSCHIEFRSHA
He has a VALID point.