Attila

Homophobia

Saturday, 16. August 2008, 05:39:26

Thoughts, Photo, Copenhagen, Sex

Ørstedsparken in the centre of Copenhagen is a cosy little park people can visit in the daytime;

There are playgrounds and a lake where you can feed the ducks and swans. There are benches where you can relax, and large lawns. It's a great green area in the center of a big city. But when the sun goes down, the crowd changes. Ørstedsparken has always been a well-known meeting spot for gay men in the city. However, there are warnings of an increase in hate crimes against gay people in the area.

The National Association for Gays and Lesbians (LBL) says that they have seen a rise in the number of attacks against gay people in the last few years.

The Copenhagen municipality only recently began registering cases of hate crimes and discrimination against homosexuals. In the last month, 62 hate crimes against gay people have been reported. They believe the actual figure is much higher, and that many don't report if they get attacked.

As a result of the violence, the Copenhagen police have increased the number of patrols in the Ørestedsparken area.

The LBL would like to see a course against homophobia introduced as part of sex education in Danish schools, saying that the current teaching aids are out of date.

What is going on? Where did tolerance go? Not liking what other people do, doesn't give anybody rights to attack the people they dislike. To be honest, I never really understood homophobia. I've heard a lot of guys explaining it with: "I don't want him to make a pass at me!" That's probably the lamest I have ever heard. Don't flatter yourself, guys!

From Medical Records...Madonna

Comments

Moesring # 16. August 2008, 06:56

Haven't you heard the popular misconception that homosexuals aren't the same as heterosexuals? Whilst heterosexuals only flirt with those they feel attracted to, homosexuals are so desperate that will flirt with everyone.

Thats all I've ever been able to understand about homophobia. The irrational fear that he might be propositioned by a male stranger.
I don't know why but you don't often hear about female homophobes.

An average of 2 hate crimes a day in Copenhagen alone is appalling.

Don't flatter yourself, guys!

Don't worry, I never do.

qlue # 16. August 2008, 06:59

What needs to be addressed is the increasing tendency to resort to violence in general. Tolerance does not require that one must approve of the actions and lifestyles of another. It merely requires an acknowledgement of another individuals right to choose thier own lifestyle. The only restriction being that the lifestyle that one chooses should be tolerant and respectfull of the rights of others. I do not condone homosexuall living, but I do respect the right of any man or woman to live according to whatever philosophy they choose. After all, I expect nothing less in return.

Spaggyj # 16. August 2008, 08:39

All it boils down to is fear of what they do not know. I've seen plenty of instances when a boy comes out to his family, and his brother thinks that he'll start to "like" him

. The people doing these crimes are probably just scared that they themselves are actually gay!

clean # 16. August 2008, 09:19

It's hard to believe we're in the 21st century sometimes ...

Furie # 16. August 2008, 09:23

That's what the majority of homophobia boils down to. People aren't secure enough in their own sexuality to let others be secure in theirs. Personally, if a guy came on to me I'd take it as a compliment.

I've never liked that word - "tolerance". To me it implies that the person we're tolerating has done something wrong but we're allowing them to get away with it. Falling in love isn't wrong, no matter the genders involved.

Furie # 16. August 2008, 09:25

Moe, I've met way more female homophobes than male ones, but they're less violent with it. Guys seem to think that hitting out at what they're afraid of somehow makes them more manly.

attilasoul # 16. August 2008, 09:51

@ Moe ~ The fear of being propositioned by a male stranger is so... I don't have words for it, but weird to me. I mean, so what if a gay guy thinks you're hot. If you don't like him it's no different than saying "Thank you, but no thank you" to a girl you don't like.

@ Qlue ~ My point excactly. Love and sex should be something nice. It's like if your best friend falls in love with a girl you don't approve of. It's his choice and you've got to learn to live with it. It's the same, in my eyes.

@ Kimmie ~ I think you've got a good point there, about they are afraid of something they might contain themselves. It's not long ago I saw a Danish movie about some youngsters, and one of the guys was so hateful against gay people. It turned out that he was in doubt if he was gay or bi or hetero.

@ Clean ~ So true. Sad but true.

@ Mik ~ I've never met female homophobes. I've had quite a lot of girls hitting on me when I am out, and like you, I take it as a compliment.

flamingo-rinse # 16. August 2008, 09:54

You hit the nail on the head with the insecurity thing, Mik. Insecurity & ignorance. And possibly religion (as a cover for the previous two). You are what you is, as someone said - and the sooner ignoramuses realise that and just get the f*ck over it, the better the world will be.
I don't think I've met any girl homophobes, though...perhaps I have & just haven't realised it

attilasoul # 16. August 2008, 09:56

Hi Nick.
- And intolerance is creating a lot of wars too!

Moesring # 16. August 2008, 09:58

As I understand it, they take it as an insult to their masculinity. Whilst a normal person might say "Thank you, but I'm not gay", they are completely offended.

In the mind of the neanderthal, it is equivalent to saying "Are you gay?" The natural response of the primitive peoples? Aggression.

attilasoul # 16. August 2008, 10:04

Ahh, now I seem to understand just a little bit of what's going on in their heads. It's because they have this picture of how a gay person look, and they do definitely not want to look the same. But it's ridiculous. Gay people look just as different as the rest of us.

Cois # 16. August 2008, 10:35

'Homosexuality is a abomination in the eyes of God and all gay people will go to hell and burn in eternal fire..kill them all and speed up the process'.

. This or something similiar was the words of my gym teacher..
A few years after school we found out his son was gay.. Karma is a bitch..

attilasoul # 16. August 2008, 10:39

I've heard christians say they dislike gay people because "it's not natural"! I've known some heteroes that did things in their bedrooms that I wouldn't concider natural either.

Nice one, Cois. I think I'd call it Nemesis!

Furie # 16. August 2008, 11:46

Flamingo, it was Popeye who said that.

Furie # 16. August 2008, 11:49

Tilla, usually the sort of guys who would get offended by this sort of thing, and lash out, are the sort that wouldn't say no to any girl even if they don't like them. They see it as a boost to their masculinity to put another notch on the bedpost even if that notch is someone they'd never be seen with in public.

Furie # 16. August 2008, 11:53

Moe, a lot do take being come onto by a guy as a sign that the guy thinks they're very feminine looking and therefore an insult. There's a word for someone who thinks like that - moron. Someone attracted to the same sex isn't likely to go for traits found in the opposite gender, yet these people don't get that.

Furie # 16. August 2008, 11:55

Gotta feel sorry for the guy's son eh Clint. If his family are like that it's gonna be way harder for him to come to terms with himself.

Cois # 16. August 2008, 12:23

Thing is the son isn't bothered at all.. Wears short shorts and tube tops like its nobodys' business.. The guy just had to accept in the end..

When I'm with my mates we're not all touchy feely but do tend to fool around with some mock wrestling..
When a gay dude does the exact same thing it would be considered he's copping a feel and its sexually orientated..
Put that guy in the same situation and you don't know he's gay then its considered ok.. Weird but true..

Furie # 16. August 2008, 12:42

Short shorts and tube tops? Sound like he's overcompensating on the camp side to get some revenge on his dad.

Cois # 16. August 2008, 13:35

I believe so.. He was always just a well dressed guy untill he came out..*shrugs*

Dacotah # 16. August 2008, 14:18

I don't understand why peole are homophobia

Cois # 16. August 2008, 17:02

To be homophobic to me would be just a fear of the unknown or how you were raised..
Instill something long enough in a childs' mind then he'll think it wrong and behave like a little clone.. Same thing goes for religion I think..

attilasoul # 16. August 2008, 17:19

But that doesn't explain your gym teacher's kid , now does it? I think you're right on some level anyway. I think that might be the explanation why it's so hard for some gay people to come out of the closet.

dannii # 16. August 2008, 18:04

I'm not moving to Copenhaguen then.

attilasoul # 16. August 2008, 18:39

There's violence everywhere, mate!

dannii # 16. August 2008, 21:14

Then I'm not moving anywhere.

dannii # 16. August 2008, 21:15

Oh! I forgot I'm straight!

So no problem for me. It's really sad though. People should love and not hate. all around the world.

Furie # 16. August 2008, 21:40

It's a push. With the teacher's kid he got pushed and rebelled. Others may get pushed and go with it entirely. Few are the people who don't go to one extreme or other when constantly pushed one way.

dannii # 16. August 2008, 21:43

Is there a little bit of one of the bloke's willies that I can see?

attilasoul # 17. August 2008, 05:30

Ohhh Dannii!

dannii # 17. August 2008, 14:55

I just wanted to know.

qlue # 18. August 2008, 14:51

on the question of homophobic females, I've dated a few. Women tend to be less aggressive and more passive-aggressive. One woman dumped me because she thought that I was gay. Her reasoning was that a man who lives alone, is a virgin (@ the time), has no alcohol and no pornography in his flat, must be gay.

.
That's homophobia as much as beating people up is. Not all victims of homophobic attacks are gay either. In some cases heterosexual guys (or girls) get beaten up (or raped) just because there attacker suspects that they're gay or because they're chilling with a buddy who happens to be gay.

attilasoul # 18. August 2008, 16:16

That woman you described has a very one-sided view on things, Qlue. That's too bad for her.
I remember some years ago, they almost had to change the Pride Parade's route, because it went through a district known as "Little Istanbul" here. A lot of the young 2. generation immigrants started to bully the parade, and a lot of Danes followed it.

Furie # 18. August 2008, 17:26

Little moronbul.

rose-marie # 28. August 2008, 16:03

62 hate crimes in one month?

attilasoul # 28. August 2008, 17:09

Yes, it's so sad.

flamingo-rinse # 28. August 2008, 21:48

Originally posted by cois:

Karma is a bitch

Even better, Karma is a Bitch dressed as a Dog

theoddbod # 30. August 2008, 12:15

Little Istanbul? Little Karachi is probably more accurate - I'm not aware of any great tendency amongst the Turks to emigrate. Although maybe they don't come to the UK.

rose-marie # 30. August 2008, 14:02

There are close to 2 million Turks in Germany.

attilasoul # 30. August 2008, 14:04

Perhaps are the ones who invented the name just not very good at geography?

theoddbod # 30. August 2008, 14:35

2 million? Wow

attilasoul # 30. August 2008, 14:36

I don't think it took 2 million people to invent a nick name, Mart.

rose-marie # 30. August 2008, 14:38

Mhm. Wiki says 2.7 million.

attilasoul # 30. August 2008, 14:39

Er, I don't live in Germany...