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Community Blogs
 
Taking it too personally
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
My roommate and I have been counting down to Thanksgiving since mid-October. I was thrilled to be going home and having my mom’s delicious stuffing. And she was excited to have a few days off from classes. She’s from Arizona, and instead of heading back home, she was going to spend the holiday with her mom’s best friend’s family. Until last week, that is, when the rug was pulled out from under her. The family hosting her Thanksgiving dinner consisted of two gay men and their adopted children. After finding out that my roommate is Mormon, they un-invited her to Thanksgiving dinner. After Prop 8 passed in California, Mormons have been subjected to a major backlash. It’s true, some Mormon wards did ask their congregations to write letters in support of the proposition and Mormons did donate quite a bit of money to the Yes-on-8 movement. But it’s also true that political and personal beliefs don’t always mesh and that the actions of the group do not represent the beliefs of an individual. I know ardent pro-lifers who have friends who’ve had abortions. The pro-lifers don’t love these friends any less. I have no idea where my roommate stands on Prop 8, but I do know that she is one of the sweetest, most tolerant individuals I’ve met. She has gay friends. Yet none of this mattered once her hosts found out she was Mormon. She’s not the only one to be subjected to this type of discrimination. I’ve heard stories of Mormons getting spit on. Mormon temples are protested. “Blacklists” of Yes-on-8 donors are circulated around the Internet. I’m really angry about this. Hatred breads hatred. Intolerance breeds intolerance. My roommate’s would-be hosts had the chance to rise above a major conflict and to welcome her into a loving same-sex home. Instead, they left a girl all alone on the East Coast with no place to go for Thanksgiving. After a lot of last minute negotiations, she found one last seat on one last flight back home to Mesa. So it worked out in the end. But not before she was told that her faith made her unwelcome in someone’s home. Anyway, I was interested to hear what any of you think about this whole thing.
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January 7, 2009
12:32 p.m. [ Suggest removal ]
I agree 100%. Blaming an entire group of people (or any one member thereof) is entirely wrong, and frankly a gay person should understand that as well as anyone. Let's all be thankful for what and who we have in our lives.
5:48 p.m. [ Suggest removal ]
She doesn't live in California, so she didn't vote on Prop. 8 -- so why should she be punished?
9:53 p.m. [ Suggest removal ]
As a minority in the gay community (conservative, republican, yes, it does happen) that does not beleive in gay marriage, YET FULLY BELIEVES IN A GAY UNION/Equal Domestic Parternship Rights; CANNOT support the intolerance of the aforementioned gay bigots. For years members of my so called "community" has called upon the general population for "tolerance" of our lifestyle. Yet, when law abiding citizens vote against "marriage" the "community" can not "tolerate" it? Come on gays, wake up!! We are protesting over semantics. For years gays demaded that mainstream America accept the "Alternative Lifestyle" we live, it is now OUR turn to educate ourselves on what is it we really want. Do we really want to be like every one else after demadning to be tolerted? (I must ask why the community settled on the word tolerated to begin with? Personally, I find it annoying to have to tolerate someone, tolerate conjures pain in my mind, not a choice of people I would choose to be associated with.)
We should not protest over semantics. We should demonstrate and educate for an Equal Domestic Partnership and live up to the responsibilities of it. We have fought long and hard to demonstrate are differences and now all the sudden we need the sameness even in marriage? Grow up!
Unfortunately, an innocent non voting (In CA) citizen who happens to be of a religious group was penalized for something her religious leaders opposed. This does not automatically mean one can assume she is of the same opinion as her religious leaders either nor are her parents. I am so ashamed of my "gay Family" for not "welcoming" an innocnent human being. Shame on them. Are they just retaliating at an innocent non voting (in CA) member of society due to her parents religiuos beliefs? If so, they need to re-examine their own belief system and the beliefs/morals/values they are setting for their adoptive children.
I am gald that roommate was able to go home to where she is amongst true family. Happy Thanksgiving Liz's roommmate and to all blog readers.
12:22 p.m. [ Suggest removal ]
Hi everyone,
Happy Thanksgiving! I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one who found this whole thing ridiculous.
Enjoy your turkey.
Elizabeth
9:45 a.m. [ Suggest removal ]
Benjamin Franklin, Benjamin Rush, Thomas Jefferson & Thomas Paine (and many other Deists) had it right in the 18th century. But unfortunately, their wisdom is getting lost again. Religion belongs in temples of worship and politics belongs in government buildings. And ne'er the twain should meet!