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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think that this is just a silly reaction on behalf of gay people?

262 replies

Jesssime · 20/07/2013 08:05

Don't misunderstand me, I support gay people having full access to same rights as opposite sex people. Always have done. As somebody has somebody close to me who is gay, I like to keep abreast of gay news.

But I don't know, isn't the following just a bit over the top:

I mean, Yes, I'm totally fine with same sex marriage, but I'm not going to take to the streets and party over it. I'm guessing that it's not that big a deal to the majority of us-this doesn't mean that anybody's against it at all, but that it really IS no big deal. So why are they expecting the news channels to give it much coverage?

www.pinknews.co.uk/2013/07/19/whitehall-questions-why-equal-marriage-was-largely-ignored-by-bbc-channel-4-and-other-media/

OP posts:
Lj8893 · 20/07/2013 11:21

Have you got statistics that show that it means little to the general population as a whole?

Binkyridesagain · 20/07/2013 11:21

You keep stating the this issue means very little to the population as a whole, how do you know this, have you or anyone else conducted a survey on people reactions to this. The replies to your thread seem to contradict what you have stated.

ReginaPhilangie · 20/07/2013 11:22

Of course it should get more coverage, a lot more coverage actually. It certainly more newsworthy than whether Kate has popped or not yet! Hmm

Original poster
Jesssime · 20/07/2013 11:23

But it's not a huge shift in law and rights, is it?

It's not as if we live in a country where gay people are being persecuted or denied employment rights or homosexuality is illegal.

We already have civil partnerships that offer the major rights of marriage, anyway, all that has happened is that formally gay people can be known as married.. As opposed to informally by family and friends.

All this huge shift in law stuff is bollocks, sorry, but it is.

It's a minor shift.

OP posts:
gordyslovesheep · 20/07/2013 11:24

Is same sex marriage really worth mentioning above the state of the NHS, or other big issues. Or is it really a side issue that affects very few and thus not really worthy of huge coverage? wow - and you say you aren't bigoted

your 'I have gay friends line' reads just like 'I'm not racist ...I have black friends' to me - the more you post the more you seem quiet prejudice

Binkyridesagain · 20/07/2013 11:25

Could you please decide which argument /discussion you are having, because all this swinging from one point to another is sending me dizzy and making you sound ignorant.

IThinkOfHappyWhenIThinkOfYou · 20/07/2013 11:25

Won't somebody pleeaassse think of the puffin count. I have had the news on since 8.30 and the poor puffins haven't been mentioned once Sad . I know that there is a video on the BBC news website and they have had hours of coverage already but it's not the same.

Original poster
Jesssime · 20/07/2013 11:26

I'm sorry gordlylovesheep, but if you want to know what true bigotry is, you need to travel the globe.

Because somebody saying that it's no big deal that gay people can get married but there are more important things affecting the nation is not really bigotry.

OP posts:
Lj8893 · 20/07/2013 11:27

jesssime I shall ask again, why ask am I being unreasonable if you are not prepared to be told yes you are being unreasonable?!

gordyslovesheep · 20/07/2013 11:35

oh is it Bigotry lite then Hmm I don't need to travel the globe - I have been involved in the LGBT rights movement for over 20 years - you are coming across badly

for example - it's quiet prejudice to say that one of 2 people complain about the coverage means all gay people are unreasonable - which you are doing - the acts of some members of a 'group' do not always reflect the beliefs of everyone in it

MarmaladeTwatkins · 20/07/2013 11:36

"It's not as if we live in a country where gay people are being persecuted or denied employment rights or homosexuality is illegal."

Hmm

Gay people are still persecuted. Wherever did you get the idea that they weren't?!

Wbdn28 · 20/07/2013 11:43

So oP, why do you think it matters if news channels are "dictated to" if this makes no difference to what they choose to broadcast?

Yes, same-sex marriage is worth covering on the news. It's happened so very recently. And no, it doesn't mean that other important issues won't get covered - the vast majority of what's on the news is other things.

Why do you think this "affects very few" when actually there are millions of gay people in the UK? Not to mention all those who aren't gay but are pleased to see this change?

And would you like to answer my earlier question "why should it only be majority issues that are a big deal?" If you think about it, nearly all news stories only directly affect a few people.

MarmaladeTwatkins · 20/07/2013 11:46

Very well said, Wbdn28.

Where do we draw this line then, OP? The one that says that only things affecting the masses can be reported upon? Should the news stop reporting on murders because, let's face it, the only people directly affected are the victims and their families? It is a silly argument and I think you know that.

reelingintheyears · 20/07/2013 11:53

I'm not gay and i'm not married and i'm an atheist.

My son is gay and also an atheist but...if he were to become religious and find god forbid i will defend to the very end his right to marry the person he loves.

These issues are so important in telling gay children and young people that they are as important as anyone else and their needs and wishes too.

Which is why the ignoramuses and bigots of the world need this to be newsworthy too, so that people like my son don't get picked on and discriminated against.

Cherriesarelovely · 20/07/2013 12:18

I think women's sports ought to have more news coverage. Given that 50% of the population are men and some women don't like sports am I being unreasonable in "wanting to dictate what is in the news"?

Cherriesarelovely · 20/07/2013 12:20

It's like you are jealous of the attention gay people might be getting!

Original poster
Jesssime · 20/07/2013 12:22

MarmaladeTwatkins, not in the UK they're not. Anyway we've been led to believe that same sex marriage is no big deal, that the sky won't fall in if it comes about-it hasn't, that it won't affect the vast majority of us-'if you don't want gay marriage, don't marry a gay person' etc etc.

So now the arguments have been taken at their word and nobody gives two hoots; but apparently that is not good enough, either, it must be shouted from the rooftops by the press.

What will be good enough, I wonder? Hmm

OP posts:
kim147 · 20/07/2013 12:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

gordyslovesheep · 20/07/2013 12:28

not in the UK they're not holy smoke do you actually believe that?

it's you that needs educating I think - homophobia is very much alive and well right here in good old Blighty

gordyslovesheep · 20/07/2013 12:31

www.pinknews.co.uk/2013/06/14/milton-keynes-woman-victim-of-homophobic-assault-has-her-face-dragged-against-a-wall/

I could, sadly, go on ...maybe you don't think it exists because it's not widely reported in the news Hmm

LittleSporksBigSpork · 20/07/2013 12:45

As a member of the unoppressed group, you want to tell the oppressed group (who are still facing violent assaults, discrimination, lack of proper representation and access, higher rates of homelessness and murder - particularly those young and/or with darker skin, and so much more) how we should act? And you think this is reasonable.

I will agree that the same-sex marriage law wasn't the major victory that the media treat it as, it is certainly not the end of the road, particularly as trans* people got thrown under the bus and ignored on it again and it obviously does nothing for most of the issues above. But let us take our victories where we can get it, people have fought hard for this and people are fighting hard for more. Some celebration doesn't hurt anything, I'm sorry we seem to be getting up your nose. But our demonstrations and parties aren't anything to do with you.

teacherlikesapples · 20/07/2013 13:03

Wow OP. YABVU in this thread.

Can you post any link to where people are 'demanding' celebration & coverage? Where are all these people posting with these demands?

Also- the distinction between CP & marriage is massive. Both in public perception & practice. Not having to be treated like a second class citizen (one rule for us & one rule for you) Gay people who have dreamed of getting married their whole lives, can now actually live their dreams. No one dreams of a civil partnership.

It is also the UK leading by example & setting the precedent for other countries. That is noteworthy. As a country we have made a further step towards equality. It deserves press coverage. It deserves celebrating. In New Zealand when the gay marriage bill passed Parliament burst into song www.guardian.co.uk/world/video/2013/apr/18/new-zealand-parliament-song-gay-marriage-video
There were street parties & celebrations. The country was proud of itself, viewed the law change as a massive event & celebrated it accordingly. The UK is a much bigger country- & this law change is a much bigger deal because of that.

It is disappointing that we are not celebrating.