DebofMD's Comments (60)

“Thanks DebofMD...my days will eventually brighten and I will come to peace with my greif but it will take a long...
I hope you find a way to lighten your life as Jamie and I always say "Baby Steps" is the best way to start.”

“Dear Deb,
Bless you for offering your comfort and kindness.

Have you discovered any ways to lighten your life? When you do...I hope you will share them with the rest of us.

Eli”

“You will have to deal with the fact that your black brothers and sisters (and you?) voted in much higher numbers than anyone else to deny gay and lesbian people their civil rights. You can complain and demand that we "get out of here" but we are NOT going to shut up about it until you open your hearts and minds. I have a dream, indeed.”

“"Unlike gays, who have the choice of exposing their sexuality--or not. Most of them keep it quiet when it comes to employers, and the white men in particular, are the ones that benefit."

Because being a professional white male in corporate America with no wife, girlfriends or childern and a "roommate" named Scott is not obvious. The closet is behind us; it falls away the minute you begin to live an honest life. Even if you are not "out" to co-workers or your employer, it doesn't take a brain surgeon in this day and age to know exactly who's gay.

And also, just FYI, most 30s+ white gays also grow up in homes where they were taught being gay was wrong. Imagine being a black child raised by racist white parents.”

“I agree that blaming African Americans for the passage of prop. 8 is neither productive nor fair, but I tire of hearing that homophobia and descrimination against gay people is not a form of oppression. There is no point trying to compare racism and homophobia, but don't deny that gay people often get a raw deal in this society.”

“Ps. People can choose their religion.It's a choice to follow what your church teaches you.”

“I'm offended by your comment that "And I do not like how gays put their plight in the same realm as that of African Americans...Until they all walk around wearing t-shirts or tatoos on their foreheads that state, "I AM GAY," I don't want to hear about how they are oppressed by anyone."

I am Jewish. We have historically faced much more discrimination than any other religion/culture on this planet. We fought hard to face down discrimination. But, according to you, since we can "hide" it we weren't oppressed.

I'm sorry, but as minorities, we should both stand up and say that this is unacceptable. Equality should not have to be earned nor should it have to be explained.”

“I don't agree with your logic that gays are better off dealing with prejudice because they can hide their difference form the majority, whereas, blacks cannot. The isolation felt by many homosexuals during their childhood and adolescence leads to terrible emotional pain and even suicide. I don't think that many blacks commit suicide because they are black. And don't forget that there are black gay men and lesbians who face double prejudice.”

“I am not minimizing the struggle of African-Americans at all.

But, I'm not going to let anyone get away with stating that somehow gays and lesbians have it easier in America or throughout history.

We are still killed and physically assaulted just for being gay.

We can still be fired and denied housing in most states just for being gay.

We can still have the most fundamental aspects of our lives, our relationships, denied and discriminated against by the state.

I'm not saying our plight is any worse than any others. There's plenty of bigotry and discrimination in this world to go around.

However, the evil of racism doesn't excuse the equal evil of homophobia or sexism or relgiious zealotry or any other form of bigotry.

We are all in this together.”

“"Until they all walk around wearing t-shirts or tatoos on their foreheads that state, "I AM GAY," I don't want to hear about how they are oppressed by anyone." --DebofMD

So a vote that denies same sex couples equal protection under the law isn't oppression? Open you eyes!”

“IT IS A CIVIL RIGHTS ISSUE! The Supreme COURT of the STATE of CALIFORNIA said that MARRIAGE was/IS a CIVIL RIGHT! I, FOR ONE, am SICK AND TIRED of WAITING MY 'TURN'. You ever hear about BAYARD RUSTIN? Black, GAY, CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST! That's just ONE--I'm sure there are more!
Don't GET ALL RIGHTEOUS WITH ME or "MY KIND". We've paid our dues too. We've been beaten, KILLED, harassed and discriminated against in ALL AREAS. And SHOW ME the 'Gay African Americans who wanted this passed'. I doubt seriously that they would s*** where they eat!
Prop. 8 was badly worded and put on the ballot illegally. The LAWSUITS currently in process are questioning the VERY LEGALITY of this Proposition. The MORMON CHURCH was one of the PRIMARY GROUPS campaigning for passage of this TRAVESTY. READ up on the OFFICIAL MORMON POSITION on BLACK PEOPLE and be ASHAMED!! I'm NOT talking about Mitt Romney's position--I'm talking about the OFFICIAL MORMON CHURCH and it's position on Black People. According to THEM, Black People can't even get into HEAVEN, which is reserved for WHITE MORMONS!! EITHER the CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES PROTECTS ALL ITS CITIZENS or IT DOESN'T. TAKE YOUR PICK!”

“Just remember this;

When the Nazis came for the communists,
I remained silent;
I was not a communist.

When they locked up the social democrats,
I remained silent;
I was not a social democrat.

When they came for the trade unionists,
I did not speak out;
I was not a trade unionist.

When they came for the Jews,
I remained silent;
I wasn't a Jew.

When they came for me,
there was no one left to speak out.

The same people who backed this measure may now feel emboldened to try to pass other laws. Sure the next one may not affect you, nor the ten after that but who will you turn to when one comes along that does affect you? Will you ask for the support of those who have been silenced and shunned by your actions ?”

“One group's pain is not like the other's, but it does not make either group's struggles any less sad and heartbreaking.

One group was enslaved. One group was put in concentration camps. One group wasn't permitted to vote. One group has to hide in plain sight. One group lived in segregation. The other group cannot get married. Both groups still have so much to overcome.

I'm sad that in my community we preach that gay people don't have the right to marry. It upsets me that the gay community does not try to reach out to gays in the black and Hispanic communities. It upsets me that blacks voted for this proposition. It upsets me that the gay community does not encourage more closeted blacks to come out. It upsets me that the minority of blacks who voted against Prop 8 didn't do more to reach out to people in their own community to prevent them from voting for this. It upsets me that the gay community tried to suppress blacks from even voting in California because they knew blacks would vote against Prop 8.

I'm upset with the huge amount of Republicans, a minority of Democrats, a majority of blacks, half of whites, the Mormons,etc. The black and gay community need each other. There are gay people in the black community who feel shunned their own ethnic group. There are black people in the gay community who feel as if they are floundering. We need each other.”

“CHICAGO - Coretta Scott King, speaking four days before the 30th anniversary of her husband's assassination, said Tuesday the civil rights leader's memory demanded a strong stand for gay and lesbian rights.

"I still hear people say that I should not be talking about the rights of lesbian and gay people and I should stick to the issue of racial justice," she said. "But I hasten to remind them that Martin Luther King Jr. said, 'Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.'"

"I appeal to everyone who believes in Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream to make room at the table of brother- and sisterhood for lesbian and gay people," she said.

"Gays and lesbians stood up for civil rights in Montgomery (and) Selma (Alabama), in Albany, Georgia, and St. Augustine, Florida, and many other campaigns of the civil rights movement," King said.

Black ministers threw us under the bus. 70 to 75% of blacks voted to make us second class citizens.”

“"Analogous" does not mean "equivalent." People draw valid analogies all the time that are apt and fitting because they point to an underlying similar dynamic. I know abstraction is tough.

"Hide"? Don't you grasp that it's in hiding and secrecy and shame that HIV is spread and monogamy and social stability are discouraged?

When Bush won in 2004, Theresa Heinz Kerry said, "I guess they want four more years of hell."

I'm experiencing a similar emotion when I look at blacks voting for Prop. Hate.”