“I Don’t Want My Kids Seeing Gay Stuff.” That was what someone I met here in Denver said to me the other day. He explained that he was a born-again Christian and that while he believed that everyone had a right to do what they want, that he was “morally” against Gays. More importantly, he claimed, he felt that if “The Gays” were given equal rights, they’d be in the streets “being Gay.” He made it clear that this was his biggest problem with Gay Rights.
I spent most of my life in New York City, moved to Brooklyn when I was 15. I have to admit until then, despite growing in a family in Academia and Affirmative Action, I was actually pretty insulated. Moving to Brooklyn and then going to Brooklyn College changed all that. Suddenly I was meeting people of all different cultures, beliefs, and yes, even “The Gays.”
Perhaps that the biggest issue we face today in fighting for Equal Rights. Many people in Middle America just don’t have interaction with those of different cultures, beliefs and sexuality. For some reason the Gentleman that I met really felt that somehow people of a different orientation were doing strange things in the street, and perhaps they had magical powers to convert his kids to “Gaydom” if they say them. He probably didn’t know better.
More than likely if he met someone Gay, and he probably has, he wouldn’t know otherwise. In his opinion, they are the unknown “other” that is completely different than him. He couldn’t imagine that someone who loved someone of the same sex could be at all like him – drive a car, wear a suit, go to the grocery store and lead a normal life.
I’m not sure what exactly “being Gay” in the streets means, but I do know I’m more worried about people like him being in the streets, being “Christian.”