Monday, March 3, 2008 at 2:02am
Oh, he's so gay!
Column: Woman at the Well
Do you hear the jokes with gays as the punch line? Or the movies that make fun of gay characters? Do you see the stereotypes?
When you can laugh at someone, it becomes easier to ridicule. When you can ridicule, it is just a next step to violence. When you can do violence, you can kill.
"Oh, he's so gay" is a common put-down on school campuses. Anyone perceived as different may find themselves tagged in this way.
It's just a word. It's no big deal. But a little boy died this month because the ugly hatred cultivated in this country by those who fear gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people, and who justify cruelty toward them, is growing out of control.
Larry was an eighth-grader in an Oxnard, Calif., middle school when he asked Brandon to be his Valentine. Brandon killed him.
It is so painful and tragic to tell this story, but I have to speak out. Every person has a right to be who they are and to be treated fairly and equitably in every aspect of their lives.
Gay marriage should be a right, because marriage bestows rights under the law that should be available to all citizens.
We all know people who are differently gendered from ourselves. Truth be told, heterosexuals tend to do more violence against women and are more likely to be pedophiles than their homosexual counterparts. This is simply fact, verifiable by statistics.
Ignorance leads to fear. Fear leads to violence. It is time for all of us to challenge stereotypes, and to stand up for the human rights of all our citizens.
I invite you to hold the families of both Larry and Brandon in your prayers. Lives have been destroyed. Tragedy is in our midst. It is time to stop the ugly consequences of hatred.
Speak up for friends. Check yourself for stereotypical responses. Compassion and justice can turn this world around. It begins with each one of us.
— — —
Rev. Kristi Denham is pastor of the Congregational Church of Belmont, California (United Church of Christ). Her email address is {email RevKristi@aol.com}RevKristi@aol.com{/email}. © Copyright 2008 by Kristi Denham.
When you can laugh at someone, it becomes easier to ridicule. When you can ridicule, it is just a next step to violence. When you can do violence, you can kill.
"Oh, he's so gay" is a common put-down on school campuses. Anyone perceived as different may find themselves tagged in this way.
It's just a word. It's no big deal. But a little boy died this month because the ugly hatred cultivated in this country by those who fear gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people, and who justify cruelty toward them, is growing out of control.
Larry was an eighth-grader in an Oxnard, Calif., middle school when he asked Brandon to be his Valentine. Brandon killed him.
It is so painful and tragic to tell this story, but I have to speak out. Every person has a right to be who they are and to be treated fairly and equitably in every aspect of their lives.
Gay marriage should be a right, because marriage bestows rights under the law that should be available to all citizens.
We all know people who are differently gendered from ourselves. Truth be told, heterosexuals tend to do more violence against women and are more likely to be pedophiles than their homosexual counterparts. This is simply fact, verifiable by statistics.
Ignorance leads to fear. Fear leads to violence. It is time for all of us to challenge stereotypes, and to stand up for the human rights of all our citizens.
I invite you to hold the families of both Larry and Brandon in your prayers. Lives have been destroyed. Tragedy is in our midst. It is time to stop the ugly consequences of hatred.
Speak up for friends. Check yourself for stereotypical responses. Compassion and justice can turn this world around. It begins with each one of us.
— — —
Rev. Kristi Denham is pastor of the Congregational Church of Belmont, California (United Church of Christ). Her email address is {email RevKristi@aol.com}RevKristi@aol.com{/email}. © Copyright 2008 by Kristi Denham.