Gay Activists, who are focused on making Americans accept their lifestyle --- just like the religious
we just don't want you marching up and down the streets, parading around in boas, assless chaps and/or leather thongs in front of our children, announcing that you have now found yourself ---- if they break the law they should be charged. if they're making you uncomfortable ... On Feb 20, 8:01 am, Keith In Tampa <[email protected]> wrote: > LilTommyTomTomForNews quoted Troy Roness: > > *"It's not internalized heterosexism when I say that my sexuality doesn't > define me any more than my eating disorder does. As a culture, we need to > move beyond limiting beliefs and one-dimensional labels that take away from > the amazing individuals we actually are." > * > *====* > > ** > Uhm......Tommy? Troy? Society has moved past "one dimensional labels, > and characterizing folks by whom they choose to hop in the sack with. > Come to think of it; society has never characterized folks with one > dimensional labels, only militant Gay Activists, who are focused on making > Americans accept their lifestyle, seem to be focused on such labels. > > The truth be known, we really don't care who it is that you choose to play > "Hide The Salami" with; we just don't want you marching up and down the > streets, parading around in boas, assless chaps and/or leather thongs in > front of our children, announcing that you have now found yourself, (or > found your genitalia). NO ONE CARES WHO YOU ARE BUMPIN' UGLIES WITH! Keep > it to yourselves, and quit sharing your sexual escapades with us! > > Sincerely, > > America > * > * > On Sun, Feb 19, 2012 at 2:22 PM, THE ANNOINTED ONE > <[email protected]>wrote: > > > > > > > > > Just another person with problems...why is this on a Political > > Forum??? > > > > Growing up in North Dakota in an environment abundant with oceans of > > > wheat, vast plains, rolling hills, and wonderful people, it's hard to > > > believe that such a tumultuous journey could lie ahead in a young > > > man's life. > > > To each outcast, in every sense possible, this piece is for you. > > > > In a quiet community of roughly 1,000 residents, I lived a fairly > > > "normal" existence. Worshiping in my hometown church, participating in > > > community events, and riding my bike everywhere until dusk was part of > > > everyday life. But dark clouds gathered in the distance of my sky, and > > > I had no idea a "perfect storm" would soon begin my Stepford-like > > > existence. > > > > For the first 16 years of my life, I was exposed to emotional trauma > > > at home and bullying and teasing in school, and I became very good at > > > trying to make everyone happy. I wore many hats when tackling my > > > ever-changing surroundings. My mother always instilled in me that > > > there was nothing I couldn't do. I was always encouraged. Sure, my > > > parents pushed for solid academics, but like all parents, they wanted > > > me to succeed. I embraced being respectful to everyone I was > > > surrounded by and used humor to attract attention in an attempt to > > > separate myself from my insecurities. > > > > I played every sport possible and was even named "Senior Athlete of > > > the Year." However, this "jock" was nervous, hated his looks, and was > > > forced into internal seclusion despite his outward demeanor. I never > > > realized I was struggling. Everything I was feeling, good, bad, or > > > otherwise, was simply pushed down and nearly unnoticeable. > > > > Fortunately, I was introduced to faith, true faith, during my teen > > > years and embraced all it had to offer. The Lord took my heart at the > > > age of 18 and never let it go. I'll never blame my faith for obstacles > > > I've endured. In fact, it's what keeps me going through the most > > > difficult of times. > > > > Staring at myself in a mirror, I internalized my shame, guilt, and > > > insecurities. I believed my appearance defined my existence. The > > > perfect grades, the perfect body, and appearing flawless would somehow > > > make me complete. I've learned, though, that we aren't mean to be > > > "perfect"; we're meant to be whole. > > > > College is everyone's opportunity to be free, thrive on their own, and > > > separate from their roots, right? Well, with no idea of where life > > > would take me, I spiraled into an addiction to exercise, paired with > > > anorexia -- aka "eating disorder not otherwise specified," or EDNOS. > > > > Yes. I'm a guy with an eating disorder, a jock, a Christian... and > > > gay. One of the major contributors to my illness was the internal > > > fight where faith was my guide and being gay was incredibly wrong. > > > However, I could never simply throw it away and believe that's why > > > I've struggled for so long. > > > > In an appearance on Dr. Phil in 2009, I sought help and endured six > > > months of residential treatment to begin my recovery. I addressed > > > emotional trauma, my parents' divorce, perfectionism, self-hate, > > > bullying, and family alcoholism. However, throughout that time, and > > > even the year after, I never addressed the internalized homophobia > > > that manifested out of my desire to please God. Contrary to popular > > > belief, eating disorders aren't about looking good. Through extreme > > > exercise and trying to control what I could, the physical, I nearly > > > killed myself, twice, by pushing my body to the brink, enduring > > > self-punishment and starvation. > > > > I've drawn my own conclusions about the responses I'll receive > > > concerning my sexuality: avoidance, hatred, acknowledgment, and pity. > > > Just FYI, I'll take any of those responses but pity. It's taken so > > > long to be where I am and to find my voice, so I'll never regret the > > > journey here. > > > > Telling a few loved ones that I'm gay has been interesting, but most > > > people who know me are learning this for the first time as they read > > > this piece. Aug. 31, 2010 was a first step. On that day I received the > > > craziest response: acceptance. That's the response I'd feared. Odd, > > > right? Even more terrifying, though, was that that person had > > > "wondered" about my sexuality for some time. > > > > Damn it. > > > > I thought, "Had all my personal hell and pain in silence been for > > > nothing?" I mean, my entire belief system wanted rejection and > > > ostracism; it's what I deserved for being "wrong." After all, I fought > > > for 22 years by myself and tried two years of traditional and > > > Christian counseling to change. If the Lord didn't love me, who would? > > > > You see, I knew I was "different" by age 5. In that small community, I > > > remember leaving the yard against my mother's instructions, stopping > > > next to a fire hydrant about a block from home, looking up at the sky, > > > talking to God, and asking Him for a boyfriend. I look back with two > > > contrasting views: first, what an incredibly pure and even "cute" > > > third-person memory of a boy praying to God innocently, but second, > > > this may have been the beginning of the shame I've always carried. > > > > On my knees I cried and prayed for God to take it away, to take me > > > away. I even prayed for a sign that would tell me that this was what > > > I'd have to carry by age 16. Needless to say, that age came and went. > > > > The movie Prayers for Bobby really hit home. Because of my incredible > > > faith and hope for acceptance, I imagined the mother and son as a > > > single unit, fighting for what was "right." Growing up with direct and > > > indirect messages that you're part of the moral decline of society is > > > rough. I'll never forget being told that God hates me or that I should > > > be isolated on an island. > > > > Self-hatred is nothing but a disease. Even if a small amount thrives > > > within, life doesn't have to throw much our way to bring down all the > > > good for which we've worked so hard. > > > > My biggest challenge now lies in societal assumptions. I'm not a label > > > or stereotype, and I refuse to be generalized. I'm still that > > > respectful young man from home, not because I'm gay, but because I'm > > > me. I don't emulate many of the caricatures of LGBT individuals in the > > > media. And, yes, I'm still Christian. It's not internalized > > > heterosexism when I say that my sexuality doesn't define me any more > > > than my eating disorder does. As a culture, we need to move beyond > > > limiting beliefs and one-dimensional labels that take away from the > > > amazing individuals we actually are. > > > > In my fight to end eating disorders, I've spoken to thousands through > > > advocacy with the National Eating Disorders Association, NORMAL in > > > Schools, Inc., the National Association of Males with Eating > > > Disorders, MentorConnect, PBS' This Emotional Life, and those working > > > legislatively to ensure a healthy environment for all. But before > > > today, I never mentioned my sexuality. I've always thought that > > > people, specifically men, have enough stigma when it comes to eating > > > disorders. From being told it's a "woman's-only issue" to being called > > > "weak," stigma prevents too many from seeking the help they deserve. > > > Why feed into the erroneous belief that everyone with an eating > > > disorder is gay? Not all people who have eating disorders are gay; > > > that fact should be pointed out. However, a large portion of the LGBT > > > community is plagued by this illness, stemming from non-acceptance, > > > self-hate, and feelings of unworthiness that must be addressed before > > > one more person is lost. I won't participate in the social structure > > > that denies anyone's opportunity to survive. > > > > To those individuals in my past who've thrown at me the words "p*ssy," > > > "f*ggot," or anything of the like, yes, I remember your names, faces, > > > and words, but I have to ask, "Are you happy now?" You may have been > > > correct in your assumptions concerning my sexuality, but you were very > > > wrong in estimating my resilience in recovery and my perseverance to > > > eventually stand on my own. > > > > I've had many mentors during the course of my life, and I pray that I > > > don't lose their respect. I'm the same individual I was 10 seconds > > > before they clicked this link. That said, if they turn away, it will > > > be my turn to take their place and become another's ally. > > > > I now embrace everything that's come to pass. I'm here for a reason. A > > > heart attack and organ failure resulting from an eating disorder, > > > partly fueled by internalized homophobia, nearly killed me, twice. > > > Being alive is > > ... > > read more » -- Thanks for being part of "PoliticalForum" at Google Groups. For options & help see http://groups.google.com/group/PoliticalForum * Visit our other community at http://www.PoliticalForum.com/ * It's active and moderated. Register and vote in our polls. * Read the latest breaking news, and more.
