I wanted to have a conversation about what exactly a Homophobe is and when the appropriate time to use the word is...because I beleive it is a nasty word and has no place at DKos talking about anyone who is a committed Kossack...
So according to Wiki, Homophobe is...
Homophobia is a term for a range of negative attitudes and feelings towards homosexuality and people identified or perceived as being homosexual. Definitions[1][2][3] of the term refer variably to antipathy, contempt, prejudice, aversion, and (irrational) fear. Homophobia is observable in critical and hostile behavior such as discrimination[1][2] and violence on the basis of a non-heterosexual orientation.
http://en.wikipedia.org/...
So lets explore this topic a little further...
***********Update***********
Thanks for your participation and comments that were all respectful even when giving constructive criticism...you have all made me feel a lot better and reaffirmed the reason for this diary...helping Kossacks to be more sensitive and understanding of each other and allowing each of us to be able to disagree without being disagreeable.../peace
So lets focus on the bolded section:
Antipathy towards LBGT Community: This means a dislike of homosexuals. Nothing that I have ever said on this site indicates a dislike of homosexuals. I dislike some of thier nasty and uncalled for comments but never have I had any dislike of homosexuals.
Contempt towards LBGT Community: This means an intense feeling or attitude of regarding someone or something as inferior, base, or worthless. Again I have never felt anything like that towards homosexuals and the LBGT community. I only have negative feelings towards nasty comments that do not have basis in fact and reality.
Prejudice towards LBGT Community: This means a preconceived belief, opinion, or judgment made without ascertaining the facts of a case. Again, I have never prejudged the LBGT community, I only react to the tone and nastiness of the comment at hand and many times I do not know until after-the-fact that the commenter is gay
Being a Homophobe does not equal:
- Disagreeing with a position of someone who is part of the LBGT community on a basis that has nothing to do with homosexuality.
- Assessing budget spending priorities on considering our huge deficits away for funding of the Arts
- Having feelings that are hurt when mean and nasty as well as uncalled for terms are thrown around by the LBGT community that are not warranted.
So in the end, all I would ask is not throwing around terms like Homophobe without understanding what the true meaning and encouraging more civility among Kossacks. I have always supported the LBGT community, voted for their issues and supported candidates.
That being said, I am a committed pragmatist at DKos and I will call reality the way I see it. That does not mean I do not support the goal, but real change takes time and most change in our form of government is incremental not large and sweeping.
So lets stop calling each other names that have no basis in reality. Other than true RW Trolls, there is no committed Kossack that I know of that is not committed to helping the LBGT community reach its political and legislative goals.../peace
************Update - Special Comment***********
Some commenters think this diary is directed to certain individuals who I have had recent negative encounters with. It is not...I am over them and I have told them that until their negativity changes they will be ignored by me...
This is a much broader topic about the inappropriate use of a specific derogatory word when in fact you really mean...I strenously disagree with your POV...
Finally to encourage the self-policing of DKos to treat the word Homophobe as we would the word Nazi...in disagreeing with I/P policy...