Do you really hold yourself accountable?

[looseliam]

I represent myself. As a whole, we represent the gay community.

Like an old Motown song says "No one it better than I; and I know I'm just an average guy."

 

[Shepherd 2]

Why do I seem to feel a bit like the church lady is trying to lecture me and at the same time order me to discuss?
Shep+

 

[PreTTy PeTe]

i hold you Dorkzilla accountable
never be ashamed of who you are
that's when you lose yourself

but you know i did my part to fight for your rights
now it's your turn

some of us had the hard part
we lost friends to that thing
(i can't say the name)

you have it easy
maybe not
never take your rights for granted

 

[2243]

Yes, I think you set your-self up for failure when you think you have to take on a such a burden. I don't have anything against flamboyant guys, they should enjoy the freedom to be who they are. Just because our sexual preferences may be very similar doesn't mean everything else has to be.

 

[Ryuukie]

To actually have the courage to express something you love that is that over the top is something I respect. These are some of the rare few people who are truly genuine and mean it when they say that they don't give a shit about what others think.

I could not have said it better.

I don't feel responsible for the way the straight community perceives the gay community. I've learned a long time ago that people are going to think the way they want and do what they want. I am not going to act a certain way because I am not an actor. I am myself. Take it or leave it.

(Cue the dancing bananas.)

 

[Kulindahr]

i hold you Dorkzilla accountable
never be ashamed of who you are
that's when you lose yourself

but you know i did my part to fight for your rights
now it's your turn

some of us had the hard part
we lost friends to that thing
(i can't say the name)

you have it easy
maybe not
never take your rights for granted

This hit me between the eyes.
Going through high school, a good number of guys got killed in hunting and logging accidents. At the time, I never thought of it, but...
I know that around here gay guys have been killed for being gay, and it was recorded as "hunting accident" or "logging accident".

Now I wonder how many classmates I had who didn't really die in those "accidents", but who might have, in a better world, been the friends I needed to see my real self when it would have left me with a chance for a happy life.

 

[2243]

i hold you Dorkzilla accountable
never be ashamed of who you are
that's when you lose yourself

but you know i did my part to fight for your rights
now it's your turn

some of us had the hard part
we lost friends to that thing
(i can't say the name)

you have it easy
maybe not
never take your rights for granted

I'm sorry, but I have to disagree. I'm not completely sure what you mean by having done your part for Dorkzilla's rights, but all you should expect is gratitude/respect for it.

 

[Kulindahr]

In one sense, I'm responsible for me, and for no one else, and I don't try to "represent" anyone.
But in another sense, I do work at representing the gay community, in the sense that I try to be the best human being I can be, and thus show that in that, the gay community is like the rest: some people just go along, some try to excel; some people are into themselves, others work at respecting everyone.

 

[PreTTy PeTe]

I'm sorry, but I have to disagree. I'm not completely sure what you mean by having done your part for Dorkzilla's rights, but all you should expect is gratitude/respect for it.

i don't expect gratitude
but i do expect people who are living in such freedom to respect the past
and the scarifies some us had to do.

that's all

 

[2243]

And that's fine. They can do whatever they want. You have to be clueless to not even understand that the majority of this country sees that and laughs at it and clumps us all in the same category. But whatever, be all that you can be.
I am not hoimophobic (how can I be?) but I do know that the media is using that clown to make a mockery of us. (Because this really is about Chris Crocker, isn't it?)
And just because I am gay does not mean I have to agree with all the different aspects and lifestyles and fetishes within the gay community! Let me tell you something: I have effeminate friends and friends that are drag queens. They happen to act like normal human beings.
BTW, if you think that fools like Chris Crocker or scene queens are courageous, you don't even know what courage is.

Elvin, I think you need to re-read your post and try to see what you are really saying. You say, "And that's fine. They can do whatever they want.", "I am not homophobic (how can I be?)"; then you say, "I have effeminate friends and friends that are drag queens. They happen to act like normal human beings.". Guess what? There are plenty of homophobic "straight" people who would look at you in this forum and say, "Why doesn't he just act like a normal person". What they really mean is, why can't you just act like them.

 

[2243]

i don't expect gratitude
but i do expect people who leaving in such freedom to respect the past
and the scarifies some us had to do.

that's all

That's fine, but what I disagreed with was you stating that it was now Drakzilla's turn to do what you have done for him. Seem's to say you expect more than respect.

 

[PreTTy PeTe]

That's fine, but what I disagreed with was you stating that it was now Drakzilla's turn to do what you have done for him. Seem's to say you expect more than respect.

i expect him to fight for our rights
that's all

i expect every young person here to fight for our rights
we did it for the next generation.
and it was harder at the time
but i guess not

selfish bunch of bastards
you are

 

[2243]

They can be effeminate and not be disrespectful or embarassing. They can be effeminate and not be scene queens. There's a difference.

Again, that's the same thing a "straight" homophobic person can say about you just because they don't understand that you can't help being who you are.

 

[Joshua_me]

Hmm...

I'd like to think that I understand both sides the war, here.

Do I hold myself 'accountable' for representing the entire gay community ?
Of course not. Even if I did, there's no way one person can do that.

As far as the media goes, sad to say, but it does 'control' a lot of people's opinions. I've been to enough Pride fests to know what the local news broadcasts focus in on... There can be thousands of 'normal looking' folks in attendance, but you'll never see them on TV. Instead, they'll show the 10 queens dressed as Carmen Miranda with giant fruit baskets on their heads flitting down main street and rubbing each others six pack abs poking out over their gold lamee short shorts.

All this so Joe and Mary Conservative can watch this from the safety of their living rooms, choking on their hamburger helper in horror at the fags on the TV.

At the end of the day, all of this changes nothing. Those who are narrow-minded enough to think that all us fags are going to hell because the bible says so will continue to think the same way, and those that are open-minded enough to think otherwise will just roll their eyes at the sheer stupidity of it all.

I'd like to think I'm smart enough to pick my battles, and wise enough to know when my opponent isn't worthy of my time.

 

[2243]

i expect him to fight for our rights
that's all

i expect every young person here to fight for our rights
we did it for the next generation.
and it was harder at the time
but i guess not

selfish bunch of bastards
you are

You have proven my point further still. I said that you shouldn't expect more than gratitude/respect yet you do (after you said all you expect is respect). You shouldn't because it's not going to happen. Some will fight some will not and trying to justify that anyone else should just because you did is not the way to get others to fight for rights.

 

[Joshua_me]

Hmm...

I'd like to think that I understand both sides the war, here.

Do I hold myself 'accountable' for representing the entire gay community ?
Of course not. Even if I did, there's no way one person can do that.

As far as the media goes, sad to say, but it does 'control' a lot of people's opinions. I've been to enough Pride fests to know what the local news broadcasts focus in on... There can be thousands of 'normal looking' folks in attendance, but you'll never see them on TV. Instead, they'll show the 10 queens dressed as Carmen Miranda with giant fruit baskets on their heads flitting down main street and rubbing each others six pack abs poking out over their gold lamee short shorts.

All this so Joe and Mary Conservative can watch this from the safety of their living rooms, choking on their hamburger helper in horror at the fags on the TV.

At the end of the day, all of this changes nothing. Those who are narrow-minded enough to think that all us fags are going to hell because the bible says so will continue to think the same way, and those that are open-minded enough to think otherwise will just roll their eyes at the sheer stupidity of it all.

I'd like to think I'm smart enough to pick my battles, and wise enough to know when my opponent isn't worthy of my time.

(So, there.... )

 

[PreTTy PeTe]

But you don't know what freedom I had or what sacrifices I had to make, you know nothing about my losses and the war I had to go through to be the person I am today. Your first reply was full of self-importance, and that is naturally a turn-off.

I say get off your high horse.

you want know my loses
i went too many funeral a week
sometimes twice a week
sometimes more
great friends gone

that's it
self importance
i have that
now go you away
you bore me

when you start growing pubes call me................
and when people are calling you a queer don't call me you don't deserve help
and i'm not fighting the fight
Unless you want to fight the fight

 

[sixthson]

As a gay man, do you feel it is your responsibility to represent the entire gay community? Do you carry that burden with you? I don't believe I owe the gay community anything, in fact, I avoid gay marches/prides and most of the club scene because my experiences with most gay men have been negative. I am just me, I represent myself. If you're a little over the feminine side, do you feel guilty because you're falling into some stereotype that you shouldn't even have worry about? I don't think anyone should ever feel that way, always be yourself.

No individual can represent the entire group of anything. I don't place the responsibility of representing the gay community on myself or anyone else. I don't feel guilty about anything concerning my sexuality. I am an open gay man and anyone who has much contact with me, knows it. I hide nothing.

I think we owe it to ourselves to be the best people we can be. If we do that, we needn't worry about how we appear to others. We put a face to our race, religion, gender, sexuality, political persuasion and everything else that is part of who we are. People will judge these things based on what they think of us. It's just how it is. Some gay men will march in a pride parade wearing a bra and panties. Others will be self loathing, homophobic closet cases. Both are extremes and represent the gay community or at least what others think the gay community is. Most of us fall somewhere in between and we, too, show the world what it means to be gay.

I think we all have responsibilites and obligations to others, even strangers, but my life cannot be controlled by what others think of me. I will be loved by some, hated by others...it's a fact of life. I tend to see my obligations to be a good father, a good partner, an honest person in my professional life as more important than how others perceive me as a gay man. . To me that is a private matter that effects only me annd mine.

 

[2243]

Elvin, I understand you have your opinion that some(Chris Crocker) maybe clowns looking for attention, but who are you to say they are not being them-selves?

 

[2243]

Who even knows what this thread is about anymore? lol

He hired an agent, 'nough said. lol

Let's stay away form that though. Dorkzilla does not want to discuss him here.

Ok lol. Let me rephrase...

I understand you have your opinion that there are those who "Are" and those "Who do to get attention". I agree, but do you really think you can judge who is and who is not being them-selves?