Being Gay in Homophobia, TX

@Tarabelle Gig'em Aggies WHOOP.

I live in Closet Station and that Dennys is still here. While I don't think anti-gays are that out in the open, there is still a lot of homophobia in this pro-bush, conservative berg.

 

It's small town Texas, did you really expect anything more?

I guess the moral of the story is: Don't buy $400 sunglasses.

 

lol but they were Chanel....to me it's not about price, it's about the quality and brand. You wouldn't choose a Dyslexus over a Lexus, would you?

 

I think awareness of the gay community has risen alot over the past few years and this has made open minded people more accepting, and closeminded people, much more hostile.

20 years ago in that town i bet they wouldnt have known what to do with you, the worst you may have gotten were strange looks, but now that many rural pastors and the media shoving the neocon agenda down thier throats, the rednecks know (or think they do) exactly what group you belong and are ready to hate.

 

I wouldn't be caught dead driving a lexus.

 

^^ me neither lol.

albatron, I read what you said, and thought about it, and thought you were probably right, so I asked my mom if she knew any gays or lesbians 20 years ago, and so she gave me the email address of one of her old lesbian friends. I asked her what kind of prejudice she faced then as opposed to now, and it turns out you WERE right. Back in the 80's, oddly enough, homosexuality wasn't so bashed against as it is today here. Like you said, all she got were nasty looks, but didn't know much of any physical beatings or anything like that. Religion has played a huge role in the rise of unacceptance, I believe. Well, not so much religion as religious fanatics and leaders. Bush jr has also played a pretty big role, what with his whole anti gay marriage nonsense. And this is Bush country, bad.........but anyways, just thought i'd share that. I never would have thought acceptance levels had gotten WORSE over time in select places. I guess it's just a matter of the general feel of politics and morality wherever you live that decides what the acceptance level will be...

 

Hey sweet for once an assumption didn't make an ass out of me!

I think the worst part about the rise in hate of gays or any group is that decent people are told to hate a group by people in power and they do, because it's easy to hate from afar. they don't really know (or know that they know) a person of that group. It's easy to hate a group, it's harder to hate an individual.

 

ha

i hope things are well with you.

 

This is so true. Before I came out to one of my friends he would say some really horrible things about gay people. I mean really horrible things. Words that have the potential to have him locked away in prison for a few years. We were really close and I really enjoyed being friends with him but any time he would say something I wouldn't let it show, however I would go home and cry myself to sleep. Somehow I mustered the courage to actually come out to him, despite all the nasty things he said. Doing so completely changed his outlook on gays. No more nasty comments and a sincere apology for all he said previous. Best of all, no more worrying if my friendship with him would end in a blender of emotional, or worse, physical pain.

It was easy for him to say all the things he did because before I came out to him he had no real world exposure to a gay guy. He was brought up in school to hate them as I'm sure many people are. Although he is not very religious, a lot of people are taught to hate gay people from their religion. It makes me sick. Coming out to him had rattled everything he learned about gay people when he grew up. He suddenly realized that someone very close to him was gay and I'm sure he wished he could take back everything he had ever said knowing that it had crushed me.

I think that the more people that are out, the more accepting the majority of people will be. The more homophobes that suddenly realize their behaviour is hurting someone they care about, the more accepting and supportive I hope they will be.

Religion is one of the few things that contends strongly with family. For some, their devotion to their god will always win over family and so they will hang on every word of one who claims to preach the word of God. There will always be homophobia, moreso in certain area but I hope that one day in places like Plainview, that homophobia will be overshadowed by tolerance, even just slightly.

 

Oh, you're down init, aren't you? My Dad has property in Caldwell. Wooh, that's one conservative, bush loving place! Probably what drove my Dad bonkers.

 

yea, as horrid and boring as it is here compared to austin or houston, i feel that i need to stay here to help future gays have an easier time. I want to be one of the ones paving the road to acceptance, or even just tolerance. I sort of want to be the one that young gays several years from now will say "if it wasn't for andy, it would be a lot harder for us to be out." I know that's a pretty grandiose dream, but I'm hoping that by my being unapologetically gay will force this small town to get over itself. I was living here when I first came out, along with my lifelong friend Jason, and at the time, hardly anyone was out. But jai and I sort of...exploded out of the closet, so to speak, and since then, many more, younger gays have come out. We've already given a lot of people the feeling that it's okay to be gay and out, but I want to broaden the scheme, and not just make it okay to be out and proud, but acceptable and FUN to be out and proud. We're hoping that the younger generation of gays will in turn do the same thing, and eventually, it will no longer be an issue here. But that's a LOOONG way off. I'm not even thinking in my lifetime. But if I could make a difference, even in generations ahead, I'll be happy. All I know is that for now, this shit sucks ass. but i'm working on it.....

 

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*checks the nails for sturdiness* this is gonna take a long time.

 

welcome to reality, a think a good portion on america is like this, I experianced it living in tennessee, ouch man it sucks, those stupid fucking redneck assholes they never quit do they, they just cant sit still knowing a fag is nearby, oh no!! If i dont insult the shit out of this poor guy I wont get raped by him, thats what a lot believe, if you arent extrememly mean to queers and throw your trash them they WILL rape you, no way around it, if you dont make it absolutely clear to the gay people that you really hate them simply because they are attracted to guys and that we're gonna go to hell and burn for eternity for being a sadomite. I hate fuckin redneck asshole bitches, fuckin A.

Oh yea that pinkpistols thing is awsome, me and my man need to join that shit.

 

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I've experienced some really hurtful homophobia here in Florida. Although it is a tourist trap, it is still a red state overrun by right wingers. This state is full of racism, homophobia, and religous extremism. It is something the tourist officials and politicians do not want you to know about. In my high school, homophobia was "cool" and the teachers and staff members barley did anything about it. Even when my parents stepped in, hardly anything was accomplished. The only good thing about it is knowing that homophobes are often brainwashed by religion, conspiracy theories, politicians, radio hosts, etc., while we are individuals who are not afraid to step outside the box.