On the other hand, stop it

[foolish_m0rtal]

I agree that people who are homophobic are in the wrong, but the way people oppose them is so childish. One of the primary ways I've seen it done is to imply that the homophobic in question is a closet gay. 

You know, not all homophobic people are secretly gay. Maybe they just don't like gays. I'm guessing that's what the 'phobic' part of that word means.

Not only does this name-calling NOT help your pro-equality cause in the slightest, but it can also make you guilty of slander, and you can potentially get in legal trouble (we Americans are famously litigious after all). Now your entire position against these people is weakened. Good job.

There are plenty of other ways for you to point out that the homophobic person in question is in the wrong. I mean, they pretty much do the work for you whenever they open their idiot mouths, don't they? And insulting these people by calling them gay? Kind of counterproductive. They don't try to subvert what we say by insinuating that we're straight. Because that's moronic.

However much we don't like these people, there are certain attitudes we need to have. YES, I think we're in the right in this issue, but that puts more onus on US to be courteous, respectful, and take the high-road. Next time you want to take a stand against homophobia, do it right.

Comments

[foolish-m0rtal.livejournal.com]

Some of the replies to Rick Perry's anti-gay campaign ad (it's in a previous post from today) are positive, but others are really facepalm stupid. And yes, I suppose I have also reached a snapping point because I've seen this approach to homophobics a lot.

[broken-moons.livejournal.com]

This is why, while I like most of Lily Allen's songs, I don't like Fuck You. It's just name-calling, not helping the cause at all.