Gays remain targets of vicious hatred

[springco]

Don't let your life in Thailand or one of the gay ghettos in the big cities lull you into a sense of complacency. It's a very dangerous world out there in many places including America.

Two articles worth reading that I just saw today:

http://www.alternet.org/rights/149378/g ... te_crimes/ (http://www.alternet.org/rights/149378/gays_remain_minority_most_targeted_by_hate_crimes/)

http://www.alternet.org/rights/149380/j ... in_the_us/ (http://www.alternet.org/rights/149380/jamaican_anti-gay_%27murder_music%27_heard_by_millions_in_the_us/)

Thanks for the post. It makes for some pretty sober reading. So much for "It gets better"

[maxdamron]

Someone in the gay community needs to start a very public campaign against gay tourism to Jamaica. It boggles the mind that gays would want to spend a penny in such a country. A country that depends as much on tourism as Jamaica needs to be made to hurt. I have nothing but contempt for such a country and nothing but the deepest sympathy for gay Jamaicans.

[ftj_taw]

Don't let your life in Thailand or one of the gay ghettos in the big cities lull you into a sense of complacency. It's a very dangerous world out there in many places including America.

I cannot agree. Yes, there are many places in the world where you have to watch yourself, but I believe the worst threat to the gay community still comes from inside our own community. Maybe it is the damage we all suffer growing up, but the infighting, and bitchiness inside the gay community is far worse then some of it from the outside. Violence, murder, and mayhem are quite common in these gay ghettos you speak of, and it does not come from homophobes.

An example: gay-thailand-f9/you-ask-how-much-t20556.html (http://www.sawatdee-gay-thailand.com/forum/gay-thailand-f9/you-ask-how-much-t20556.html)

[springco]

Don't let your life in Thailand or one of the gay ghettos in the big cities lull you into a sense of complacency. It's a very dangerous world out there in many places including America.

I cannot agree. Yes, there are many places in the world where you have to watch yourself, but I believe the worst threat to the gay community still comes from inside our own community. Maybe it is the damage we all suffer growing up, but the infighting, and bitchiness inside the gay community is far worse then some of it from the outside. Violence, murder, and mayhem are quite common in these gay ghettos you speak of, and it does not come from homophobes.

An example: gay-thailand-f9/you-ask-how-much-t20556.html (http://www.sawatdee-gay-thailand.com/forum/gay-thailand-f9/you-ask-how-much-t20556.html)

Actually, I agree with you completely! When I had said "many places" I tried to make it a bit of a sweeping statement, but I don't like to agitate the clones who try to force their own limited agendas on everyone else and freak out if they find someone who disagrees with them in even the slightest way.

When I was growing up, there was a far greater solidarity among those with similar interests, at least that was my experience. Many people such as Harry Hay warned about the dangers from within our own ranks. I think the tide really turned in the early 70s and has only gotten worse since. In many cases, it's "everyone for himself".

So, I just wanted to let you know that I agree with you 100%. It has gotten to the point that I am not eager to seek out friends who are gay. I find many liberal and open-minded "straights" are not only more accepting, but far less hostile and aggressive. I am almost pained to have to say that, but there we are.

[ftj_taw]

Actually, I agree with you completely! When I had said "many places" I tried to make it a bit of a sweeping statement, but I don't like to agitate the clones who try to force their own limited agendas on everyone else and freak out if they find someone who disagrees with them in even the slightest way.
When I was growing up, there was a far greater solidarity among those with similar interests, at least that was my experience. Many people such as Harry Hay warned about the dangers from within our own ranks. I think the tide really turned in the early 70s and has only gotten worse since. In many cases, it's "everyone for himself".
So, I just wanted to let you know that I agree with you 100%. It has gotten to the point that I am not eager to seek out friends who are gay. I find many liberal and open-minded "straights" are not only more accepting, but far less hostile and aggressive. I am almost pained to have to say that, but there we are.

Yes, I too have some great straight friends, but I also have a couple of good gay ones. It really is sad what has happened to the gay community, but let us look at the other side of the coin. Younger gays no longer need a gay community as they are often accepted everywhere. Nor are many younger gays as messed up in the head as many of the older gays seem to be. I see more stable relationships forming as gays are more accepted and two men can now live together. Which brings up the subject of Lesbians who are also part of our community who only seem to have the average problems of the general population, and who, for the most part, lead healthy, happy, and normal lives. On the down side acceptance is bringing less cohesiveness to our community. Now I am sure we will get counter views, and they are appreciated. Just remember these are generalities and do not always apply in individual cases.

[Beachlover]

I think it'll be a long time before gays are accepted in all societies to the extent, which we would like but it's certainly come a long way in short amount of time. I think 50 years ago gays must've been virtually non-existent. I don't know how anyone remained sane back then.

I'm enjoying my single life a LOT, especially since I get to experience it in lots of different countries, but I think when I hit my early 30s I'll want to find the right life partner to fall deeply in love and settle down with and hopefully have kids (perhaps surrogacy will be viable)... early days yet.

[Thai Dyed]

I think 50 years ago gays must've been virtually non-existent. I don't know how anyone remained sane back then.


For all those who haven't already figured out what a babbling and totally clueless idiot you are, this statement offers conclusive and unequivocal proof of that fact. Among many other things, you know absolutely nothing whatsoever about gay history.

[springco]

Even a superficial knowledge of our history would be enough to demonstrate that our own age pales into insignificance when compared to what we enjoyed in various periods and places in the past. While there are countless examples that span thousands of years, von Gloeden comes to mind for having created and lived in a veritable homoerotic paradise which he documented in his art. He lived from 1856 to 1931.

And mind you, this doesn't even scratch the surface. Untold volumes have been written on the subject, maybe the best of which was Encyclopedia of Homosexuality, the most massive and definitive effort to date, written and researched mainly by Dr. Warren Johansson and Professor William A. Percy.
http://homoencyclopedia.com/wap/pdf/EOH ... ment-2.pdf (http://homoencyclopedia.com/wap/pdf/EOH-advertisement-2.pdf)

Check here to see just a small portion of von Gloeden's art. The major portion of his work was destroyed by Mussolini and the fascists.
http://vongloedengayhistory.free.fr/

And then watch this nice rendition of von Gloeden's work set to music by Pink Pasty of Cornwall:

http://www.youtube.com/v/7VaKBFuw45I&hl ... &version=3 (http://www.youtube.com/v/7VaKBFuw45I&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3)

[attachment=0:2jfz1b1k]vonGloeden_Taschen.jpg[/attachment:2jfz1b1k]

[Beachlover]

The world is a far more connected place than it used to be. Even just 50 years ago it wasn't anywhere near as connected as it is now.

I agree there were times in history when gays enjoyed much acceptance but they came and went and weren't anything of the more global movement we have today.

Thai Dyed, I'm sorry but you're not going to convince me that gays were as visible and accepted in society 50 years ago as they are now.