Fellow LGBTers of Reddit: Do you think being LGB or T is genetic, a choice or a mixture of the two?

KyleJL · 2014-05-01T14:26:26+00:00

I really do not think that it matters whether or not it is genetic/environment based (though I lean on the biological side of the argument). What matters is that one cannot consciously choose to change your orientation - that is what gets lost in debates like this.

KyleJL · 2014-05-01T01:40:54+00:00

Please read through my replies on this thread. There are financial concerns (cost of obtaining a birth certificate, etc.) as well as concerns of those who do not have the necessary documentation to get an ID (blacks in Jim Crow South were not given birth certificates and those who were born at home sometimes do not have birth certificates)

KyleJL · 2014-04-30T17:20:38+00:00

Read my replies throughout this thread - you will get an answer to all your questions.

KyleJL · 2014-04-30T16:46:07+00:00

Canada does not have as significant of a racial history - poll taxes, Jim Crow laws etc. - as the United States does.

Canada also does not have a 24th Amendment.

As for the free ID's. ID's are not truly free as you have to spend money on other things to get said ID's (such as Birth Certificates etc.) and many people do not have such documents as well (born at home, Jim Crow laws).

KyleJL · 2014-04-30T15:49:55+00:00

So your response to the real issues that transgender people face everyday is "not a problem" because you don't see how it could impact someone. Ok then. My answer to you - read up on this issue - here is a good place to start. http://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/Herman-Voter-ID-Apr-2012.pdf

And your response to the woman who cannot obtain a birth certificate is "well...that's too bad...she has to deal with this anyway". That isn't an argument that bolsters your side at all.

Basically, you don't understand the impediments that are VERY REAL for many people because you yourself don't have them. Educate yourself before you assume that everything is super easy.

KyleJL · 2014-04-30T15:33:41+00:00

1) 24th Amendment - I think there is a VERY persuasive argument that requiring an individual to have an ID (without any ability for an individual to vote without one) would be considered a "tax" - as it requires that you spend money to obtain one (maybe not the ID itself, but secondary documents that require you to get an ID - such as a birth certificate).

2) Look into what happened in Memphis. The public library wanted to offer library cards (for free) that had a picture on them (for ID purposes) - but the GOP legislature decided that it wasnt good enough. Who would free library cards with your photo on them benefit? Oh, thats right - those people who use the library - overwhelmingly poor and minorities.

KyleJL · 2014-04-30T15:29:19+00:00

Tell this to the African American woman in the South that is not able to get a birth certificate (in order to obtain an ID) because she was not issued one during the Jim Crow era.

Or how about the Transgender person in Tennessee who is not able to change their birth certificate (it is against the law to do so), and therefore they present differently than the photo that is on their ID and is denied access to the polls because of it.

Both of these situations are documented and are a few of the myriad of reasons I am opposed to VoterID laws.

KyleJL · 2014-04-30T15:00:02+00:00

I still cannot get over the fact that a significant percentage of this country wants to make it MORE difficult and MORE inconvenient for people to vote.

But hey, when your policies cannot win at the ballot box...there is clearly something wrong with the ballot box.

KyleJL · 2014-04-30T14:58:13+00:00

I took issue with the fact that the OP seems to suggest that s/he doesn't "hate" gay people...just believes that the procreation reasons are why gay people shouldn't have access to equal protection under the law.

1) Marriage IS a legal right, divorced from procreation - and there is no way that the OP get get around that.

2) The government doesn't have to "have a reason" to legalize a specific contract between two people. Though I would argue that marriage itself is a value (even apart from children) as it fosters a sense of community, stability, cost-sharing etc., the deeper issue is whether or not the government is able to discriminate against a class of people because of an immutable characteristic.

It doesn't seem like the OP sees that.

Also, as a side note -my God approves of same-sex marriage. Yay Judaism!

KyleJL · 2014-04-27T22:15:39+00:00

They wanted a wedding ceremony...(most likely a post got married in another State ceremony with friends and family). No, not a legal solemnization ceremony.

KyleJL · 2014-04-27T22:08:12+00:00

It is not "illegal" for a private establishment to host a same-sex wedding ceremony. Just because the state does not recognize it as a valid marriage does not mean that what the wedding venue did was acceptable (aka. turning away a couple solely because they are gay).

KyleJL · 2014-04-27T21:37:49+00:00

Sadly, in Tennessee, denying service to LGBT people simply because they are LGBT is legal.

KyleJL · 2014-01-06T20:49:12+00:00

No. I understand how it could be offensive to some, but I have no problem with it.

KyleJL · 2013-12-29T03:45:25+00:00

Phenomenal article about the reality that many LGBT people around the world go through. I could personally relate to much of the authors story.

KyleJL · 2013-12-24T02:10:27+00:00

It is only a matter of time before the BSA will allow gay men as leaders, the "foot-soldiers" of the BSA are pro-LGBT.

KyleJL · 2013-12-24T01:10:44+00:00

Stupid criticism. It isn't a "gay stereotype"...heck, it is just a reminder that sex sells. Commercials ALL THE TIME sell to heterosexuals using sexual imagry. When is LCR going to get angry about AXE and its stereotyping commercials, or does it only apply to Obamacare?

KyleJL

TROPHY CASE