One reporter reacts to JKR's revelations

[susanmcgee48176]

> As for a young kid of any sexual orientation reading this list, 
it's a
> list for grownups. And killing themselves because someone is
> advocating freedom of speech? You're charging me with a pretty grave
> crime here, and I haven't charged you with anything or asked you to 
do
> anything except stop using the word "bigot."

Carol, I am not charging you with ANY sort of crime. I am stating 
that the ideas that lesbians and gays are immoral and/or abnormal 
when they are expressed and said over and over again (as they have on 
every listserve that I've been on) tie into, contribute to and 
perpetuate the idea that there is something wrong with lesbians and 
gay men. It creates an atmosphere that supports and legitimizes 
discrimination. When youth who are being thrown out of their families 
for being gay hear and read this, it contributes to their low self-
esteem and feelings of being forsaken by their families, by God, and 
by society as a whole. Internalized homophobia is probably the major 
factor in the suicide rates for teenagers and young adults who are 
lesbians and gay men.

I am not disputing your right to SAY anything, NOR am I charging 
anyone with a crime. 


I cannot tell you how upset I became reading the constant 
associations between being gay and molesting children on countless 
lists. And I'm not a teenager.


When someone equates me (Me, I'm a lesbian) with a deviant individual 
(straight, gay, bi or whomever) who puts rodents up their anus, I get 
very, very upset. This is very personal. I'm denied rights because 
I'm a lesbian. I'm discriminated against. It's no fun. 

I'm terribly intolerant of bigotry...that's the bottom line. You 
(and  others on the list) think that makes me just as bad as those 
who are bigots. You have the right to that opinion. We disagree.

By the way, I DID post the links to research about "changing lesbian 
and gay male orientation?" Or did that post get lost? I posted 
information from the American Psychiatric Association and the 
American Psychological Association.

I'm happy to post other links to research about these issues, if 
anyone is interested. 

Susan




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