On Tue, 14 Sep 2004, BklynMagus wrote:
> Miles writes:
>
> > Let's keep things in historical perspective: as recently as 1970,
> homosexuality was officially diagnosed as a symptom of mental
> illness, and people in the U. S. were forced to undergo aversion
> therapy to "cure" them of their sexual disorder.
>
> Now it is called reparative therapy -- same idea, different package.
But the point you're ignoring is that these people are no longer
well-respected prominent clinicians in our society: they are
officially marginalized and denounced by the APA. This is a
big difference compared to (say) the 1960s, when the APA
actually considered aversion therapy ethical and appropriate
therapy for homosexuals.
>
> Then why all the fuss and opposition to gay marriage?
Again, you're not looking at it in historical perspective: the idea that people can have an openly gay relationship is a recent social accomplishment. Actually, the fact there is a debate today about gay marriage shows that things are changing for the better!
> > Every generation in the U. S. over the past century is
> more humane and more tolerant of sexual differences than the
> generation before, the bloviating of the religious right
> notwithstanding.
>
> Is that why we are now getting laws/amendments passed againsts
> queer because the country is becoming more tolerant?
The discrimination was so blatant and pervasive 50 years ago they didn't even need laws to maintain the heterosexism! If a vote about gay marriage had come up in the U. S. back then, it would have been 95-100% opposed. I agree the change is infuriatingly slow, but we're way better off today.
Miles