[HPforGrownups] Re: I am so happy. There is a gay couple in canon after all.

[susanmcgee48176]

Yeah, this subject does create a lot of emotions, doesn't it?

So, people who oppose civil rights for lesbians and gays are not 
homophobic because the root of the word means fear?

I would suggest that there are a lot of people (lots of married 
Republican legislators, for example) who are terrified of their own
same sex attractions particularly because they believe that being gay 
means being evil. 

I think the original construct of the word (and I would not rely on 
Wikipedia for total accuracy, by the way) meant to reflect the fear 
of one's own same sex impulses, and also fear that people might THINK 
you were lesbian or gay, murder you, throw you out of the family, 
fire you from your job, evict you from your housing, or just socially 
ostracize you...all of these things have happened to lesbians and 
gays and bisexuals and transgendered people, and even to the quiet, 
nice boys, and the athletic, bold girls who were actually straight.

Now, like many words, it's used to denote someone who is prejudiced 
against lesbians and gay men, someone who doesn't think it's normal, 
or natural..it was interesting.....when all the scientists were 
saying that all non-human animals were heterosexual, all the 
homophobes were clamoring about how SEE...it shows that God created 
heterosexuality as normal...of course, now that scientists have found 
a ton of same sex contact in the animal world, we don't hear that 
argument anymore (now it's how we shouldn't look to animals for 
guidance).

Now the word is used for people who are bigoted. Who won't pass a 
law, for example, that prohibits discrimination in housing and 
employment.

And let's discuss purpose...One could argue that the PURPOSE of 
INTERCOURSE (not sex)BIOLOGICALLY speaking is reproduction. Sure.

I personally think that sex is sacred, and sexual contact is about 
pleasure, and pleasure is sacred (as long as it's not harming anyone 
else). Now we get into the avenue of personal values.

As for JKR being "politically correct" (which is thrown at any 
person  trying to promote tolerance and compassion towards an 
oppressed group)....she hasn't made the "homosexual lobby" very 
happy...lots of leaders in the lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgendered 
civil rights movement say "too little, too late." 
Well, I'm old and I'm happy about any kind of progress.

Susan