One reporter reacts to JKR's revelations

[delwynmarch]

susanmcgee wrote:
> Bigoted actions spring from bigoted beliefs. 
> When people write or imply that lesbians/gays 
> molest children, or are abnormal, or are not 
> really what God intended, or that lesbians or 
> gay men are wildly promiscuous, or are 
> immoral....all of these opinions have been 
> expressed on fan sites....and I imagine that 
> with 27,000 people on it, HP for Grownups has 
> some such people.. these beliefs and actions 
> create an atmosphere in which bigoted actions 
> can flourish.

Del wonders:
And when people are told that the things they 
*think*, and not the things they *do*, create an 
atmosphere in which evil things can happen, what 
do you think this does? IMO, no good at all.

> When Fred Phelps pickets the funerals of dead 
> Iraqi soldiers with signs that say "God Hates 
> Fags", it gives credence and credibility to 
> those who believe just that.

To those who believe just that, maybe. But most 
people who have a problem with homosexuality 
don't believe that God hates homosexuals.

> I'm sure every single person on this list is 
> very nice, and would never assault someone 
> else, or use an anti-gay epithet, or not speak 
> to someone in the workplace because they were 
> gay, or make anti gay jokes in front of the 
> children of lesbians and/or gays....but these 
> bigoted actions DO happen daily, and they are 
> unjust.

What about the acts of associating people who 
don't do any of those things with people who 
picket funerals with "God hates fags" signs 
or other such people? Don't you think this 
is just as unfair and unjust?

Let me be clear: many (most?) people who have a 
problem of any kind with homosexuality do NOT 
condone or support harrassing, attacking, 
or in any other way actively victimising gays. 
Saying "they have a problem with homosexuality, 
so they belong in the same category as those who 
would have all gays killed or who think that God 
hates gays" is WRONG, and yes, bigoted and 
prejudiced IMO.

> You may think that someone "chooses" the gay 
> "lifestyle" (whatever the hell that is.... I 
> guess it must be how I spent my day, cooking 
> dinner, working, helping the children with 
> their homework, cleaning up cat vomit.... )

Which is also how most people who have a problem 
with homosexuality spend their lives.

> but I will tell you with 100% surety that no one 
> chooses the person with whom they fall in love. 

True believers don't choose what they believe either.

Del