Do you consider yourself to be fairly open minded?

[Tak]

It doesn't bother me and I have been to a same-sex wedding about 5 years ago.

[semi-pro waster]

It doesn't really bother me either way although I'd admit a gay wedding might still be enough for a comment from me, mainly because I've not been to one (yet) and therefore like most first experiences it would probably merit some sort of discussion.

I'm not entirely sure why some people (guys usually) get upset if they are have someone of the same sex fancy them, it doesn't reflect on their mascul/feminity, if anything it should be a compliment - hey, if nothing else at least you've got options.

[Pheebs]

Originally Posted by Knipples

The only problem I have is with other people really, most people (especially men) when you hear someone is a lesbian its like "cooooooool" (in a rude way ) but when its two men theres quite a bit of this whole "Yuck" thing, and that its disgusting. Even the same person saying lesbians are fine by him is then saying that two men together is wrong. To me it doesnt make any difference.

Just me two penceworth....

I'm with you here lil lady too! I just don't get it!

I used to hang out with a bunch of gay blokes at uni - I absolutely adored them. So hilarious. There was a couple amidst this group too who would snog all the time and be lovey dovey and it was just completely normal... but out and about... the amount of times they were sneered at for just holding hands/arms around each other/giving each other a peck on the lips (they'd never full on snog in public)... it just made my blood boil. Oh yeh and one time, two girls I kind of knew snogged eachothers faces off in front of us and a load of blokes and they were all cooed and *phwoared* at by the random bunch. They jokingly said to my gay guy friends "now if that doesn't turn you straight then nothing will" and my gay friends laughed and said "not my kind of thing hunny, I like a good bit of meat" and slapped a friends bum. Instantly the other guys turned nasty and started shouting "GAYERS" and things I'm just not going to repeat. I was *flabbergasted*. They were trying to start a fight and everything. I didn't realise how rude and ignorant people can be. I didn't stay on at uni but I found out that a few months after I left one of them got beaten up quite badly for being a "gay boy" by some townies. I was so upset at this. He is *such* a lovely guy. Probably one of the nicest caring guys I have ever met. Really completely and entirely undeserved.

Grrr.

[Will]

I think the reason why it's still "phwoar'ed" at (for 2 girls) and "eeewwww'ed" at (for 2 guys) is because it's still not accepted. For the majority of people it is weird. Remember from our history we have all come from at some point a strong religious background whether we like it or not. I don't have beliefs anywhere near as strong as Garp's but I completely understand and sympathise with his thoughts. Hypocritically, in spite of my concurrence I don't mind the co-habiting thing, but that's the duality or duplicity of my beliefs.

It's still tabboo just like anal sex is still considered a little "risque". Unfortunately we've become more prudish than we were half a century ago during the sexual revolution. This is not necessarily a bad thing as losing sight of ourselves is not good either. However we have become more intollerant as a nation. Whether or not it's just the UK or globally I don't know. In some parts of the world as we know homosexuality is illegal which is a shame, but then again their laws and beliefs are very much driven by religion - and whilst oppression is wrong, some control is required in this world to prevent anarchy. I'm not defending it either way.

I think we all have gay/lesbian friends here, well most of us do anyway, I have to say that I've always got on really well with my gay friends (which I used to be worried about - silly I know) but maybe that's why I had more female friends at uni... dunno. Anyway my point is, they are just people like you and me, and they just happen to be attracted by people who happen to be of the same sex. It's not a big deal really. You don't have to think too graphically about it as that's what some people I think get fixated about.

I can understand why blokes would find 2 girls all over each other exciting, but I have a question... do girls find 2 guys all over each other exciting? Do you understand why guys like seeing 2 girls all over each other?

[Stan_Lite]

Originally Posted by Pebs

This kind of thing annoys me in a way. It just doesnt register on my radar...I don't think of straight people in terms of their sexuality and likewise with anyone else. It's no different to me than a bloke who likes women with a big bum, or a women who likes skinny men.

I cant really put how I feel across...grrr!

Originally Posted by Haly

I know what you mean I think The ideal situation is when no one even notices it's two women getting married, or two men. It's simply 2 people getting married.

Jen's right. Ideally, homosexual relationships including gay weddings wouldn't merit special consideration. Perhaps sometime in the future when these weddings are commonplace, less of an issue will be made of them but for the moment, they are still relatively uncommon and there are a variety of different attitudes to homosexuality and, as such, will draw comments from many angles.

Originally Posted by Garp

Hmm.. hopefully this'll come across without being offensive., apologies if I do offend anyone, it's certainly not intentional. I'm just trying to be as honest as I can.

I consider myself to be fairly open minded and liberal in my attitudes, I do not support homosexual relationships in any way. It is my quite firm belief that it is contrary to my faith and against God's design of Man & Woman. To quote a common cliche amongst church circles, "It's Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve". However I don't let that impact my approach to or friendships with homosexuals. Shunning people due to differing opinions on life is the height of idiocy, and intolerence causes more wars and violence than almost anything else. I find the "anti-gay" protests to be extremely stupid that others of my faith seem to feel are worthwhile. When has persecution ever successfully had a positive impact on changing people's attitudes to your favour? Shoving a placard saying "You're going to burn in hell!" into their faces is hardly going to cause a mass conversion. One thing that irks me in a number of supposedly "liberal" men is the sheer arrogance that some display by being possessed of the idea that because someone is gay they're going to develop a crush on them. I mean, seriously, get over yourself!.
There are a number of things I don't approve of that the general population see as perfectly acceptable, some of which BD peeps do too, for example I'm firmly against co-habitation, which I consider to be against God's will. "Living in sin" as it's long been referred too. Hopefully I've never treated those of you who have chosen to do so any diferrently to those who are married. My fond hope is to be living to the philosophy of "Love the sinner, not the sin", and I do love everyone I've met on here. I try to be as open minded as possible and try to ensure that my personal biases do not impact on the support and friendship I offer, though of course it will always impact on any advise I offer when anyone asks me for some.

I hope that hasn't come across arrogantly, or seems "Holier than thou" Lord knows I'm far, far off the mark in my life, and I've made some monumental screw ups in the past some of which have affected BD peeps, they'll know who they are, for which I'll probably regret for a long time to come.

Not offensive in the slightest mate

Your faith is well known to us regulars and it's no secret what the christian view of homosexuality is. It's actually quite refreshing to hear a committed christian like yourself with such a tolerant attitude to the subject. One hears plenty of "fire and brimstone" type speeches, which always make me sad. If only more people had your tolerant and forgiving attitude, people might get on a bit better.

Having never been to one of these ceremonies, it's hard to say exactly how I feel on the subject but I've always been fairly liberal and would like to think I'd enjoy it as much as a straight wedding.
Shetland, where I was born and brought up, is rife with homophobia so there are very few openly gay couples on the islands - the only two couples I knew personally were lesbian couples. This seems to be more easily tolerated - presumably for reasons already alluded to in this thread.

[Snuggle Ferret]

Originally Posted by Takhisis

It doesn't bother me and I have been to a same-sex wedding about 5 years ago.

What Tak said and I was there as well; t'was a blast :-)

[Chuckles]

Originally Posted by Garp

To quote a common cliche amongst church circles, "It's Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve".

Do you believe it that according to the Genesis that non-sexual friendship between a man and a woman is acceptable? After all, it doesn't explicitely mention it in the same way that it doesn't mention homosexual relationships. Why automatically assume it is a sin?

[Garp]

Originally Posted by starscream

Do you believe it that according to the Genesis that non-sexual friendship between a man and a woman is acceptable? After all, it doesn't explicitely mention it in the same way that it doesn't mention homosexual relationships. Why automatically assume it is a sin?

The old testament does explicitly mention about it being a sin for (if I remember the wording correctly) a "man to lie with man as he does with woman" or wordage along those lines. IIRC it makes no reference to it being wrong for a man and a woman to have a non-sexual friendship. If it does I've failed to notice when I've read through it, and missed any teaching relating to it.

[Chuckles]

The Old Testimony also states that a menstruating woman is unclean, should be shunned for 7 days and give 2 pigeons and 2 turtles to the priest after she finishes to slaughter.

[Belmit]

I'm completely open-minded about it. Sexuality doesn't define the person, it's just one facet of their being. There's plenty more important things to judge a person by.