Re: "That's So Straight"

Bet the title put some people off :P

"Oh there he goes ranting again about how the world is so homophobic and evil"

Ko. It's just a subject which seems to crop up a lot.


Since my last post about people using "gay" as a common term for "bad" or whatever, i've taken a sort of backseat approach, if you will.
You might say this is a bit sad or pathetic but i've kind of been studying why or when people use the term.

On a hitch, id actually put it down to tiredness and laziness. People not able to find a better word in their vocabulary to use and so immediately pluck "gay" out of the air because its so easy to use.

But there's still the fine line between someone saying it out of habit/not meaning offence and genuine prejudice.
For example (and i wonder what you think of this) I was talking to a guy the other day about Gears of War - a game on the Xbox 360 - and we were discussing how amazing the 3rd installment should be and this guy said "I don't care if it's bad. I don't even care if the two lead characters are gay bumboys, it'll still be amazing"

...

I'm not going to say who it was i was talking with but to me, he's never seemed to hate gays or anything and he doesn't go around calling things "gay" on a regular basis. In truth i was a bit surprised to hear him say this, and while it did still irk me, as it would if anyone said it, i questioned why he said it.

As i said, he isnt one for using such terms often. But there are many questions.
Was it an attempt at being humorous? Was it coz he was bunged up with cold and couldnt think of anything better? Was it coz he genuinely hates gays? Was it perhaps a one off thing?


Who knows. But it annoyed me coz it was Bryan who said it. (ahah, got you there, said i wasnt going to say who it was :P)
I've talked about Bryan before, sets the gay-(well... more "bi-dar") off a little, plus i REALLY like him :)

It's always worse when it comes from someone you like.


Anyhoo, i'd like to think it was just a one-off thing but yeah...


One other thing i've been thinking a lot about recently:

You see, online... i have various people i can talk to when things are troubling me. Several people too, who i could probably tell anything. I have this blog when i want to type thoughts out, like right now.

But in my day-to-day life... No one.

There are some people i can talk to about trivial issues but nothing particularly deep and serious and i just wish i did have someone like that, in person.

Don't get me wrong, talking to people online about problems has been invaluable to me but im sure we can all agree it is the same as a face to face chat. There's nothing anyone can do about it i guess, just thought i'd type that out here.

The thought doesn't sadden me or anything, i just think about it sometimes...


In other news, things are really busy right now. Lots of tests and all the rest of it. My guitar and bass final performance exams are in 2 weeks! *eek*

So is Biffy Clyro :D (Bryan is coming with me, too ^^) That's next weekend. And this weekend im going to see a few local bands on Saturday and then Klaxons on Sunday. Not many people have probably heard them though.

But one thing that really is quite stressful is the media video we are currently making in groups. Bascially, its for a song (we chose Electric Feel by MGMT) and the rest of my group are dummies so ive been doing about 90% of the work and organising, and it's bloody tough. I don't envy directors at all, or even directors of music videos for that matter of fact.


That's about all ive got to say for now. I know ive said a lot but i havent posted in like 19 days... i think... thought id fill you in...


Rowan <3




(Topless guys feature in this video hehe)


P.S Another reason for this post was the poll results. 64% of people said the word "gay" offended them when used to describe someone/something. 1 person, 5%, said they were too used to it to care. 23% said they werent offended but didnt think the term should be used and 1 drongo said no it doesnt offend them and they use the term :P

Thought that would be interesting...

Wear Purple in Memory of US Gay Teen Suicides

I only found out last night at about 11pm that today, 20th, people around the world would wear purple in memory of the recent suicides by gay teens in the US.

As soon as i read it i frantically began searching my wardrobe but soon discovered i own no purple clothes :(

Wish they could have picked a different colour, literally any other colour off the flag would have been do-able but purple was picked because it represents "Spirit".

I made up for it best i could tho... I used a purple pen all day in school, when i wasn't wearing it, i clipped it onto my school blazer which is another thing i don't usually wear. It's kind of a marroon colour, not purple at all i guess, but the closest i had to purple so i wore it all day, when normally i wouldn't have.

Even if i did have anything purple i couldn't have worn it coz obviously, my school has a uniform but i would have changed into it of course, afterwards.

It's kinda useless for me now but those in the US, its still early-ish so if you can, try and wear something purple!

These deaths are needless, tragic, and painful to read about (cant think of what its like for those involved) so the best we can do for now is commemorate them in anyway we can.

That's for now of course, but obviously, things have got to change. I don't know how, but homophobia amongst young people is still rife and it's what is has killed these teens who are unsure of themselves, questioning, and hear everyday that what they have no choice in, is wrong when it most certainly isn't.

I hate to be pessimistic but i doubt this is the last death we will hear of. Things have changed, and will continue change, heck even starting today with the ban on Don't Ask, Don't Tell in the US military. It's progress. It doesn't affect teens as such but for the LGBT community as a whole, it's a victory. One of many.

I'm getting on my high horse now and feel like a preacher :P

But really, to return to the original topic, try and do something. If you're religious... light a candle at church. I don't know what time of they year priests wear purple garments but im thinking it would be quite funny if it were now. Join them, start wearing purple!


Rowan <3


Here's some gypsy punk music, it's been my song of the day :)

IDAHO

International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia.

(There's no "T" in IDAHO....)

:P

Anyhoo, yeh, i was looking through an app on my ipod called iFacts which just lists important events/births/deaths on each day and i found out today is not one, but two events significant in in the LGBT community.

Firstly, (and i've never heard of it until today) it is the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia. Which, i have a feeling is tied in with two important events that have taken place over the past eighteen years it will be now.
That is, in 1992 the World Health Organisation removed homosexuality from its list of mental illnesses. 18 years on from that, i struggle to see how it was even there in the first place.
I do happen to know that Britain and the USA removed it off their own lists back in the 60's i think but don't quote me.

Also, in 2004, Massachusetts becomes the first US states to legalise same sex marriage (Go Massachusetts!)
Just doing a bit of research to see how many states it is legal in now....

Jeez i thought there would be more than that - there are only 6 states it is legal in (Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont, New Hampshire, and only last month on March 1st was it made legal in Washington DC)
This map explains it better -

All shades of read is where it isn't permitted because of constitution or something like that.

Blue is permitted.

Grey is no prohibition or recognisition

And i'm not sure what multi-coloured ones are.

Maybe it means there's debate or something coz i know California used to allow same-sex marriage but then Arnie stepped in or something, not too sure.

But yes, i think IDAHO takes place on 17th May for those two reasons, probably for the WHO's removal of homosexuality from their list more than Massachusetts legalising same-sex marriage.

Being called IDAHO, i would have thought it might be legal in the state of the same name, unfortunately not it appears as according to the map.

I'm sure gradually, in time, more states will legalise it although it could be a long process and even though i don't live in the States i still find it quite an interesting topic. Only days such as this can help that process so here's to IDAHO!

Have a good day everyone.

Hugs,

Rowan

lol, there's no video in english but you still get the song :D

P.S I've came across a new blogger in the past day or so, or rather, he came across me and i then found his blog.
His name is Gabriel/Gabe/Gabey.... :D
He is 15 and lives in the States, so why not go check out his blog, i'm sure he'd love it.
Gabe's Journal - http://gabeys.blogspot.com/