So here I am with open arms...
This sickens me.
Katie and I were watching the news the other night when we heard a story about the Gay Games coming to Chicago July 15-22 this year. I thought, "oh, that's cool."
Unfortunately, that was not the entire news story that was being reported that night.
The rowing event was set to take place in one of the suburbs of Chicago, a small town called Crystal Lake about an hour northwest of the city and immediately adjacent to McHenry, where Katie was born and spent her entire life until she married me.
However, this is no longer the plan. The moral minority in the town put up a stink causing the town board to vote on whether the event really would be held on Crystal Lake or not. The final vote was 2-2 with the fifth voter not present for the vote. Since a majority did not vote in favor, it is not going to happen there.
So now the event is out of Crystal Lake and they need to find a new venue.
It truly still amazes me the level of ignorance and intolerance in the world these days. I never grew up around it to the best of my knowledge. I don't remember experiencing anything like it ever. I've always had a wide range of friends of different ethnic, racial, and religious backgrounds. It never bothered my parents, so it never bothered me. I never thought twice about the fact that the friends I invited to my birthday parties as a child were white, black, hispanic, asian. My best friend in the world as a kid was a pure-blooded Cherokee indian (well, okay, he'd been adopted by white parents, but that didn't matter) and another was black.
As I grew up, I became aware of "racial divides" from the news and from school. But I'd never experienced anything that I was personally aware of. In college, I met my first gay couple. One of them was one of the nicest guys I'd ever met (the other was an arrogant bastard, but oh well, self righteousness knows no boundaries).
Perhaps it is my own personal ignorance to the situation at hand. When you are not that exposed to it on a regular or even semi-regular basis, it's even more troubling when it does happen. So color me shocked at the depths to which people will sink to preserve "traditional family values" as one interviewee on the news called it.
People! Wake up! It's fine to be traditional. It's nice to hold on to some good old-fashioned values. God knows, in many instances, we need that kind of infusion of values. Perhaps you should start with corporate America, though.
But, when these "values" foster ignorance, they've gotta go.
God, that's sad -- and f-ing ridiculous. I've never understood the "traditional American values" thing when used as judgement. Seriously, if we're talking Americana, what's more traditional than some friendly competition? And why on earth does anyone give a shit about what people do in their bedroom? Are these same people going to ditch their hetero friends when they find out they're into S&M or something? It's just bizarre to me. I'm probably rather naive, but I just really don't get it.
Posted by: sandra | Monday, 06 March 2006 at 10:42 AM
well said kevin. close-mindedness really pisses me off.
Posted by: ms. sizzle | Monday, 06 March 2006 at 12:04 PM
I really don't get why people care so much. Clearly it's threatening in some way, I just don't see how unless it makes people scared they might not be 100% straight. Otherwise, how does it really affect anyone else?
As for how things are now: it's a backlash to how things have improved in the past 15 years or so. I'd still say it's better now than it was when I was in high school- and we're about the same age.
I grew up in a small town, nearly all-white, and the worst insult in school was to call someone gay. There were rumours about the gym teacher and an ex-nun, but really we weren't ever exposed to it. Not that there weren't gay people at my school- just none that were out. And yet the prejudice flourished. I didn't recognize/accept that I was bi until I was in college. There's much more visibility now than then, and things were going pretty well until so many people started freaking out over gay marriage. It pisses me off when these same intolerant f**ks tout themselves as patriots while diminishing my rights. All of our rights for that matter.
There was a bit on West Wing I liked where some senator wants to abolish marriage entirely. Let marriage be for churchs, synagogues, and dept. stores and leave civil unions to the gov't.
Posted by: claire | Monday, 06 March 2006 at 12:51 PM
That is really sad. Being from CA where there is a lot of tolerance and then living currently in SF where anything goes, it is tough for me to understand why people are so ignorant. I have a lot of family in the south, and it's interesting to see how I even get ridiculed by them. My dad, who lives in Florida says I'm from "the land of fruits and nuts", and calls all Californians liars. Why? Because he thinks we're different. It's so frustrating. I share your pain. People need to stop being led by ignorance. It only hurts.
Posted by: Jacynth | Monday, 06 March 2006 at 02:11 PM
I couldn't have stated it better. Props Kev.
Posted by: Mikey | Monday, 06 March 2006 at 02:52 PM
To add to what I said before -- it's so bizarre to me that in an area with such a gay presence (see: Boystown and phallic light poles), this would happen. Although I suppose that if people are shitty about it in SF sometimes (and I've seen it), it happens everywhere.
Posted by: sandra | Monday, 06 March 2006 at 03:29 PM
What I love about the "hate" is how hypocritical these gay bashers are. I would much rather someone be open and honest about their life style than hate everyone and cover up what they do behind closed doors, which in many cases is alot worse.
Posted by: Johnny C. | Monday, 06 March 2006 at 04:19 PM
What a bunch of BS. That is all I have to say. This is a topic I should not get started on...
Posted by: kilax | Monday, 06 March 2006 at 06:03 PM
Sandra, I don't get it either. Isn't finding love the most important thing? Shouldn't people be celebrating that fact in and of itself regardless of the sexual tilt of the relationship?
Sizzle, thanks.
Claire, the old adage "the more we change, the more we stay the same" still rings true, doesn't it? Sad.
Jacynth, I've heard that sort of stuff as well. And most people think it's rather innocent to boot. That's the part that kills me.
Mikey, thanks man.
Sandra, well, the culture in the suburbs is a far cry from the city. Not that there is no intolerance in downtown Chicago, but it always seems that much more amplified in the 'burbs. Maybe the relative difference in population just makes it seem that much greater. Dunno.
Johnny, yeah, their anti-homosexual hatred is always brimming with hypocrisy. Well, any hatred or malcontent for that matter.
Kilax, oh please do get started. I'd love to hear someone else who lives in the area (or soon will) chime in about it on their blog.
Posted by: Kevin | Monday, 06 March 2006 at 06:56 PM
What did they think was going to happen at a rowing event that could be so horrible? Does rowing at the Gay Games involve something entirely different from other rowing events? Do they stop and have sex at the first turn or something?!?
Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. How embarrassing for Crystal Lake that they will now be known as a hateful, biased community.
Posted by: Dave2 | Monday, 06 March 2006 at 09:35 PM
Who ever knows what is going through the mind of an idiot? I wish I knew so an end could be put to actions like this. Makes me sick.
Although I do think a gay rights march would be in order for Crystal Lake right about now.
Posted by: Kevin | Tuesday, 07 March 2006 at 10:43 AM