1. Hey Coates - I came across this topic originally on the gay website "Queer Sighted", which was hostile to the court order as it is a direct contradiction of the gay population's efforts to gain equal access to society. The article noted that heterosexuals and lesbians were apparently harassing gay male patrons, and suggested it would have been a lot more practical to hire bouncers if someone misbehaved. I agree. I've been an out gay since I was 19 and a paraplegic since I was 26. At the age of 51, I have had a unique perspective of the gay community both in the Midwest (where I came out in an extremely hostile environment and "stuck by my guns"), San Francisco where I lived for over 20 years (approximately 230,000 gays and lesbians in a population of about 800,000), and now Southeast Florida (which has the third largest gay population in America).

Before I set forth my criticisms of the gay community, I do want to state that in today's America, where the Republican Party has joined with the most radical elements of Christianity in an effort to encourage gay hate crimes, discriminate against gays and lesbians in housing and employment, and, in many ways, gear their approach to the gay community in ways very similar to the Nazis towards the Jews before the holocaust - its NECESSARY for a gay or lesbian citizen who wants to just be themselves and enjoy equal rights to live in an area with a high gay population where the community itself has legal protections against discrimination based on sexual preference. Gays who do not, such as hate crime murder victim Mathew Sheppard, often face a hostile life and violence. I believe that this will eventually change.

That having been said, the gay community itself needs to clean house. I essentially divide the gay population into two segments: totally ghettoized gays who feel a need to dress the same, follow almost exactly similar life syles, and totally isolate themselves from heterosexuals; and the other huge portion of gays who are simply themselves, don't feel compelled to dress like every other gay, and enjoy being an out gay person in an environment where sexual preference really just doesn't matter. I belong to the latter group. This by no means implies that I am not an "out" gay. If someone wants to talk about their wife, kids, etc., I have absolutely no hesitation discussing the gay aspects of my life. What's good for the goose is good for the gander. I have nothing hide; I have nothing to broadcast unless I feel its politically necessary; I am simply me.

The problem that I have consistently found in the gay community is its utter lack of concern for the disabled, elderly gays, or those who do not conform to the gay ghetto fashion and lifestyle mandates. I found this especially true in the Castro District, home of the most disrespectful people I have ever seen in regard to disability, and a community which discards its own as soon as they reach 45. In regards to ageism, this is changing - in regards to disability, I see little progress. In San Francisco, gay businesses generally make no effort to make their place of business wheelchair accessible, and I truly believe that most gay bars would simply prefer not to have gays as patrons because, to them, it ruins their desired image as a home to the idolized image of the ghettoized muscle bound gay. I don't drink and don't want to be around people who do, so that's fine with me. However, gay people in the Castro to whom I was invisible and did not have the courtesy to even avoid blocking my way at street corners annoyed me.

I have found some difference in Florida. Wheelchair access is generally excellent - but I can get better wheelchair access at McDonald's than I can at the local gay community center which does not even TRY to comply with the ADA on a voluntary basis. Ageism is not an issue in Florida, nor is the artificial separation of lesbians and gay men (something prevalent in San Francisco). We have a gay ghetto here too - and everyone looks alike. I do not live there. In my building there are gays, heterosexuals, Republicans and Democrats. My next door neighbor is a Republican lesbian (something I'm still trying to figure out).

Anyone who has seen my comments on the political blogs know that I will pull out my "gay badge" at a moment's notice when I see selective Bible quotation, lies, and outright desire to exterminate the gay population. The price for that is, of course, the joy of reading others' comments gay bashing me; but really, what some bigot has to say hiding behind a computer screen doesn't really affect my personal life or self image.

In the same context, I have no hesitation pulling out my "own community criticism" badge when I see fault with my own subgroup. They may not realize it, but gay hating Christian Fundamentalists are a dying breed, and their present loudness reflects their desperation at recognition of this fact. I do not know when it will happen, but there will be a day in America where it simply doesn't matter whether you are gay or heterosexual, as both groups will get along and the lines of artificial separation will disappear. Until that happens, I'll continue to call things like I see them - even if it at times means criticizing my own community. In regard to this Australian court order - I think its wrong and counter-productive.

Phil at 11:55AM on May 30th 2007

2. Wow, that is interesting. Special rights and privilages, what't next?

Wally Lind at 1:34PM on May 30th 2007