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Remember when everyone changed their middle name on Facebook to “Hussein” to show their support for Barack Obama, who was being attacked by the right for his Arab-y full name? And then when everyone changed their middle name to “Equality” to show their support for marriage rights after Prop 8? Well here’s the latest incarnation: Changing your “Interested In” status to the same gender, so your ex-girlfriend’s best friend, who’s always “been on the fence,” sends you a poke.
Lex
Yes, changing your facebook status, rather than standing up for people when you see it happening is how to bring about change. Good job kids.
ajax
I am absolutely stunned at the cynicism of your comment, Lex. If this young man’s status makes one of his friends stop and re-think a homo-hating attitude, then this young man has done something. What have you done?
AlanInUtah
@ No. 1 – Lex:
Why such a negative attitude towards someone who is making a statement in our favor?
Assume much? How the hell do you know that this person isn’t standing up for people when he witnesses it AS WELL AS changing his status?
Lex
I don’t have a negative attitude towards him, in fact I’m pretty indifferent considering I don’t know him.
The only one making an assumption is you.
Why do I have to jump for joy over this? I posted my opinion. Get over it.
I don’t see it as that big a deal. All it will do is stir up a string of people calling him gay or do you not know a thing about homophobic college students?
It’s not going to change anything.
Peter
Sorry Les—-But you did make an assumption. You assumed that he was NOT standing up for people who need support. You ARE cynical.
hyhybt
Using the phrase “rather than,” without evidence that “in addition to” would be more accurate, is in fact making an assumption. No one said anyone has to “jump for joy” over it either way.
hyhybt
^should, of course, say “…WOULDN’T be more accurate…”
naprem
Heh – 14 in the inbox. Somebody has some questions.
I pliss
Lex! It takes one seed to plant a tree and that tree will let off spurs or seeds to plant many more. the glass could be half full you know. gees! and if you don’t have something nice to say shut the hell up! you sour tart!
sal(the original)
WHATS HIS NAME!??!!!!!!I need a temp straight bf……nice gesture by him in all seriousness
Joe
Lex: “changing your facebook status, rather than standing up for people when you see it happening is how to bring about change.”
See, when you assume that this individual does NOT stand up other than changing his facebook status, THAT my children is called an assumption.
Kropotkin
Well, that was pretty useless.
I have to agree with Thoreau when he wrote:
“The character of the voters is not staked. I cast my vote, perchance, as I think right; but I am not vitally concerned that that right should prevail. I am willing to leave it to the majority. Its obligation, therefore, never exceeds that of expediency. Even voting for the right is doing nothing for it. It is only expressing to men feebly your desire that it should prevail. A wise man will not leave the right to the mercy of chance, nor wish it to prevail through the power of the majority. There is but little virtue in the action of masses of men. When the majority shall at length vote for the abolition of slavery, it will be because they are indifferent to slavery, or because there is but little slavery left to be abolished by their vote”
tl;dr version:
Political actions that risk a person nothing, especially when they concern basic rights, are not really moral triumphs and we shouldn’t pretend that they are.
san
this Lex guy is one of the reason why it is so tough for gays to gain equality, the moment someone tries to do something to support us you jump out to sound your “opinion.” If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say it. He is not doing it for you.
Rowen
I kinda agree with Lex, although, we don’t have the whole story of this guy. When I was fundraising for HRC (don’t give me that look. I needed a job, they were paying well, and I convinced myself of a lot of things during that time), lots of people made comments that they really supported their gay friends, but couldn’t donate any money (this often was by people with about 5 shopping bags).
There’s a lot of people out there who “support” us. That is, they love to hang out with their gay friends, every four years they’ll vote for the more pro gay presidential candidate, and they’ll feel really sad when they see news about gay bashing or Prop 8. However, beyond that, they don’t do anything.
IF this guy is doing things like calling out his friends when they say “that’s so gay” or “no homo,” or volunteering his time or his money for gay rights groups, or doing anything that is more then changing his facebook page, he deserves to be lauded.
If changing his facebook page is all that he’s doing, then, sure, as a community, we can give him a thumbs up, and then ask him to REALLY work to make a difference. If changing his facebook status is all he’s willing to do, then he’s just like those women I kept meeting. They might say they’re allies, but when you look at their actions, they’re only fair weather friends.
roflmfao
‘k, so we don’t know this guy’s whole motive. I also changed my facebook to say the same blurb. Why? Because often unless you put something in front of people who do not live the struggle, who don’t know an out gay person, and there are a great deal of those ‘innocents’ floating around. They never give gay rights a second thought, much less a first thought. To do it, in a non-conformational way, by someone they like and trust, I think could go a long way. Oh, and I was raised by my uncle who was gay, and my cousin is gay. So, i understand first hand the need for rights!