Saturday, May 19, 2012

Call to Action

As we approach the next presidential election, I think we can expect both the rhetoric and the physical demonstrations of homophobia to increase. Our first challenge is to be safe and to keep our friends safe.   Be vigilant and be smart.

In fiction, the underdog can get away with making a pithy remark when surrounded by bullies. In real-life? Not so much.

Does that mean I'm advocating that you walk away? Under those types of dangerous circumstances? You bet I am. There are already enough victims of hate crime, there is no sense offering yourself up as one more. There is NOTHING you can say in that moment that will change the minds of anybody there-so get someplace safe.

We are smarter than the narrow-minded bigots spewing their hate-filled messages. Smarter means we have an obligation to ourselves, to each other and to our cause.

None of us has anything to to be ashamed of regarding or sexual orientation, GLBTQS, it's all alphabet soup. We are human beings, and as such deserve a fundamental level of respect.  We are citizens of countries with supposedly enlightened governments. We have fundamental rights, and it is imperative that all citizens be guaranteed of their equality under the laws of their respective nations.

Call to Action

What can I do? What can any of us do?

1. VOTE - if you're not already registered, stop reading this blog and register right now...here's a link to get you started> Register to Vote NOW


2. Speak up - Ever find yourself in the middle of an uncomfortable conversation? You know, coffee break central and someone makes a racist, sexist, or homophobic remark? That's the place where your quiet words or pithy remark stand a chance at making a difference. Don't answer ignorance with your own hate-filled remarks or even worse...silence. Instead, speak up. Calmly, tell the offender and everyone else within ear shot why the comment is offensive, or if you prefer no confrontation simply stand...give a long look...then walk away.

Remember, over the next six-months, stay engaged, stay calm, stay safe, and stay the course.

All of you who respond with a positive action you're willing to take to promote the rights of the GLBTQ community will be entered into a drawing for a $25 Gift Card for All Romance eBooks.



15 comments:

  1. GOOD GOOD GOOD advice!!! Thank you.

    Tom

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  2. I will continue to write my M/M books to show that same-sex relationships are just as beautiful and worthy of notice as opposite sex relationships. And I don't keep my mouth shut on this subject, anyway, so I will continue to speak up and out against homophobia and bashing whenever I see it.

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  3. I vote in EVERY election, local and national, speak out when hate is spouted around me, offer support to the young folks close to me and will continue to write stories about gay men who are sympathetic, multifaceted men and not caricatures.

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  4. I never let a homophobic (or racist) remark pass. I don't preach, I just say, "I don't like that" or "I'd rather not hear that." The more gentle I am, the better it usually goes down. If someone tried to pick a fight or turn it into an argument, I just walk away. The important thing is not to be silent or "play along." Quite often people who make such remarks have *never been called on it.* Some have the potential for remarkable growth if put on notice that not everyone cares for homophobic remarks and jokes.

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  5. I always vote my conscience and my conscience tells me that I must vote for the person that upholds my personal values. I will continue to do this until the day I die. I write thought provoking books about same sex couples ad I will continue to write them, buy other authors male/male works and promote the genre

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  6. I've neve4r been one to keep silent. But I can get a point across sounding simply sweet and informative when they know that underneath I'm not being so nice as I seem. In the last 6 months I've fought schools and shelters, helped one of my gay fighter friends "come out" and other things. Have I done enough? Absolutely not. I'll continue to push my opinion, just as those who don't agree with me continue to push theirs.

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  7. I opened a dialog a long time ago with my preteen daughters about accepting people of different "types" - I told them "I don't care who you find to love, boy, girl, panda or puppy. Black, white or blue as long as it's true love and it makes you happy, I'm okay with that!". I can't tell you the number of times I said stuff like that to them and we talked about the essence of love and why it doesn't matter the color or the sex as long as it makes you happy.

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  8. Damn, LE, smart, savvy post. Yes, everyone needs to pick which battles they engage in. I love that you pointed that out to us. F-yes.

    I will continue to write my stories featuring all the flavors of love. I will continue to advocate for my brother, and correct those who insist on calling him by the wrong pronoun, and I will do my best to do so in a manner which will win hearts and minds. I will continue to donate 7% of my sales from my Soldiers of the 569th series to HRC. Plus I'll keep asking folks to call *me* on it if I make remarks that are unintentionally hurtful to them. I tend to come on strong about things... and I always call what I see as a spade a spade... but if I'm wrong, or the manner of my speech is inappropriate, I am teachable. :)Hey, if you need my email, it's cherienoel@yahoo.com

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  9. Lovely post! I will continue to remind my co-workers, family and friends that Love is Love and who are any of us to tell another how or what to feel. I will make sure that they are comfortable enough to call me on something if I slip. I am going to continue to educate myself as well as others on the importance of language when conversing with transgender individuals. We all need to just give that little extra effort in making sure we aren't being insensitive.

    sionedkla@gmail.com

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  10. I will continue to patiently educate my small-minded family members as to why their words and thoughts are inappropriate. I'm not a patient person so this will be a challenge. I usually walk away and label them as a lost cause. I think I should stick it out and show them the error or their ways. If I don't stand up against homophobia then I am just as guilty as the bigots.

    geishasmom73 AT yahoo DOT com

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  11. Excellent advice. No election forthcoming for me since I am in the UK, but I do make sure to vote when the time comes.

    I will also try to speak up more in the workplace when homophobic comments are made. I do occasionally speak up already, but have to admit that most of the time I just tune out rather than get into an argument.

    lmbrownauthor at gmail dot com

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  12. I'm proud to say I always vote and I always make sure my candidates are pro-woman and pro-alternate lifestyle

    AND

    I've pissed off family and friends by banning the word fag in my home and defending Adam Lambert's right to be as flamboyant as he wants!!!!!

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  13. It's time to vote for change.


    caity_mack at yahoo dot com

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  14. Those are great points, Laura :)

    I signed up as a member for the GLBTQ organization in Iceland on May 17th, to show my support. I'm also petitioning my home town to renew their contract with the organization, so that the GLBTQ people in my town have a place to go for counselling. Then, of course, I'm blogging in this hop :)

    Erica
    eripike at gmail dot com

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  15. I joined the human rights campaign and will also vote.

    peggy1984@live.com

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