Newton’s Law of Motion states that every action has an equal but opposite reaction.
Usually, this applies to physics, ironically, it also can apply to gays and lesbians.
The other day I came across a video on Youtube of a soldier coming out to his father. It had over 5 million hits. And yet, the response by his father seemed so flawless, nonchalant, and incomplete. I was expecting something more explosive, at least a “what?” or an “um, I need a minute” – but nothing of the sort. The father just said that he supported his son and loves him and moved on as if his son just told him he got an A on his math test. And of course of all places, this was in Alabama, probably the most homophobic state in the country!
See the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVAgz6iyK6A
So I couldn’t help but feel cheated, upset, and a bit jealous. How could he have it so easy? How could the dad from homophobia central be so accepting, and how come my experiences have been anything but?
In my experiences Newton’s law applies: whenever straight folks around me are faced with a positive gay issue, whether large or small, a negative reaction always results.
For example, the “it gets better” campaign that maybe lasted a week on tv, encouraging gay men and women to stay strong through being bullied caused strong ripples in the people in my life. At work and school, there was talk of the media “advertising homosexuality” or “pushing gays on my kids.” At home, my parents squirmed in their chairs and changed the channel, cursing the media for supporting gay rights.
Last week a flyer came home promoting a new Iranian comedic play, starring the only openly gay Persian ‘celebrity’ Mohammad Khordadian. Now, if Kim Kardashian had a male twin, this guy would be it. A talentless flamboyant hack who makes a living dancing women’s middle eastern dances and now teaches them to dumb Persian girl who can’t learn on their own and old grandmas who have nothing better to do.
View one of his dances here: (warning, may burn eyes)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cGXQ6q8DPE
Upon seeing the flyer, my Mother immediately tore it to shreds, cursing under her breath at him. Not because he’s a talentless Kardashian wannabe, rather because he’s gay. On Christmas eve, the topic of the play came up within the extended family again and they all agreed that they wouldn’t attend and continued to torment the man for being a “sissy homosexual,” with my uncle stating “if I wanted to see a woman on stage I’d pay to see a real one not one with a penis.”
Then just yesterday Yahoo! posted a picture of a ref and a player kissing (as a joke) in a basketball game. The picture, from a few years back, had now made the “news” because Shaq had offered a thousand dollars to anyone who tattooed the picture on their body. The page within the first hours was flooded with homophobic sentiments, from “they need Jesus” comments to flat out cussing at homosexuals. The funny thing is that neither of the guys in the picture are gay!
View the article:
So good for you, American soldier, for living in a fairly homophobic free surrounding and being blessed with understanding and accepting people in your life.
As for the people in my area, they apparently rather see a gay man shot in a news cast rather see gay rights passed in the senate.
thepersiancloset 
Sounds like my family growing up. Great Blog!
So you know my pain haha
Thanks for stopping by, appreciate your compliment.