I have a dream. Martin Luther King had one: I have one of my own too.

[Jonathan Bailey]

I long for the day when two boys (or two girls) can go to any high school dance or student function holding hands in a public American school before their peers fearlessly and shamelessly. No fear of getting beat up, laughed at or called names.

 

[Sinncubus-74]

Our GSA club was planning a LGBTQ+ friendly dance separate from prom so non-cishet couples wouldn't have to feel afraid of dancing together in front of others. Unfortunately, we started planning too late and it didn't happen. I hope the younger/newer members will set something up.

 

[Jonathan Bailey]

Our GSA club was planning a LGBTQ+ friendly dance separate from prom so non-cishet couples wouldn't have to feel afraid of dancing together in front of others. Unfortunately, we started planning too late and it didn't happen. I hope the younger/newer members will set something up.

My dream is that "the perceived need" for sexual orientation segregation would end altogether. I wish all humans would feel equally comfortable around others of all sexual orientations. I wish the squeamishness over this would cease forever. Do we still segregate people by race or color at high school functions these days? It's high time people grow up.

 

[Cooky]

I long for the day when two boys (or two girls) can go to any high school dance or student function holding hands in a public American school before their peers fearlessly and shamelessly. No fear of getting beat up, laughed at or called names.

I don't think it's humanly possible.

My daughter, who is 7, was confused, and said it was "weird" when she saw two boys kiss once. Nobody has ever taught her anything about homosexuality -that was her *natural* reaction.

 

[columbus]

I don't think it's humanly possible.

My daughter, who is 7, was confused, and said it was "weird" when she saw two boys kiss once. Nobody has ever taught her anything about homosexuality -that was her *natural* reaction.

You think that was a *natural* reaction, and not an acculturated reaction?

Hand her a plate of octopus sashimi and see what her reaction to the expensive delicacy is.
Tom

 

[Cooky]

You think that was a *natural* reaction, and not an acculturated reaction?

Hand her a plate of octopus sashimi and see what her reaction to the expensive delicacy is.
Tom

It's a good point. I suppose the only way to reshape the typical acculturated reaction is by exposure to the non-typical.

I'm afraid that getting 100% of the population familiarized with the non-typical though is going to be a difficult task, just by the rarity of homosexuality being expressed openly to begin with.

It's rare to witness an intimate moment, in public, between two men or two women. And just talking about it with kids who have never witnessed it, makes it seem fishy too. Fishy like the Easter bunny and the tooth fairy.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

I long for the day when two boys (or two girls) can go to any high school dance or student function holding hands in a public American school before their peers fearlessly and shamelessly. No fear of getting beat up, laughed at or called names.

Works for me.

 

[pearl]

It's rare to witness an intimate moment, in public, between two men or two women. And just talking about it with kids who have never witnessed it, makes it seem fishy too. Fishy like the Easter bunny and the tooth fairy.

There was a time when the sight of a black and white couple would draw the same reaction. Maybe this too will pass, at least for the majority.

 

[Cooky]

There was a time when the sight of a black and white couple would draw the same reaction. Maybe this too will pass, at least for the majority.

It can only become less "weird" if it becomes more prevalent. The LGBT community should focus on that primarily... And probably does.

 

[columbus]

It's a good point. I suppose the only way to reshape the typical acculturated reaction is by exposure to the non-typical.

I'm afraid that getting 100% of the population familiarized with the non-typical though is going to be a difficult task, just by the rarity of homosexuality being expressed openly to begin with.

It's rare to witness an intimate moment, in public, between two men or two women. And just talking about it with kids who have never witnessed it, makes it seem fishy too.

My point was that her reaction was not *natural*.
She learned it from her surroundings. Just like racists who consider interracial couples icky.

I'm not even talking about romantic couples. A pair of dudes going fishing together causes that reaction, amongst people who are acculturated to racist divisions.

This too shall pass.
Tom

 

[Cooky]

I'm not even talking about romantic couples. A pair of dudes going fishing together causes that reaction, amongst people who are acculturated to racist divisions.

This too shall pass.
Tom

Yes. It will pass, if people are exposed to it more frequently. Otherwise, it won't.

 

[Cooky]

My point was that her reaction was not *natural*.
She learned it from her surroundings. Just like racists who consider interracial couples icky.

Until homosexual intimacy is witnessed regularly, it will come off as a big deal to people. People will be tapping shoulders and pointing.

But with *rejection* of homosexuality, yes, that is a learned (acculturated) behavior.

...Two things.

 

[columbus]

Yes. It will pass, if people are exposed to it more frequently. Otherwise, it won't.

But they are being exposed to it more frequently. Mixed race groups and couples are becoming more and more the norm.

When your daughter was seven she might not have seen that very often, but today she'll see it all over the place. If she's got internet access she's got to have seen mixed race groups, from two to two hundred, so often it isn't remarkable to her anymore.
Surely?
Tom

 

[Jonathan Bailey]

My dream is that "the perceived need" for sexual orientation segregation would end altogether. I wish all humans would feel equally comfortable around others of all sexual orientations. I wish the squeamishness over this would cease forever. Do we still segregate people by race or color at high school functions these days? It's high time people grow up.

I don't think it's humanly possible.

My daughter, who is 7, was confused, and said it was "weird" when she saw two boys kiss once. Nobody has ever taught her anything about homosexuality -that was her *natural* reaction.

live and let live
love and let love

All sexual orientations should be discussed as part of the total sex education curriculum in American public schools so ignorance and confusion is eradicated. Children need to be made known to them that all these various sexual orientations are possible in nature. Some people like vanilla only. Other people like chocolate only. Some people like both vanilla and chocolate. Some boys like girls only. Other boys like boys only. Some boys like both boys and girls. Some women like men only. Other women like women only. Some women like both men and women. Do you like clams or hots dogs or both?

 

[columbus]

Until homosexual intimacy is witnessed regularly, it will come off as a big deal to people. People will be tapping shoulders and pointing.

In many cultures, any kind of erotic public intimacy is socially unacceptable. Japan and Saudi Arabia come to mind. "It just isn't done!" Husbands and wives, much less unwed couples, just don't do that.

On the other hand, a pair of close female friends or brothers wouldn't raise an eyebrow walking down the street holding hands. The culture is just plain different from western Christendom.

Your cultural norms aren't the same as the entire human race's norms.
Tom

 

[Sinncubus-74]

My dream is that "the perceived need" for sexual orientation segregation would end altogether. I wish all humans would feel equally comfortable around others of all sexual orientations. I wish the squeamishness over this would cease forever. Do we still segregate people by race or color at high school functions these days? It's high time people grow up.

I know...but unfortunately we're not there yet. I'm cynical we'll ever get to that point.

 

[SomeRandom]

I don't think it's humanly possible.

My daughter, who is 7, was confused, and said it was "weird" when she saw two boys kiss once. Nobody has ever taught her anything about homosexuality -that was her *natural* reaction.

To be fair, when I was 7 I would have found a man and woman kissing to be “weird” and even gross. 7 year old me also thought the movie “Baby’s Day Out” was a masterpiece. So I don’t think we have very refined taste at that age

 

[Cooky]

live and let live
love and let love

All sexual orientations should be discussed as part of the total sex education curriculum in American public schools so ignorance and confusion is eradicated. Children need to be made known to them that all these various sexual orientations are possible in nature. Some people like vanilla only. Other people like chocolate only. Some people like both vanilla and chocolate. Some boys like girls only. Other boys like boys only. Some boys like both boys and girls. Some women like men only. Other women like women only. Some women like both men and women. Do you like clams or hots dogs or both?

I like hot dogs much better than clams.

 

[columbus]

I like hot dogs much better than clams.

<Eyebrow raises>
Oh, do you lad?

Well.....


Tom

 

[Cooky]

<Eyebrow raises>
Oh, do you lad?

Well.....


Tom

I mean to eat.