GLBT and WTC

[Nickademus]

i want your opinions about this folks as its for a class journal. please be honest.

One area of discussion was how the attacks of September 11th, 2001 are going to affect GLBT rights. I was particularly interested in the statement regarding one of the flight attendants. I had not heard that one of the flight attendants on the plane that crashed in Pennsylvania had made an attempt to combat the terrorists and I especially was not aware of the fact that he was gay. The idea was raised that, in this time of greif, it is necessary for people to find heroes anywhere they can. I agree that this is necessary for Americans at the moment. I think it may be particularly powerful for the gay community to embrace this particular hero. Heroes in these 'time of terror' are symbols of strength, courage, love and humanity. If the gay community can embrace such a hero they can show how members of the gay community are just as human as heterosexuals. If the heterocentric world can embrace a gay hero that is a step forward for the fight for GLBT rights. This is a time when all humanity (except of course the Muslims and the non-Muslims) will come together. The GLBT community can take advantage of this tragedy. (I hope this statement doesn't appear to be calous or cold-hearted.)

However, I wonder why it is even brought up that he was gay? Does the fact that he is gay make him more or less of a hero? Why can't he just be remembered as a flight attendent who stood up and tried to save the lives of the passangers. Is it so hard to believe that a homosexual man might do such a thing? If it isn't a strange thing than why does his sexual orienatation have to be mentioned? If it is seen as a strange thing than we have a problem in society. Why is it so hard to beleive that homosexuals are also humanists and will even risk their lives for their fellow human, even if that human is a homophobic?

Ultimately what I am trying to explain is that, as was shown in the language exercise, there are always two ways of looking at things. The attacks on the World Trade Centre, in regards to the GLBT community should bring about a mixed response. Naturally I would expect everyone to mourn for the loss of life in general but there are also other aspects to this story, as I have mentioned above.


Please ignore the spelling and grammer errors. its only a basic draft. i really want your opinions on what i have to say. thanx

[Jurhael]

I have a Gay rights journal known as Genocide Heart (http://jowysiren.sexsexworld.com/blogger.htm) and I was wondering the same things about how this would affect gay rights. I need to update it, but my latest update included articles about the WTC. And to be honest, my first thought at the gay hero and the gay co-pilot was..."WHO CARES?"

Well...most of my opinions of this are on the blogger, so check there. :b

"The GLBT community can take advantage of this tragedy. (I hope this statement doesn't appear to be calous or cold-hearted.) "

It's not. In fact, every other group is doing it. Why can't the GBLT community?

[RedCeltic]

It would be interesting to hear what the persective of the GLBT community is on this. Being a heterosexual I can't give that persective. However, I have met a number of gay men and women as many are atracted to my religion. When talking about the news,or famous people they always make mention, "by the way.. s/he's gay".

So what is the point? Why do they have to mention it? Because they have been forced to keep their sexual preffrences behind closed doors for so long. It may seem wrong that they need to mention that an individual is gay, but the more sports figures, journalists, mayters, etc that come out and say, " I'm gay by the way" the more people will realize that hey... they are out there, they aren't going away... and are normal human beings working and operating in our society.

[Chancho]

I think it's inappropriate for ANY group to use this tragedy to further their own political agenda. There are many avenues through which homophobia can be dispelled and people enlightened. But I think to use this particular incident for such ends would be grossly inappropriate and self-indulgent.

This is a crime against humanity - the term humanity is inclusive of everyone. To narrow the focus of what has happened to any one kind of human would be to follow the example of every group that wishes to make this about their cause - including neo-Nazis, nationalists, xenophobes and bigots.

[RedCeltic]

I don't see anyone using this as a cause for GLBT rights... but simply mentioning in the news that they guy was gay can't be bad. I doubt mentioning he was gay will make much diffrence if he was gay anyway. But I don't see it as taking him down from 'hero' status... Alexander had a gay lover, but is remembered for as a miltery genious regardless. I doubt this man will have claimed much fame wether his sexual orientation was mentioned or not.

[Nickademus]

Quote: from RedCeltic on 5:04 pm on Oct. 3, 2001
I don't see anyone using this as a cause for GLBT rights... but simply mentioning in the news that they guy was gay can't be bad. I doubt mentioning he was gay will make much diffrence if he was gay anyway. But I don't see it as taking him down from 'hero' status... Alexander had a gay lover, but is remembered for as a miltery genious regardless. I doubt this man will have claimed much fame wether his sexual orientation was mentioned or not.

i was thinking more along the lines that it was mentioned being a good thing because it really shows that the fact he was homosexual was really and truely irrelevant to his being a hero

[Moskitto]

Alexander had a gay lover, but is remembered for as a miltery genious regardless. I doubt this man will have claimed much fame wether his sexual orientation was mentioned or not.

This was actually brought up on annother forum. One person said he didn't because he had a son. But there's a scenario on Call to Power which says in the introduction "what if he had a son" so I doubt whether he did.

anyway it's irrelevant.