I'm supposed to be sleeping right now, but instead I'm getting carried away with this -.-

[quote=@Rica]
There's an image going around from tumblr that basically explains it. It's from the point of view of a physically disabled person who had to deal with similar reactions over their disability.

[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/LV1Zxsx.jpg[/IMG][/quote]

I may be misinterpreting this, but I can't help but feel that I am being likened to the stereotypical 80's villains here. I'm sure it wasn't intended though. Now, bullying and teasing are condemnable. The kids in question involved in this scenario sound incredibly unreasonable, and I would hope are not seen as being representative of other able bodied individuals, nor are they representative I would think of the majority of heterosexuals. 

What I take issue with personally is the writer of this post using the words "moaning and whining" when it comes to straight pride. This kind of language only serves to discredit the feelings of those expressing such a need for pride. When you've likened those on the other side to douchenozzles and they come across as the students from the Cobra Kai dojo, it serves to demean their argument. I personally would think it unfair of me if I were to say that LGBT individuals were "moaning and whining" about straight pride, so I would discourage and avoid that kind of language.

I also notice the use of the word "selfish". It's an interesting word to use. To me, selfish implies an unwillingness to share. It could be said that being unwilling to share in the right for a pride day could itself be seen as selfish. Feeling that the attention should solely be on your own pride day, and not on another opposing pride day, could also be seen as selfish. Again, this kind of language should be avoided. It accomplishes little other than to emotionally discredit the opposing argument, and only establishes an us versus them mentality. This is a matter of trying to work together rather than to insult one another.   

Just so I can make my own understanding of the comparison clear, minus the persecution: the practical advantage that a handicapped person received, and the demand for such practical advantages from certain able bodied individuals, is the same as the LGBT community having a pride day and certain heterosexuals requesting one for themselves. I don't know if this is a fair comparison, as there really isn't much in the way of a practical advantage that one can attain from a pride day. It's not the equivalent of someone making my life easier, such as pushing me in a wheelchair. There is no celebration of diversity through doing that. Instead, celebrating heterosexuality is an emotional matter. 

[quote=@Rica]What people aren't understanding is that black people and gay people aren't getting preferred attention or bonuses. The 'bonuses' they're getting comes with a FUCK ton of baggage.

And on top of that this is two weeks after 49 queer men and women were killed. 

That is why people cringe at the concept. We have these things because we are literally being murdered for existing. Heterosexual people don't have to deal with that.
[/quote]

What happened in Orlando was a tragedy. My heart goes out to those who mourn their losses, and I know that as a heterosexual male, I can feel secure that I am not likely to face the same kind of threat specifically because of my gender.

However, and it pains me that I have to follow that previous paragraph with a however, I do not think that such suffering should invalidate the desire for a heterosexual pride day. If a group of heterosexuals wish to express pride in their sexuality, and congregate for celebration, then I do not see how such a gathering would prove to be threatening or demeaning to the LGBT community. I also don't see what kind of advantage that permits either.

Let met create an analogy. Gary and Barry have a wedding anniversary. For them, their wedding anniversary is incredibly important. Not only is it a celebration of the love they have for one another, but it is also representative of the struggles they've faced and overcome. Not only did they have to fight for their right to be married in the first place, but they also faced great opposition and social stigma because of their relationship. 

On the flipside to this, we have Ted and Sue. They have a wedding anniversary of their own. Yet, Gary and Barry cringe at the idea of Ted and Sue celebrating their wedding anniversary. They don't think think Ted and Sue have earned the right to a celebration of their wedding anniversary because they haven't struggled in the same way that Gary and Barry have. In this instance, Gary and Barry are likening their own values of their day to that of another couple. However, for Ted and Sue, their wedding anniversary has nothing to do with Gary and Barry. It has everything to do with a celebration of themselves and the love they share for one another. Ted and Sue attain no advantage as a result of their celebration, other than an emotional one of having a day dedicated to something that is important to them.

[quote=@Rica]We would love to not have to need or want parades and history months. But the Pulse incident proved we're a long way from not needing it.[/quote]

I feel like I keep on having to make this point of not intending offence, but I don't think the word 'we' is appropriate. You, as an individual, are not representative of the LGBT or black community in its entirety. I believe if there was no persecution, there would still be a significant number of people in both communities who would desire parades or history months. If, magically, no such persecution existed as of tomorrow, would the parades and the history months be scrapped, and those who desired them regardless of persecution be disappointed? 

Not to be flippant, but we do have shark week. It isn't a week dedicated to the suffering and slaughter of sharks, as far as I'm aware. It's just sharks. Yet the reason it exists is because there is a demand for it. Yet the demand for a shark week doesn't detract from a black history month. In the same way, is it possible that a white history month could avoid detracting from a black history month?