Closeted homophobes

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Whenever some fanatical crusader campaigns against sodomy, everyone says, "Oh, he's probably secretly gay himself", etc. Probably true in most cases - however, looking at it another way, is that even relevant? In some sense, isn't it admirable that people are willing to put their emotions to one side if they contradict deeply held convictions re religion and society? "If thy left arm offends thee", etc. And if somebody is desperately fighting to control those emotions, doesn't that make their struggle to be upstanding members of whatever moral community they imagine exists even more heroic? (I know the argument re Roy Cohn etc. is "It's hypocritical to persecute people for stuff you get up to yourself", but maybe Cohn saw his service to the country as fair dues and had special animus for fifth columnists and pinkos, not fellow queers)

― dave q, Tuesday, 19 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

(Same as breeders who elect not to have children despite the nattering of stupid DNA telling them to go and breed like gnats!)

― dave q, Tuesday, 19 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Would that be 'gnattering' then, Dave?

I would've thought that a closet case (eg Roy Cohn) implementing laws etc. that prohibit homosexual acts was doing so because making something even more taboo = a bigger turn-on, also (and this may apply to house of lords types) making something illegal and pretty much flouting the law you make is a big ego-puffer for people who want to be that little bit more privileged/above the law. What actually would benefit the population is not a consideration...

― suzy, Tuesday, 19 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

admirable? heroic? eh? You can't even THINK straight. ;-)

― Alan Trewartha, Tuesday, 19 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

is he desperatley fighting to control emotions, or physical impulses - is sexual attractin something one cotnrols...is it a complex gathering of social mores/cultural performativities, so that control is an illusion....can he be said to ahve sexual desires that don't automatically make him assume an identity of sexuality? these are the days of our lives

― Geoff, Tuesday, 19 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Is this stuff really being held back due to deeply held convictions etc? That seems suspect. Isn't it much more likely peer pressure, fear, denial and preservation of privilege and status? All are insulating tactics against a perceived threat, and dave, if this fear is the prime motivator behind the sort of self-serving pre-emptive strikes you mentioned, well I suppose that would certainly be relevant to the ones being stricken, no?

― Kim, Tuesday, 19 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

six years pass...

http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/incredible_opportunity_to_get_behindthes

― Dr Morbius, Tuesday, 26 February 2008 21:31 (eighteen years ago)

Goodness knows I have better things to concern myself with, but I still can't help but wonder what was/is going on in his wife's head...

― dell, Tuesday, 26 February 2008 21:36 (eighteen years ago)

this should have been a gershy revival

― strgn, Tuesday, 26 February 2008 22:21 (eighteen years ago)

And if somebody is desperately fighting to control those emotions, doesn't that make their struggle to be upstanding members of whatever moral community they imagine exists even more heroic?

ilx: challenging opinions since 2001

― strgn, Tuesday, 26 February 2008 22:24 (eighteen years ago)

I would do this if I still lived in Idaho Falls. :(

― Abbott, Wednesday, 27 February 2008 03:01 (eighteen years ago)

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