have you ever recieved abuse just bacause your gay?

[aaron]

Ufff.. Unfortunately yes, I've received a lot of abuses... mostly verbal. Since I've realized that I am slightly different - I was 13-14yo - there were many very abusive situations... guys from the school payed heed to me because of I have never played their stupid games (like throwing frogs against a wall or something like that).
So, at the uni I was not sociable too but I was reputated as talanted student so others have not pressed me... but I have had nobody to talk about the sexuality and other issues worrying more and more. Even my family - parents and bro - they knew nothing. Luckily now I have friends, straights and gays, and I have no such problems anymore...
But anyway I must hide my sexuality at work, I can not demonstrate it outside because people mostly aren't tolerant and I am always can be insulted just because I'm a gay... ((

i also got verbal and i got physical abuses i didnt go to hight skool i think i went there for year 7 but apart from that i never went i was allways scared to go coz i was allways wondering wot wood happen to me if i did so i was in alternative education but that never really helped ether i was still getting abuses but that time it was only verbal thank god i dont think i could put up with physical abuses for the rest of my skool years and i couldnt tell my dad i was gay or getting bulled coz he wood have sed tell the teacher and that just makes it harder for me coz they wood bully me more and i couldnt tell him i am gay coz he is homophobic so i was om my own and situations lyk that u cant be on ur own u need sum one to help u throw it but i had no one coz my mum left wen i was bout 9 but i told her but she couldnt really do anything coz she was miles away from me i was in epping at the time so i no how u felt and i felt lonely

[sudanese]

there is something here i really cant understand :

western countries are more LIBERAL , i think ... or supposed to be so

its clear that gays are more accepted politically and legislatively ....

but some of the stories i have heard here , in a manner that gives clue that they are fairly common ... i coudnt here such stories here ... where a more conservative and homophobic community & state exists...

its not due to cultural differences in expressing anger , i think ...

of course i cant say it is better here ....
ya you may be assaulted here IF u have been witnessed having sex or any act regarded as immoral ... usually immediately at the scene

but i know many people who are gays ... actually very camp ... it is true you may here most people gossiping but they don't attack them ... usually

is it gays acceptance there just a political pretention of morality ... or something resulted from courts precedents ?:eek:

[marshlander]

there is something here i really cant understand :

western countries are more LIBERAL , i think ... or supposed to be so

its clear that gays are more accepted politically and legislatively ....

but some of the stories i have heard here , in a manner that gives clue that they are fairly common ... i coudnt here such stories here ... where a more conservative and homophobic community & state exists...

its not due to cultural differences in expressing anger , i think ...

of course i cant say it is better here ....
ya you may be assaulted here IF u have been witnessed having sex or any act regarded as immoral ... usually immediately at the scene

but i know many people who are gays ... actually very camp ... it is true you may here most people gossiping but they don't attack them ... usually

is it gays acceptance there just a political pretention of morality ... or something resulted from courts precedents ?:eek:

As usual, Sudanese, a perceptive posting. You are right that, in terms of legislation, most of Western Europe is a safer place to be gay. However, stupid people can be found in every society and I think attitudes among the terminally stupid will take longer to match the legally granted equal opportunities we now enjoy.

As to what informs this prejudice it seems to me there is only one remaining, and apparently unimpeachable, source that gets to spread its hate messages without appropriate legal challenge, ie religion. While bishops, imams, rabbis and their like can take refuge in a so-called "higher authority" thugs everywhere can feel justified to carry on bashing, regardless of their degree of affiliation to a religious organisation or even the depth of their faith.

I'm amazed and delighted that we have come this far in a relatively short space of time. The law is beginning to get things right, but that law must be made to apply to everyone. Equality means just that; not more equality for the pious.

[aaron]

ppl think we r different from then but we aint we r the same as them so y should we b treated differently ??

[fjp999]

Some great points there marshlander.

sudanese also asked about anger and how westerners express it. It seems to be true at least in my experience. I do think westerners are more violent and clearly express it verbally if no physically. Gotta love that Freedom of Speech clause.

When I was in my 20s and very out I dressed rather "wild" = a little bit punk and a bit new wave. Just stepping out the door of my American apartment would get me verbal abuse. Just walking down the street. Even when I was with my girlfriend I would get verbal abuse nearly every corner.

It happened less in Europe but it did happen. The Italian cops shot me the finger. I was shocked. In Japan it never happened - never.

I have heard amazing things about the Sudanese people as being very friendly. Many friends say Asians are very friendly but then some Asian friends say Americans are very friendly too.

I believe it has a lot to do with conformity in USA.

ppl think we r different from then but we aint we r the same as them so y should we b treated differently ??

I dont think anyone wants to be treated differently. If you are talking about laws that protect certain individuals that is a matter that shouldnt be necessary but unfortunately is. No one wants to be treated differently.

[Smurlos]

I've never really had a problem... I've kissed a guy and held his hand on an underground train before and no one really battered an eyelid... although must say apart from kissing in cars, that's the only time I've done anything in public that's visible kinda thing

Everyone at work and most of my uni mates and all my RL mates know I'm gay and again, they've all been great, nothing but accepting.

I think that apart from the 'chavs' down here, most people more or less keep their noses out and get on with it. I guess maybe nowadays its more of a "i've got more important things in my own life to be worrying about at the moment" thing.

[lynx]

Yes, I know difinitely that euro society (and USA too) are much more tolerant - when I was there (Austria or USA or everywhere else on the west) - I saw a lot of gays, couples, lesbs and nobody have paid attention to them ((
do not think that I am complaining or something like that but, believe, here you could be abused even if you're looking _likeL a gay! even if you aren't gay but looks not enough like "straight"!

[rb17]

I kinda agree to be honest. I live in quite a small town lace and the majority of people there are complete dicks towards gays.
I've managed to avoid it recently though - haven't been attacked for quite a while now lol

[princealbertofb]

Yes, I know difinitely that euro society (and USA too) are much more tolerant - when I was there (Austria or USA or everywhere else on the west) - I saw a lot of gays, couples, lesbs and nobody have paid attention to them ((
do not think that I am complaining or something like that but, believe, here you could be abused even if you're looking _likeL a gay! even if you aren't gay but looks not enough like "straight"!

I HATE it when people assume you are gay, just from your looks and then abuse you. It happened to me once, it was frighening. The only reason it happened was because I was costumed and masked and moving about the parade. I didn't see it coming. I'm sure this woman was a flaming lunatic, but it shocked me and spoiled my day. I'm sure there was nothing in me that could say that I was gay. I certainly did not flirt with any men or boys while doing the parade with other similarly masked and costumed people. I don't understand where all this hatred comes from. Personal frustrations? It's still no excuse to aggress a total stranger.

[marshlander]

I HATE it when people assume you are gay, just from your looks and then abuse you. ...

That's all right, darling. Your secret is safe with me xxxx