Are the struggles of Homosexuals equal to that of Black People?

[bjb]

About to write a paper on this - curious what GAF thinks.

Do you think Gays have equally struggled as much as African Americans (past and present)?

 

[scar tissue]

No.
Gay people were not enslaved.

Edit: In present day, I'd say their struggles are similar.

 

[RatskyWatsky]

In America, or just in general?

 

[Devolution]

Black gay women have had it the worst. There you go.

No.
Gay people were not enslaved.

No, just killed or rounded up into camps.

 

[G-Fex]

Who comes up with such a comparison?

 

[Xeke]

Were gay people enslaved?

 

[benzy]

 

[zero_suit]

Not even close.

 

[Ken Masters]

No.
Gay people were not enslaved.

Edit: In present day, I'd say their struggles are similar.

no, but in many places in this world if they are outed as being gay they were killed, and in parts of the world today that's still the case

 

[Gaborn]

I think that it is too inflammatory to compare one group's suffering in terms of value. it is enough to know that both blacks and gays have faced hatred, inequality, and prejudice and that this is unacceptable in society. I don't think you can assign a "value" to suffering though because that gets into infighting between groups which is unnecessary.

edit: So just to clarify, the STRUGGLES are equal because the cause - equal treatment under the law - is the cause of human rights, individuals and different groups have had further to go in different ways but the basic struggle is universal.

 

[kylej]

Depends how deep you want to get into it. Gay people arguably face more open discrimination today, while blacks continue to face the death grip of poverty and class warfare that runs like an undercurrent through American cities.

 

[ohhthegore]

Maybe!

 

[ronito]

You can't be a closet black. But it's just too inflamatory to really discuss rationally. Just take it as it is, they're their own thing.

 

[Devolution]

You gonna title your paper Oppression Olympics by the way?

 

[Blair]

Man you let this topic erupt in a seemingly unrelated thread, you don't just straight up ask it. Learn how to GAF.

 

[badcrumble]

Of course they're not "equal" struggles, but there's no reason to make the comparison in the first place. One might posit that they're both components of a larger overall struggle for basic human dignity, even.

 

[speculawyer]

This is not a contest.

 

[scar tissue]

no, but in many places in this world if they are outed as being gay they were killed, and in parts of the world today that's still the case

I was thinking America only.
Also, it's kinda hide to hard the fact that you are black.
Gay people likely had an easier time escaping the country.

Edit: Just saw an interview with a gay person who escaped some islamic country on TV. Horrible stuff, most definitely.
But all in all, I'd still say black people had it worse.

 

[hey_it's_that_dog]

Who comes up with such a comparison?

Any person thinking about how to present the civil rights struggle of gays persuasively on the national stage.

It's not perfectly analogous because you can more easily hide being gay, you can even chose not to act on homosexual urges. Neither of these are reasonable demands to make of gay people, mind you, but it's a difference between sexual orientation and race. For people who still believe homosexuality is a choice, comparing gay rights to civil rights for Blacks won't be very persuasive.

 

[Steelrain]

No. Not at all.

They struggle, we struggle.

It's in no way equal though.

 

[Deified Data]

Who comes up with such a comparison?

"I need to know who to sympathize with more!"

Silly thread. Will not last long. I don't identify with individual struggles. An end to all bigotry, for whatever reason, is fine by me. If a bit unrealistic.

 

[Count Dookkake]

What does the winner get?

 

[Epcott]

A gay person can more than likely pass as straight, and remain inconspicuous amongst the masses if they try.

A black person is still a black person regardless what they wear, how they act, or what they achieve.

So probably not.


(this OP question is a trap)

 

[crazy monkey]

Not even close. Suffering of the black was so so much greater and even today we still see discrimination in many places.

 

[Alucrid]

What does the winner get?

Persecution.

 

[Hylian7]

I would probably say no at first glance.

Struggles of black people:

- no right to vote for a long period of time
- enslaved for a long period of time
- not given equal rights for almost ANYTHING for a long period of time
- looked down upon by most of society for a long period of time (similarly to how homosexuals are today)

Struggles of homosexuals:

- no right to marry
- sometimes denied some other rights
- looked down upon by a large portion of society

 

[Ninja Scooter]

No 2 struggles are equal. I don't see the point of making it a "who got fucked worse" competition. But there are similarities to the civil rights struggles of both groups.

 

[Crumpet Trumpet]

Your professor is stupid for assigning this topic

 

[Ultimadrago]

Man you let this topic erupt in a seemingly unrelated thread, you don't just straight up ask it. Learn how to GAF.

This.

Man...I have a feeling this is gonna turn out ugly anyways.

 

[hey_it's_that_dog]

Of course they're not "equal" struggles, but there's no reason to make the comparison in the first place. One might posit that they're both components of a larger overall struggle for basic human dignity, even.

I think the comparison is worthwhile though not in terms of "who has it rougher? The phrasing/framing, as you point out, is wrongheaded.

 

[Funky Papa]

Photos of physical punishment are not a good way to make an argument considering all things

But yes, I do think that blacks had it worse on account of not being able to hide in plain sight. Not that it matters a lot.

These days I would say that their struggles are somewhat comparable, if such thing is even possible.

Edit: I fully agree with Ninja Scooter.

 

[Tideas]

are gay people being hung in the US for looking at a straight white male? and have it be okay?

 

[Devolution]

I would probably say no at first glance.

Struggles of black people:

- no right to vote for a long period of time
- enslaved for a long period of time
- not given equal rights for almost ANYTHING for a long period of time
- looked down upon by most of society for a long period of time (similarly to how homosexuals are today)

Struggles of homosexuals:

- no right to marry
- sometimes denied some other rights
- looked down upon by a large portion of society

How many people are going to ignore the fact that homosexuals have been killed for their sexuality?

are gay people being hung in the US for looking at a straight white male? and have it be okay?

Matthew Shepard.

Fuck this thread.

 

[Epcott]

Double post? How did that happen?

Hey, I hear animals are another form of slavery! PETA says it's true, I should change my avitar... looks very Uncle Tomish

 

[JCX]

You can't be a closet black. But it's just too inflamatory to really discuss rationally. Just take it as it is, they're their own thing.

Todd Glass made a good point about that in his most recent WTF episode where he came out publicly. You're family won't disown you for being black, you still have a community, etc.

That said, I don't think there is much worth is declaring one worse than the other. It distracts from the real discussions and actions that should be happening.

 

[Clevinger]

nm

 

[Kusagari]

No, but that's getting into an I suffered more war. Did the blacks suffer more? Yeah, sure. But blacks during the civil rights movement are still the most obvious and sensible parable to the modern gay rights movement.

 

[Count Dookkake]

You can't be a closet black. But it's just too inflamatory to really discuss rationally. Just take it as it is, they're their own thing.

Yes, some people can be closet black.

It's called "passing."

Also, not all gay people can hide in the closet.

 

[Salvor.Hardin]

If we're talking about sheer numbers, Blacks have had it way worse. But there are cultures and have been cultures that have treated gay people with more scorn. Because however gay people are able to keep it in the closet, they have for the most part managed to escape such persecution.

 

[Alfarif]

There is no need to compare one to the other. The fact that basic human rights are withheld because of religion, skin color, or both, is ridiculous.

 

[SpectreFire]

That's a hell of a stupid paper you have to write.

 

[hey_it's_that_dog]

Your professor is stupid for assigning this topic

Are you one of those kids who thinks he's smarter than all his teachers and never actually learns anything as a result?

 

[Alucrid]

Oh man, what if you're black AND gay.

 

[Crumpet Trumpet]

Are you one of those kids who thinks he's smarter than all his teachers and never actually learns anything as a result?

No

 

[Tideas]

How many people are going to ignore the fact that homosexuals have been killed for their sexuality?




Matthew Shepard.

Fuck this thread.

you wanna make one case against the thousands of blacks?

 

[scar tissue]

Also, not all gay people can hide in the closet.

How so?
Unless you get a boner in community shower or something.

 

[filler]

No, but it doesn't matter.

 

[SUPREME1]

This thread was a trap from the get go.

 

[Alucrid]

I can't believe you all are actually doing this. :|

 

[Count Dookkake]

How so?
Unless you get a boner in community shower or something.

Some people scream gay no matter what they do.