[GateandGarden]

Originally Posted by SteveMacD

If I thought there could be a normal conversation with conservatives, I wouldn't have an issue here, personally. But, there are two overriding factors for me in which I see a dangerous slippery-slope. First, there are a lot of folks from the GLBT community here. In some cases, this is the one place where they interact with others without feeling threatend. If we're being honest, there are a greater percentage of Ledgies who identify as GLBT than in the general population, so I think we need to have greater sensitivity to what is discussed here. Second, in a lot of (though not all) "conservative discussions," people start rehashing Limbaugh, Hannity, Coulter, etc, after they start feeling comfortable. A lot of times (again, not always) can lead to gay bashing. So, I'm betting Chris is trying to play it safe.

I am very, very sensitive to this issue of gay bashing and how easily it can start up on this board. I am all for not allowing comments that defame sexual orientation, as stated in the FAQ (even I'm referring to them! ). BUT--I don't think we're even close to being there. And I know that we have people with conservative leanings on this board who are capable of being respectful of the members of the GLBT community. I know that those conservative leaders are complete homophobes but we don't have to talk about that unfortunate aspect of their personalities. Also, if someone wants to talk about Coulter, for example, and I just think she's a beeyotch and I don't want to discuss her (which would be true) then I don't have to participate in the thread.