A few thoughts...

A few thoughts I've had viewing all the NOM video spoofs.

LGBT issues are complicated and very hard to relate to other discrimination issues:

1. Race is obvious - you can't hide it and you are born that way. It is the example most used because is is the most recent. People remember how it was, remember the riots and fights, remember the wins and remember how the struggle continues. But most of all, most now know that it was wrong and that by not restricting thier rights, the world didn't end.

2. Religion - I have yet to hear this but no one is born jewish or catholic etc, you are RAISED the religion of your parents/people who raise you - their is no doubt about nature vs. nurture here. However history is rich with religious persecution and our country was founded or religious freedom.

To me, this would be the best argument for a hate crimes bill since they say we choose to be gay. If there are hate crimes for religion then there should be for gays as well.

Finally, all other minorities have their family and community for support. Gays don't or didn't until recently. What other minority is so completely rejected by it's family and friends? I think fewer murderers are rejected by their family then gay children.

One final thought. One of my friends was telling the story of his coming out. His mother didn't reject him, still loved him but had a very hard time accepting him. He told her that it was okay because it took him a long time to accept himself but he eventually did and that she had the same amount of time or she would loose him. She accepted him with time to spare. I think that's what will happen with gay rights, given more time we will be equal and accepted.

We lost an entire generation to AIDS the years they would have fought for gays rights and to build the gay community were spent fighting for their lives.