As much as it is virtually impossible to escape the subtler, more refined remains of bigotry, I'm still glad to live in a community which pretty much condemns racism. Racism is one of the more idiotic sets of beliefs and behaviours in human history, so it's a positive thing that our community does not suffer from it to the extent that many others do, elsewhere on the planet. But this makes me all the more confused about our own community's rampant homophobia.

I do not like most rap music, most Japanese animation, or sex with people of my own gender, but I do not hate the people who do like these things. And yet most of the people of our community who scream out against racism also scream out against homosexuals. Do you share my confusion regarding the thought processes of these people? Discrimination against others on the basis of their cultural practices is a cardinal sin to these people. But, these people also see discrimination against others on the basis of their sexual practices as the responsibility of all self-respecting, respectable people. Looks to me like a few pistons aren't firing here. Lights are on but nobody's home. Space for rent.

Perhaps these wizards of pro-social behaviour simply use as their own system of belief what they see everyone else around them believing. Perhaps they just don't think critically about what they see and hear. "Everyone else says racism is bad, and everyone else bashes gays, so that must be the way to go, right?" You bet. Pass "GO", collect $200, and keep going around in circles.

I've seen these people in action, and they're frightening. They say things like "Hey, we don't like fags in St. Albert!" (No really, they do.) What about "We don't like bigots in St. Albert?". People like this use the word "gay" as an insult, like "Math is so gay." So, I guess then, racism is gay. Some of the bolder ones will engage in speech about how non-racist they are, then talk about someone they don't like, calling them a "fag". This is another common pejorative. Anyone who is at all disagreeable in any way winds up being called a fag.

Have homophobes ever really thought about what it is specifically that makes homosexuality bad? The bible says it is? What a cop-out excuse. Poor book, everything gets blamed on it, from gay-bashing to genocide. Maybe because it's unnatural because it doesn't promote survival of the species? Yeah, like smoking, drinking, and contact sports do. It's disgusting? So, when did we vote to create a new "Disgusting Police"? Some people say that country music is disgusting, and you don't call someone a cowboy if you hate them. Gay rights can get complicated, but not complicated enough to warrant hating all homosexuals.

Bigotry is a shameful thing. It's embarrassing. It's reserved for unintelligent people. You don't have to get a college degree to know this, you just have to be smarter than really stupid. Bigots, bullies, and anti-social people are often portrayed as idiots in movies. Everyone has seen Back to the Future, but you would be surprised at how many people actually have no problem at all with acting like that Biff guy.

I may joke, but violence and discrimination against homosexuals is an issue of concern and interest in our community and our country, and, being close to many homosexual people, I am qualified to comment on this real issue. Anyone who does not believe that it is important should meet these friends of mine, who have the bruises, scars, and parents to prove it.