Frustrated and Angry Small town discrimination. - Page 2

amber · #16 06-11-2005, 11:06 PM

I'm just watching the news, and some people came all the way from Kansas to protest in Tracy (CA), because people are graduating from a highschool that has a gay/straight alliance, and that group was giving out awards. The girl they talked to who was from there said: *shrug* "god hates you if you're a fag".

Holy christ. What kind of idiot...oh, nevermind. You know what I mean.

BombaySapphire3 · #17 06-11-2005, 11:13 PM

That would be the incredible Fred Phelps and his congregation,most of whom are his family members from Westboro Baptist church in Topeka Kansas.He also has picketed Matthew Shepard's funeral and the funerals of AIDS victims in Topeka and Kansas City.I happen to know that he is fairly well tolerated in Topeka and while the locals there superficially pretend to disapprove of them there is alot of underlying sympathy for their deranged activities.There will be a day of reckoning for these horrible people.I'm just ashamed to even be part of the same species.

Johnny Stew · #18 06-11-2005, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BombaySapphire3

That would be the incredible Fred Phelps and his congregation,most of whom are his family members from Westboro Baptist church in Topeka Kansas.He also has picketed Matthew Shepard's funeral and the funerals of AIDS victims in Topeka and Kansas City.I happen to know that he is fairly well tolerated in Topeka and while the locals there superficially pretend to disapprove of them there is alot of underlying sympathy for their deranged activities.There will be a day of reckoning for these horrible people.I'm just ashamed to even be part of the same species.

My friend, Wyatt, lives in Topeka, and he's already planning to picket Phelps' funeral.

He's going to carry a sign that reads, "Hot enough for you down there?"

Johnny Stew · #19 06-11-2005, 11:31 PM

Oh, and I want to add that Phelps and his cronies also picketed the funeral of Mr. Rogers.

Mister Rogers!!!

GateandGarden · #20 06-11-2005, 11:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny Stew

Oh, and I want to add that Phelps and his cronies also picketed the funeral of Mr. Rogers.

Mister Rogers!!!

I didn't know that. I didn't think he could get any worse.

catinthedark · #21 06-11-2005, 11:47 PM

Holy crap. I actually find myself stunned by that kind of behavior. I didn't even think it existed anymore. I work in the news media in Canada (read: just about as liberal as you can find!). Between my own work place's pledge as an equal opportunity employer (be it to people of colour, disability, sexual orientation, religion, etc) and my government on the verge of legalizing same sex marriage across the country (it is legal in many provinces already), it just shocks and angers me that peopel are still discriminated against like this.

Good luck. Courage.

dudden22 · #22 06-12-2005, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny Stew

My friend, Wyatt, lives in Topeka, and he's already planning to picket Phelps' funeral.

He's going to carry a sign that reads, "Hot enough for you down there?"

Where do I sign up? That man is pure evil. He came here to protest our University System. I wonder what they live on? That is all they do is travel and protest. The sickest part is that a lot of the picketers are his family Children, Grandchildren...

dudden22 · #23 06-12-2005, 12:24 PM

I just wanted to thank everyone for letting me vent. I was just livid and frustrated yesterday.

jwd · #24 06-12-2005, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dudden22

I need to vent.

A year ago I was forced out of my job when my employers found out I was gay. They told me if I chose to stay and work for them that they would inform all other employees that I was a health and safety risk for bringing aids into the office (they were church elders). I am HIV negative.

I tried to file a complaint with the Department of Labor, but that went nowhere because there are not discrimination laws protecting gays and lesbians in this state. Pride wanted me to go public at the time. A lesbian couple that had just gone public had their house burned down, so out of fear for my family members I didn’t.

I have just started a new job with a clothing store for the summer until school starts again. My former employer came in on Friday and I overheard him telling my new boss that I am gay and “to watch out because he tried to file a complaint on us”. I am assuming that they must know each other. My new boss did not say anything so far, but it happened towards the end of my shift on Friday. I guess I will find out on Monday.

I do not whether I should talk to him about it or not. If this becomes a problem again I may very well go crazy. I have never felt so powerless and frustrated in my life.

I need to finish school and move back to L.A.

First of all, I'd like to say how sorry I am that you lost your job under those circumstances. I know I wouldn't want to work for people with attitudes like that. Obviously, they are IGNORANT. GAY does not equal HIV, HIV does not equal AIDS. Anyone can have the disease! I'd have to gather up some literature on the subject and try to educate them. Depending on how important the job was to me, I might try to stick it out for awhile, "hoping" they would go ahead with their threats. I would think that one would have a good shot at a libel/defamation of character suit against their employer in a case like what happened on your first job.

This is just me, and everyone has their own way of handling things. BUT, if it was my home, and my job, and that's where I wanted to be, I'D FIGHT! F*** the running ****! There's a time when one has to stand up for what is right!

Good luck my friend.

HomerMcvie · #25 06-12-2005, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwd

This is just me, and everyone has their own way of handling things. BUT, if it was my home, and my job, and that's where I wanted to be, I'D FIGHT! F*** the running ****! There's a time when one has to stand up for what is right!

And what, get your house burned down(or possibly worse)? IMO, you can't win in a place like that. Get the hell out of that pudunk, small minded ****hole(and I grew up in a pudunk, small minded ****hole!). There are plenty of great places to live where'll you'll be welcomed for just being you. Good luck.

GateandGarden · #26 06-12-2005, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dudden22

I just wanted to thank everyone for letting me vent. I was just livid and frustrated yesterday.

No problem at all!

GateandGarden · #27 06-12-2005, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HomerMcvie

And what, get your house burned down? IMO, you can't win in a place like that. Get the hell out of that pudunk, small minded ****hole(and I grew up in a pudunk, small minded ****hole!). There are plenty of great places to live where'll you'll be welcomed for just being you. Good luck.

That's pretty much how I feel, too. I'd rather focus my energy on getting everything done that I need to get done here so I can leave at some point. I can't change people's minds here. They're not ready to be open-minded. It won't happen in my lifetime.

WelshWitchPMD · #28 06-12-2005, 12:59 PM

I am sorry that this happened to you. Some kind of 'Christians" huh?

Hopefully it is meant to be and you will have much success at your new job!

jwd · #29 06-12-2005, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GateAndGarden

I can't change people's minds here. They're not ready to be open-minded. It won't happen in my lifetime.

Hillary, it's a good thing that people like Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks never felt like that.

Rosa Parks:

http://www.alabamamoments.state.al.us/sec55det.html

GateandGarden · #30 06-12-2005, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwd

Hillary, it's a good thing that people like Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks never felt like that.

Rosa Parks:

http://www.alabamamoments.state.al.us/sec55det.html

I understand your point but I think most would agree that they have to take care of themselves. I'm not into the idea of living in fear.

EDIT: Oh wait. I already do. I actually forgot for a tenth of a second.