I think this is important. I hope you don't consider it spamming, but if so, I apologize. Please check out this web site for more information on what this is about: http://werefuse.blogspot.com Thanks for listening! I hope you help me instigate some change on this matter.
it seems the emphasis sould be on pedophiles, not one man in particular. Otherwise, the community gets used politically. I know gay republicans. their dissonance is only on that particular issue, but they stand in agreement with most of the MODERATES of the party.
He's part of the "gay community" regardless. Since when does one have a monopoly over the "gay community" so that he can reject or accept him? His sexual orientation is his business; it's not a group endeavor.
Since the gay community is being dragged through the mud for a politcal purpose. Why does Foley choose to come out now? When he's just been associated with sexual harassing (I'm not sure of the correct legal terms) a minor? He's just scapegoating. Like how he checked into rehab after this for alcoholism, yet had never had a known history of alcoholism. Pedophilia has long been maligned with the gay community, and I know I have fought hard to refute its association. I certainly take offense when people try to use being gay as an excuse for misdeeds or perversions. Gay people have enough to worry about without trying to distance themselves from pedophiles on top of everything. I just think if the gay community raises enough of a stink over this, then the mainstream public (i.e. those voting for constitutional ammedments to ban same-sex marriage, etc.) might be able to see that not everyone who's gay commits some sort of sexual misdeed. It's people like Foley who make it so hard for us. I hope you don't think I meant not to accept him because he is a republican. Gay republicans are fine (although a bit of an oxymoron IMHO, but that is my opinion). It's when people use the gay community, which they were never a part of before, as a scapegoat for their own problems.
I'm referring to Mark Foley as a pedophile, not a gay republican. Sure, I think all pedophiles should be ostracized in the gay community, but you have to start somewhere. Maybe you can start a movement against all pedophiles who identify as gay. Foley's coming out outraged me because this administration and congress has been VERY anti-gay, and here comes looking for support from us. Well, he's not going to get it from me.
I certainly don't approve of what Mark Foley has done, but I'm not sure that not accepting him into the "gay community" is a good way to deal with the situation. The question I ask myself is what gay people could have done to identify such a person beforehand and keep him from doing what he did. What is our responsibility to each other and as lesbigay people and to potential victims of pedophilia? What definition of the "gay community" are we using, and who has the right to say who is in it and who isn't? The majority of my experiences with the "gay community" have been very negative. Maybe I'm being exposed to the wrong people, but it usually seems very clannish and competitive and unpleasant. Sure, I'm unhappy about what Mark Foley did and how some people will use that to smear other gay people. I think it would be great if leaders of recognized gay organizations were to issue a statement denouncing what Mark Foley did and help him get the help he seems to need.
Mark Foley is using his sexuality as a political weapon. This sort of blurred line that some warped individuals harbor about the differences between Homosexuality and Paedophilia has a direct detrimental impact on the way Gay people are able to live their lives. They as the blog states very clearly are "not the same nor have they ever been the same". Yet as a community we have all been exposed too many times to such hateful tenously connected stigma like "oh he's gay, that's weird, paedophile etc". Too many people are homophobic and too many people will utilise Mark Foley's words and use it as a tool to further stigmatise the Gay community. His actions are nothing less than foul and disgusting. How DARE he try to associate Gay with acts of Paedophillia. What the justice system must do is not only arrest Mr.Foley 9if indeed their is sufficient incriminating evidnce) and they also must make it very clear that him being Gay is absolutely no excuse to commit such lead acts of depravity.
I suspect that young people receive explict text messages regularly and its adults who are offended or pretend to be offended.
Well, I had no idea that Mark Foley was this way... pedofile, I mean... Very disturbing. My outlook on him now is forever changed, very disturbing.
I didn't know we needed to be approved for membership in the gay lifestyle. If Foley wants to suck dick, theres not much anyone can do about it. Having said that, I think Foley should do time in prison. Then we'll see how gay he is.
Fine: so is YOUR isue Foley as gay or Foley as pedophile? Or is it one more way to use the community in a political fight? (spoken like a straight, mostly, reporter.--so you don't have to say so, S! ;p )