Heterosexuality is not a disease? Or aibu?

[theoriginalgin]

I have an acquaintance who has for many years identified as Queer. She's gradually become more and more militant about LGBT + rights in recent times and has started to make some quite offensive statements about heterosexuality and heterosexuals in general.

As a heterosexual person I generally hear these things and don't react because I don't feel that there's any response I can give that won't get me an ear bashing about "the patriarchy" and my "privilege".

However today she's bought home a cushion that she's posted a photo of on Instagram which says "heterosexuality is a disease". I strongly disagree with this and I find it truly offensive. I don't think any sexuality is a disease and I don't think that this is an ok thing to say. I think if a heterosexual person said that about homosexuality for example, they'd be called out for it and probably absolutely lambasted for being homophobic on social media. And yet nobody has said a word to her about this!

AIBU? And if not, any ideas for a witty response to get the point across?

Just ignore it? Everyone's entitled to an opinion as bizarre as it is, and freedom of speech. Just because it clashes with the societal norm doesn't mean it needs to be torn apart. Like pp said, it's satire of the way in which homosexual people have been called diseased in the past. Communities have been abused for decades or even hundreds of years for their 'differences' yet when anything challenges heterosexuality/whiteness/upper-class/masculinity.. people get overly sensitive.

She sounds like a bigoted, narrowminded dickhead who judges people based on their sexuality. I can't stand people like that.

@wonkothesane42 I know right. Honestly I'm disappointed how defensive people get.

A hate crime!? Pull the other one.

It's a bit annoying, sure, but enough with the hyberbole.

I'm heterosexual and I think it's kind of funny unless she's lecturing you for sleeping with men I wouldn't get too upset.

Roll your eyes and ignore.

A hate crime!!! Yeah, call the police and tell them how you’re being oppressed by a cushion.

Thanks for the laughs guys. Straight people are fucking wild

@RuffleCrow you beat me to it.

Heteronormativity is the problem.

I know one person who it took going to Prison (for her Vegan actions) to get any help. And she is still not "cured

Eh?

Just ignore it.

Obviously I don’t know the individual but ‘hate crime’

I think the point of the cushion is that you read it and think ‘OMG how can heterosexuality be a disease? That’s ludicrous!’ But aha - homosexuality has been/is still in some circles referred to as a disease. Isn’t that just as ridiculous?

So maybe bottle the frustrated outrage you feel now and consider how it would feel if a significant part of society DID feel this way about your sexuality or other identifying characteristic.

When hetero males call themselves lesbians and females who are in relationships with fully intact males who present as women call themselves queer it makes a complete mockery of gay and bi people.

You could always try really pissing her off by being more woke - see pan sexuality above!

Oh, and here come the trans bashers right on cue! This website is so fucking predictable sometimes.

@SnoozySnoozy So who cares basically. It's a silly cushion playing off of Homosexuality being a disease. Better things to get up in arms about.

Sounds tongue in cheek to me - it's like it's poking fun at the heteronormativity of the world, and turning the fact that for a very long time, homosexuality was (and still is in some quarters) considered a disease.

What should you say to her? Nothing. I know it offended you, but since you haven't been systematically oppressed as a heterosexual it's really just a case of hurt feelings. That isn't nice, but what's the point in a bun fight about it. Just let the friendship slide if it's no longer working for you.

Just reply that it was a good job for her her parents had the disease.

Being a biologist I'd probably point out that heterosexuality (reproduction through sex) is to avoid diseases, because it increases generic diversity. Otherwise, we'd all be clones of our mother. No sex, hetero or otherwise.
But then I'm boring like that.

Or point out that, yes, it's a disease that infests the world. We're all products of it. And blame global warming on it too.

You can also ask her what it means and why she has it.

Just tell her you’re in quarantine for it

She sounds like a dick anyway (militant ANYTHING people always are) but I agree with PP that it's meant to be ironic. There is a large subset of gay culture that involves language like this - 'straights are at it again' 'straights need to be stopped', it's part joking, part irony, part defense and part reclaiming of language that was used against their community. The difference is that don't actually wish anyone harm, unlike the other way around.

Looks like some on this thread are delighting for a fight.

What she posted is fucking ridiculous, and tbh she's looking for an argument and it's just not worth it. Just let her get on with it.

Read the CPS definition and the post. Yes, a potential hate crime - not the silly cushion but verbal abuse and bullying based on sexual orientation.
What we permit we promote.
Nobody should be subject to unpleasant behaviour regardless of any protected characteristic. The law defines unacceptable behaviour based on the protected characteristics and rarely enforced but the definition is clear.
It’s the same with anti-Christianor anti other religion rants on social media. It is Outwith the law.

Agree with Halloumimuffin. She sounds like a pain in the bum but it's clearly intended as irony and/or posturing. Just phase out the friendship if she's annoying you. And seriously, anyone who gets over-excited about "see? Heterosexuals are victimised too!" over this kind of shite needs to grow up.

Straight people are fucking wild

But you though, you have it all figured out. The day you scrolled through those memes on Instagram and updated your Twitter bio to pledge allegiance to Antifa you became the only person on Earth who really gets it.

Its a joke

Im offended that youre offended