I've been thinking lately about my status as a straight ally, as I've gotten more interested in feminism and LGBT issues, and as my fiancee has embarked on her Women's Studies major. From not-so-close acquaintances, I've occasionally heard the question "You're a straight guy! Why are you so interested in gay rights and stuff?" I think I finally have an answer. I regard my heterosexuality with a different perspective than the majority of straight people do. I'm heterosexual because I happen to identify as male and because I happen to be attracted primarily to women. The operative word there is "happen". A lot of straight people, particularly intolerant ones, make an effort to lump LGBT&c.&c. into a group and set it apart from "straightness". I've always viewed it as a big continuum in which there happens to be one set of characteristics that is overwhelmingly more common. Straightness as an alternative sexuality? So, any thoughts? Am I onto something here? Should this have been incredibly obvious to me already and I just missed it? Any other allies out there wondering how they fit into things?
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I'm a student of plasma physics, which means I study something that's always hot and excited. *grins*
Seeing as I used to think of myself as an ally ... before I really seriously thought about being transgender I understand what you're saying... I view all sexualities as the same thing one happens to be a majority but that doesn't make any of the others any less valid in my opinion so basicly yeah what you said. the homophobic try to distance themselves from the other sexualities and thats created this cultural barrier that really shouldn't exist. it makes for alot of prejudice. people assume that because someone is gay/lesbian/bi/trans/whatever that other things can be assumed. of course look up prejudice in the dictionary and thats more or less the definition my point is... I dunno I agree I guess... hmmm I don't think that needed to be so many words... anyway yeah when I was only an ally I got the same question asked why are you so interested? I never had a good answer
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Anger, Jealousy, Loneliness, these are the emotions that consume ones heart and destroy ones soul, my heart cannot soar for it is eternally wingless...
I'd say that it's the right answer, and I would like to call it fact, not opinion. I like to view sexuality as a continuum as you said, and we earn a certain label based on an arbitrary point on that continuum. Although calling it arbitrary would destroy most peoples' views of sex and sexuality. Straightness certainly doesn't belong on an alternate continuum, but most people like to pull it apart from the others. Of course this gives rise to the idea that it is a conflict, two different entities set against each other. Thus giving the intolerant people a reason to fear anyone who is tolerant in the least, viewing them as defectors and traitors.
Personally, I don't believe that everyone in the world will ever be tolerant, and I'm not trying to be a pessimist. I believe that the best outcome will be when the people who are afraid of being labelled as traitors will stop believing that the line exists, and stop caring about the opinions of those who believe in the line.
I know I didn't state anything differing from what you said, but you asked for thoughts... so... you did ask for it.
