Gay Pride ad a new 'equality gap'?

Just catching up with this thread after a busy day. Thank you to those who reassured me that I made some sense ...

Monica:
"Imperfect the mere fact that you felt a need to be transparent about your views, says it all. If we took sexuality, of whatever kind for granted, you would not feel the need to be transparent."

I wholeheartedly agree.

I wasn't very clear in my first post - I feel this thread has helped me to gain clarity for myself for which I am grateful.

oh my goodness, Penstemmon age does not bring with it intolerance - it is evident in all age groups.

And without old farts these buildings etc would be lost to future generations.

If I want to wear a rainbow badge to support my gay friends and my gay nephew I will - but I do not want anyone to force me to wear one because of the job I do, voluntary or otherwise.

There are posters on this forum who are members of the NT, an apology would be acceptable Penstemmon

Members of the Trust cancelled their membership because of the treatment of the volenteers

trisher No, of course I am not, and you know that. I am saying that making people afraid to admit to having an opinion that does not agree with the agreed politically correct view is as coercive and as unpleasant as attacking someone because they are gay.

In any society there are always those who go against the norms. In a free society they should be free to query the norms, but not incite hatred or violence against those they do not agree with. Nor should they be coerced into hiding their views for fear of the mob

Penstemon what a narrow-minded and unkind comment. You know nothing about the people who have chosen to resign. They could be any age or of any background and to condemn older people and assign characters to them is, frankly, ageist and on Gransnet, of all places.

The National Trust is highly dependent on volunteers, most of them retired. It could not function without them. It cannot afford to lose any of them.

Charmingly put, Penstemmon! Without the old farts, many NT and English Heritage properties would be short of visitors.

Good fewer old farts cluttering up the place!

trisher

The NT has had a change of mind, seems hundreds of members have cancelled their membership in protest over their decision

It is absolutely nothing to do with him or the family, although some have used that as an excuse (which in my opinion is far worse that 'outing' someone) No one can know how he would have behaved or what he would have wanted because the world today is so different from the one he knew.
The Rainbow badge is a symbol for the gay community
"A symbol of diversity
Finally, the rainbow is a symbol of diversity. Although myths and stereotypes portray all gays and lesbians as having a single, monolithic “agenda”, the reality is that ours is an extraordinarily diverse community. Across all races and cultural backgrounds, across all languages, with or without disabilities, across all religions, our communities continue to flourish.

Sometimes, our own communities are divided between gay and lesbian, between “gay” and “queer”, between those in big cities and those in the suburbs and small towns, between “assimilationists” and those who want to live apart from the mainstream. While diversity poses its challenges, it is also enriching. There are as many opinions as there are people. There is no lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender “lifestyle”, there are only lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. Millions of us, each one unique. This is our strength.

So, why should we bother?
• Because people are still denied jobs, promotions or denied accommodation because of their sexual orientation.
• Because gay teenagers are disproportionately at risk of suicide.
• Because people are still beaten or murdered for being lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.
• Because we are still made to feel uncomfortable when holding the hand of a partner while walking down the street.
• Because our materials are still censored by the government and banned from schools.
• Because our relationships remain unrecognized in hundreds of federal, state, provincial and territorial laws.

BY CELEBRATING OUR PRIDE TOGETHER, WE REMEMBER OUR PAST, AFFIRM OUR FUTURE AND PROVIDE IMPORTANT VISIBILITY WHICH ADVANCES OUR STRUGGLE FOR EQUALITY "
So those who refuse to wear it are undermining these ideals.

I had never heard of the chap who lived in that house, what did he do to make his family proud?

Maybe his family aren't proud, though. Just because many think they should be won't make them so.

We don't actually know, do we?

Are you suggesting that in the future homophobia, anti-semitism, misogyny and other repellent beliefs will be acceptable *M0nica"? Because if so I wouldn't want to be part of a society where they were.

Exactly, smileless, because they fear a backlash - fifty years after it has become legal.
That's what gay pride is all about.
That is why the NT has even produced a book about all the gay people involved in the NT.

Nobody should have to fear a backlash nowadays.
His family should be proud.

whitewave I wasn't implying anything in my question, just curious. I do however absolutely agree with you on the problem of the thread police.

Going back to a very early posy of mine on this thread, I did refer to the thread police being like the Saudi Arabian Religious police, stamping down on prejudice wherever they decide they saw it.

I console myself with the thought that 100 years from now, our age will be condemned for the way it tried to force everyone to think one way and harassed and silenced those who had a different view. Rather as the Victorians are condemned for their persecution of those who were not heterosexual.

monica not for reasons your question implies. But if I pursue your question, the thread police will take great pleasure in making it personal. So I would rather not answer if you don't mind, as I am trying to avoid the thread police.

I agree that if you gift you home to the NT it stands to reason people will be going round and have some insight into your private life but I doubt there would be anything to see that would have shown he was gay trisher.

Why does it make you wonder if his family are ashamed of his sexuality dj? We have no idea if he were alive today if he would have wanted to make his personal life public, he may have chosen not too. There are plenty, particularly those in the public eye who sadly don't want their sexuality known, because they fear a backlash.

I believe anal and oral sex is practised in many countries and by different types of couples. It is not really that unusual. It is not exclusively an expression of sexual love / lust for gay men. It really is nobody elses business how two consenting adults choose to behave in private. It is , I believe, everybody's business that people are not discriminated against because of their sexuality. I am saddened to know that there are still so many people who do think less of a person because of their sexual orientation.

Thank you for your kind thoughts Monica, but it as some years ago now and my brother never recovered. He was partially sighted and brain damaged to the end of his life. He was not taking part in any sexual act when he was attacked but was simply different and was attacked by people who had known him since childhood. Because it was considered acceptable to reject him and to verbally taunt him there came a day when it escalated into something more.
By accepting that it is ok to speak contemptously of someone for who they are I think we open the door to other behaviours. But obviously I have a personal viewpoint here.

whitewave why do you find this thread/subject intensely uncomfortable?

Has anyone seen Grace and Frankie on Netflix?

Love it!!

I wonder if you are a new/old poster illtellhim...... seem to know your posting style.

Illtellhim. See my previous post. It's not illegal. Repealed in 1994.

Do you know, sometimes I can't help it