I don't mean to be biased or anything, but I believe my lesbian sisters are likely to experience LESS hostility than gay men, bisexuals, and transgendered people. Whether it's looking at hate crime statistics or just the overall societal perception, lesbians seem to fare better. With the exception of Sakia Gunn, I do not recall hearing or reading about any lesbians (in the United States) being attacked or killed. Pondering the rationale for my observation, I can only surmise that the reason for the increased hostility toward gay men is as follows. Perceived heterosexual men perpetuate the vast majority of hate crimes. As men are conditioned from an early age to not strike women, the cultural expectation overrides their desire to seek retribution against lesbians. Further, men look stupid when they attack females, regardless of sexual orientation. From what I've read, men are more likely to react negatively (or violently) toward lesbians after their sexual advances are rebuffed.
Bisexuals are also characterized negatively. Often seen as "straddling the fence," their existence is used to refute the possibility that sexual orientation is a genetic, hard-wired attribute, leading to increased vilification from WITHIN the LGBT community.
I cannot end this post without acknowledging my transgender brothers/sisters. They, of all people, experience extreme prejudice and hatred. It seems that not a day goes by without learning about the murder of a transgender woman (especially in Memphis, Tennessee). Also, gender identify is commonly cited as the reason for sexual orientation legislation being stalled or abandoned completely. It's completely unfair and unjustifiable.
Now that I've kicked my soapbox aside, it's time for y'all to vent.
5 comments:
i believe the trans/intersex members get it the worst. historically you might have heard about more gay men being beaten up/assaulted, but i'm sure trans/intersex get it even worse than we do.
as gay black men get it pretty bad as well; from relatives, our community, and some of us face racism within the gay community..
so how can we change it? honestly, i think we [educated, cultured, proud black gay men] have to tackle it head on and not allow ourselves to be treated a second/third class citizens in our own country.
we should be represented on television in a positive light. who was the last positive black gay character on mainstream network television? im thinking carter from spincity...
the ultra-conservative religious groups should worry about their own lives and leave the gay community alone... im sure that would quell a fair amount of this public outcry against gays...
I have always believed lesbians have it the easiest, if there is a such thing, NO SHADE! When speaking in terms of who has it the worse, here are the TOP 3, in my opinion.
1. Male to female transgenders (especially if they are not "real"...meaning they are unable to blend into society because they have conspicuous male features/attributes)
2. Female to male transgenders
3. Feminine gay Black men ( While I do believe ALL gay Black men have a hard time, it is considerably easier for those of the "masculine" strain to live their lives without bother.)
I believe that lesbians have it easy because society doesn't see them as a threat. They use certain toys that resemble the male genitals and most men would still have sex with them...It has always been my thoughts that gay men had it worst, I mean we don't need anything from a female and that's scary for some people...but the transgendered folk they have it so terrible because @ a first glance they invoke the kindness that should be shown to all humans until it is revealed that they were someone else...
I agree with your observations relating to lesbians. Gayte-keeper is right, generally lesbians are not seen as a threat, which to me is weird.
But then it makes me wonder what it is exactly that some people have a problem with when it comes to homosexuality.
I don't hear much about transgender individuals though, especially in South Africa.
i think lesbians have it easier cause straight men get turn on by two women going at it. most of my straight friends talk all the time about women having sex with each other but throw up two guys doing it they say yuck. i think that's one reason they may have it easier.
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