An excerpt from the ACT UP Gay Pride Parade provocation guide:
- Genes were the justification for the enslavement of African-Americans, for lynching and for segregation. Racists continue to consider African Americans "genetically" inferior and to imprison Black people more than white people.
- For part of the 19th century, the Irish were not considered white.
- Based on 19th century scientific presumptions, the U.S. had 600 separate anti-Asian laws limiting Asian citizenship. Whites could kill Asians with impunity, since they could not testify in court.
- Early sexologists supposedly proved "scientifically" that there were genetically based physical differences between the sex organs of homosexuals and heterosexuals that justified -- among other things -- incarceration in mental hospitals.
- By 1914, to prevent the inheritance of disabilities, 12 states had laws using genetics to justify the sterilization of the developmentally disabled, the blind, the deaf, the "deformed", and the drunk.
- Laws passed by the U.S. Congress in the 1920s, based on the supposed genetic "feeblemindedness" of Eastern and Southern Europeans, severely limited the immigration of Jews fleeing Hitler in the 1930s.
- By 1928, Eugenics, the scientific study of breeding "good" genes, was so popular in the U.S. there were 376 separate college courses on it, with an enrollment of up to 20,000 students. Elements of the American Eugenics movement were models for the Nazis, whose racial interpretation of it led to the Holocaust.
- Eugenics was also the basis for new arguments against inter-racial marriage. By 1915, 28 states had made inter-racial marriage illegal.
- Virginia's Racial Integrity Act of 1924 included racial registration as well as a legal definition of "whiteness". Within 10 years similar laws were found in Nazi Germany.
- To preserve the Aryan race, the Nazis exterminated anyone they deemed genetically inferior: Jews, people born with disabilities, gypsies, and yes -- homosexuals.
- To develop a cheaper work force of women free from child care, the U.S. government and the local government of Puerto Rico sterilized 1/3 of Puerto Rico women between 1930 and 1965.
- Puerto Rican women were also guinea pigs for testing contraceptive pills in 1956. The doses tested were 20 times stronger than the pill now on the market.
- In the 1996 bestseller, "The Bell Curve", Charles Murray argued that poverty is caused by genetic predisposition.
- The President of the Harvard University recently suggested that genetic difference might account for the lack of tenured women scientists.
I absolutely agree with the argument posed in this article. I've discovered, after talking with religious conservatives and other types of self-proclaimed homohaters, that people who hate and fear queer people, will always hate and fear queer people. Regardless of the label (gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans or just queer) blind hatred seems to be the rule.
If we take the spiritual side and say that homosexuality and transgenderism is a matter of love and identity, they take the "naturalistic" side. They tell us that it is a mental perversion and we should take steps to stick to what nature has given us.
However, if we use a scientific argument, they tell us that we should not let the flesh enslave us. Even if we are naturally gay, bi or gender dysphoric, we should use the power of our spirit and our mind to break away from that and turn to a more pure and moral way of life.
Either way, they'll find a way to make us into perverse monsters. We are either slaves to the flesh or polluters of the sacred.
In the end, homohatred isn't that superficial. If being gay were simply a choice (I can attest to the belief that it isn't. I can't help being bisexual more than I can help being brown-eyed or 5'4"), would someone please tell me what's wrong with it? I'm tired of trying to explain my existance. I am who am and I don't need anyone to tell me that my identity is incorrect. What I do in my bedroom is my business. It's not up to the government to regulate what I do or who I do it with.
In reality, that's the biggest issue. The general public of America is grossed out by homosexuality. Even our liberal and centrist supporters deem books about GLBT families inappropriate for children, even though there's no mention of sex in the literature.
It's time to stop trying to justify our behavior, our existannce. It's time to step forward and demand visitation and home-ownership rights. The status and shape of your family is not anyone's business. Why should hospital visitation be limited to only married couples and nuclear family? What about best friends? It should be up to US who we can be close to, not the government.
The real choice is in accepting our identity and denying the culture of self-hatred and mimicry that has been imposed on us by our societies, our communities and our families.
Arguing Choice vs. Birth will not protect us.
Good Point! What IS the problem with homosexuality anyway? And DON'T hide cowardly behind the "Bible" or religion for your reasoning.
Those liberals that don't want children to see books about GLBT people are referred to in sociology as "fair-weather liberals". If you've ever seen Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, think of Spencer Tracy's character. Somebody who talks a good game and may believe in rights but gets antsy when they have to really take a stand or have the issue put right into their lives.
No, your genes won't protect you for now, but they will eventually, once people open their eyes and realize that this is actually an issue of civil rights.
Perhaps.
I just don't think that it's a good idea to depend on that issue. Even if it isn't genetic or caused by chemicals at birth, there is no excuse for the way GLBT people have been denied civil liberites.
Oh, I agree. A lot of people just don't see it that way right now.
Hooray for your post. I love it. Especially the hospital part-wtf is up with that anyways? (not saying I found it more interesting then the intent of the article, It being in a post was simply unique to me, whereas I've read tons about homo rights etc- i especially lliked how you linked them together since I am a supporter of both your arguments!)
Exactly! It's not just about GLBT rights. Single parents, alternative adoptive parents, and any other non-traditional family structures can really be screwed over by the government.
In Arkansas a whole bunch of people are denied housing permits because their family does not fit the legal definition- 2 parents, 2 kids.
2 married parents and three kids, 1 parent and two kids, 2 unmarried parents and any number of kids.
It's completely ridiculous. Why is it up to the government to define what a family is?
You know what?
Even if they prove that being GLBTQ(POSDJDLKJFLKDNLVKJSLJF) is from a gene, it doesn't matter. No one should be denied of anything because of who they are. As for the choice option: Who the hell in their right minds would throw themselves into a category of classification that would attract such hostility? Why would ANYONE come out and say they're GAY just for the fun of it? We all know that it is not.
The Acronym sometimes extends even further... GLBTQAAI (+asexuals, allies, intersexed people...)
I'm glad you see my point.
The fact is however, that many, many people would still have homophobic feelings and thoughts even if a gay gene is discovered. My philosophy is that everyone should be vocal about their identity, and not let social pressure deny them of their freedom and sexual expression.
Exactly. Religion is the only argument against gay sex. That's it. There's no other. Psychologists, anthropologists and medical doctors all agree that homosexual behavior is just another facet of human diversity.
Those statistics make me want to break things. Eugenics... fuck you! My god.
I think it is important to understand what is the cause of sexual orientation, not because it will justify it, but to better understand it. Regardless of what the science shows, I think it should be accepted as a natural part of human diversity.
I personally have a hard time deciding whether my sexuality was a choice or whether it was unconscious. I consider myself bisexual, which I know I didn't choose. However, since I embraced that part of myself, I began dating this wonderful woman who I plan to be with the rest of my life... so does that make me lesbian by choice?
When I start thinking about these things, I get the feeling the English lexicon doesn't have enough words to describe all the different facets of human sexuality.
Gah. Eugenics. Ick.
On the other hand I already knew at least a third of that stuff...
But some of it was new.
I suspect that America was right to reject eugenics after Hitler showed the world what happens if it's taken far enough. Unfortunately eugenicism survives.
Queerness is natural and it's damn hard to escape. Unfortunately, it's not like anybody who's straight and cisgendered is probably going to really understand that, especially if they're already anti-queer.
Why the hell does anyone ever think it's their right to define what is and is not allowed inside our heads and between people?
I did not know that about Arkansas having a legal definition of "family". OUCH.
I did know the thing about hospital visitation rights, and one of the people I would really want to visit me in hospital, were I to end up there, isn't related to me in any way... Damned government.
Sorry, rantage ^^;
> The real choice is in accepting our identity and
> denying the culture of self-hatred and mimicry
> that has been imposed on us by our societies, our
> communities and our families.
You hit the nail right on the head with this.
ACT UP for your rights!
percivale
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Vi Veri Vniversum Vivus Vici ~ V.