It seems to escaped the attention of many who are debating 'homophobia'
that there are 'out there' in cyberspace members of disability-research who
are not only disabled but also lesbian or gay. Perhaps there are even one
or two bisexuals.
Originally, the statement which started the debate, was perhaps wrong to
term it as being 'homophobic but rather heterosexist. Certainly some views
expressed in response to the homophobia debate have been heterosexist in
content.
As a gay disabled male I have no wish for my life to ruled by non-gay or
non-disabled people or tell me what I might or might not find offensive.
On a daily basis I am surrounded by heterosexuals because I am a minority
within a minority and accordingly, whilst happy marriages and children
discussions take place, isolates me. If we are to talk about true equality
perhaps I should be able to have my say also to talk about my gay lifestyle
but in reality, amongst the non-gays, who honestly will allow me to talk
freely without body language telling me there is discomfort?
Coming from a white, middle-class background I have had to acknowledge my
own internalised racialism in order not to be racialist. This was a
painful process but at least I acknowledged that I was originally racialist
in thought and in my actions from social conditioning. I would therefore
suggest it is necessary for non-gays to look in search of their own
internalised homophobia before being able to comment freely about what
lesbians and gay men find offensive and call homophobic.
Derick
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