So before I came out to anyone, I tested the waters with many family members by bringing up homosexuality in general with as many people as I could. I’m still doing it with my family, as a sort of prep for when I do come out. Well, I’m realizing that many of my friends and family either believe or have heard a lot of false ideas and stereotypes about gays. For example, my roommate and I have talked a lot since I’m taking a LGBT Literature class and he’s taking Human Sexuality (he’s a psychology major). Well, while flipping through the channels on TV I ran across Ru Paul’s Drag Race (I love this show, it’s Americas Next Top Model, but with camp). Suddenly my roommate mentions that he thinks that the more gay someone is, the more they want to be a woman, thus if they date a man it’s like a heterosexual couple. “REALLY?! How can you believe such crap! I’m gay and I don’t have any desire to be a woman. Does that mean I’m not fully gay? Ridiculous!” Was what I thought, but in reality I just said that that seemed too narrow minded to be true.
That’s just one example of these false ideas that people can easily believe if they choose not to think for themselves. The other thing I hear is that being gay is a choice. I got into a huge argument with my sister (she’s 16 so she’s a bit naive), but my mom agreed at least in general. I just sat there and tried to explain that that is not always true, while wanting to scream, “Do you really think I chose to be gay! I was born this way!” In my case I have just always liked men. There was nothing in my childhood that traumatized me. I had a very happy childhood. I’ve known I was gay since I was 12, even if I lived in denial most of my life.
It just blows my mind how much misinformation exists in the world. There are, of course, attempts to set the record straight. This is one of those videos I like, it's funny too. (even if it does take jabs against Christians in general)
I believe this is a section from the 2007 film "For the Bible Tells Me So" which I have not seen, but which really interests me.
I have seen bits and pieces of For the Bible Tells Me So. From what I have seen it is excellent.
ReplyDeleteAnother good choice, since you are talking about family and the coming out process, is Anyone and Everyone. Google it. I have the DVD and it is very, very good.