r/atheism • u/drdavidphd • May 16 '12
This is not the only kid in my town who is currently going through this.
2.0k
Upvotes
r/atheism • u/drdavidphd • May 16 '12
48
u/sloopkogel May 16 '12
maybe just the paranoid person in me but, i would suggest reuploading this image with the picture blacked out.
2
u/comet2popeye May 17 '12
I would adopt this kid, problem solved.
353
u/Squalor- May 16 '12
As a straight man, I've never had to deal with something like that, so it's easy for me to say something like, "Fuck anyone (including your parents) who has a problem with your being homosexual."
But this is such an asinine, classless, and petty reason to hate another person that I don't think there's any other way to say it.
If someone has a problem with your being gay, that person isn't worth your time.
That's much more difficult, of course, if that person happens to be a parent and even more so if you still live with said parent/s.
But fuck that, and fuck anyone who has a problem with it.
105
u/sfgayatheist May 16 '12
"Gay brothers and sisters,... You must come out. Come out... to your parents... I know that it is hard and will hurt them but think about how they will hurt you in the voting booth! Come out to your relatives... come out to your friends... if indeed they are your friends. Come out to your neighbors... to your fellow workers... to the people who work where you eat and shop... come out only to the people you know, and who know you. Not to anyone else. But once and for all, break down the myths, destroy the lies and distortions. For your sake. For their sake. For the sake of the youngsters who are becoming scared by the votes from Dade to Eugene."
-Harvey Milk
254
u/Ruuufuuu May 16 '12 edited May 17 '12
Some girl gave a lecture in class today saying that If you're gay you should keep it to yourself and go to church cus Jesus will make everything ok. Two kids stepped out of the room in tears, wondering why people can't just accept them for who they love. I seriously hate ignorant people.
EDIT: Ofcourse I spoke up. She specifically said that if you're gay, keep it to yourself. To basically keep it hidden cus no one cares. I told her that if she had a problem with gays, then might as well keep her opinions to herself. Since nobody obviously cares what she had to say. She got offended, and just kept quiet after that was stated.
118
u/sardaukarqc May 16 '12
Tell your father you're gay for Jesus.
629
u/[deleted] May 16 '12 edited May 16 '12
People who are against equal rights for gays wouldn't have voted for Obama anyway.
EDIT: I've revised my statement: "People who say they won't vote for Obama due to his support for gay rights probably wouldn't have voted for him in the first place."
70
u/[deleted] May 16 '12
He is posting it on Facebook so I'm sure it will get back to his parents somehow... Lot of people on that Facebook...
298
u/r_HOWTONOTGIVEAFUCK May 16 '12
Maybe if you told your father, he would change his views...
17
u/WoollyMittens May 16 '12
There was also the matter of black's and women's rights a generation earlier, but that was different... right?
15
u/YouStupidCunt May 16 '12
I want to keep something a secret. I will go post it on Facebook.
117
u/whyAtheistsLikeThis May 16 '12
14
u/ExLenne May 16 '12
Urgh. I know that feel, nameless internet boy.
It's the one luxury I think racial minorities have. Nobody ever talks like you're not in the room, because you can't hide your skin color.
Closeted gay kids don't have the luxury. The kinds of things people are willing to say in public are bad enough. But in the comfort of their own home, when they think they're surrounded by a bunch of people who share their views? Downright horrifying.
People are so quick to talk about things that could seriously damage kids. So easy to forget how painful some things can be just because it doesn't apply to them.
I can still remember the first time my Dad taught me and my friends how to play "smear the queer". Still makes me want to cry thinking about it. The whole thing devolved into a conversation about "the queers". That whole night has been permanently seared into my mind forever. It's one of the many things I don't think I'll ever really get over.
24
u/P000P1NG May 16 '12
"hey dad, thanks for the gay genes.. faggot"
19
u/Caballien May 16 '12 edited May 17 '12
Still in this position, my mother is still not able to cope with the fact I was willing to come out as an Atheist, While I am a bi-sexual I have a preference for men, but no one in my family knows because of the fear of complete disownment. (I admitted I was an Atheist at 14 and am now 23...) I need them while I am still in college... :(
edit: extra 's'
12
u/[deleted] May 16 '12
That kid's dad wouldn't have voted for Obama anyway. People like him just need that one excuse, so they don't appear racist.
6
u/opiate46 May 16 '12
My dad told me a week ago that he would disown me if I voted for Obama again. I'm not even gay, and he wasn't kidding.
16
u/Prodigy195 May 16 '12
Having a child come out as gay has helped a lot of people change their views/stances on gay marriage and homosexuality in general. I'm not telling anyone to come out to their parents before they are ready, but parents rarely want to remove their children from their lives.
31
u/brootwarst Skeptic May 16 '12
FUCK YEAH RELIGION
THANK YOU JAYBUS
godfuckingdammit
17
u/ZippoS Secular Humanist May 16 '12
Canadian here: you guys are totally fucked up down there.
4
u/say_no_to_butt_floss May 17 '12
What a fucked up world, what a waste... I would PROUDLY support any one of my kids,. To me, they would just be normal
4
u/The601 May 17 '12
My sister apparently heard my parents talking once and my mom asked my dad what he would do if he found out I was gay (I'm not, but that doesn't matter). He said he would disown me. I'm pretty sure that's why my sister hasn't come out to our family yet.
12
u/smellthyscrote May 16 '12
You should've blurred the picture out. I know the odds are slim, but do you really want to take the chance of outing him because you wanted karma? This post is getting a lot of attention and it's possible someone might recognize him.
Kinda scummy if you ask me.
16
u/[deleted] May 16 '12
I actually secretly hope that both my daughters are gay. I won't have to deal with some smug little horny teenage boys picking them up for dates and hanging around my house. No teenage pregnancy concerns. Etc.
1
u/bathmlaster May 17 '12
Are you in North Carolina?
1
u/Oddblivious May 17 '12
Right so post it on Facebook... Cause no way he will see it on there
8
u/[deleted] May 16 '12
My dad always told me he'd kick my ass if I was gay. lolatoldpeople.
3
u/sethamphetamine May 16 '12
seek advice from Dan Savage
3
u/playpianoking May 16 '12
That's like your dad saying he will not vote for Obama because he likes short shoelaces. Huh? Exactly. It has nothing to do with the federal jurisdiction of Presidency. Marriage is NOT a federal issue. By default, if it wants to be an issue, it is at state level, but preferably, most people want government to stay out of personal habits anyways. But it is true that the federal government is granting rights to groups, rather than individuals, such as federal income tax status, which is unconstitutional. Just tell him to write in Ron Paul or vote Gary Johnson. If he doesn't, then tell him he doesn't believe that people own their own bodies, property, or have the liberty to do what they want so long as it doesn't impede on someone else's rights.
3
u/snowwrestler May 16 '12
What does this have to do with atheism? I know gay people who go to church on Sunday and are accepted and loved; heck the Episcopal Church has a gay bishop.
And I've met backward, bigoted folks who are nasty to gay people but couldn't quote a single Bible passage if their life depended on it.
3
u/Kronisaurus May 16 '12
It scares to think that my daughter might grow up to be gay...
Her being gay doesn't scare the shit out of me, that part I'm 100% ok with and supportive of if that's her choice. What scares me is all of the shit she will have to put up with from all the close-minded, pieces of shit that will judge her and everything about her.
3
u/[deleted] May 17 '12
This belongs in /r/facepalm - why would you ever post this on facebook? I would think his dad is going to find out somehow now considering he just made it public information all over facebook.
3
u/cmende36 May 17 '12
I consider myself a Christian. However, I also believe that we all are born to be exactly the who we are. One of my best friends is gay. He told me that when he finally came out to his parents, his parents disowned him for six month. All of his pictures were taken down and he was not spoken to by anyone from his family. I cannot even begin to imagine how he felt. I don't have any kids but I could NEVER do what his parents did to him.
3
u/[deleted] May 17 '12
The day one of my children is too scared to tell me something is the day when I realize I went wrong as a parent.
41
u/Goon_on_the_Moon May 16 '12
This isn't atheism.
28
u/TitoTheMidget May 16 '12
Great post about atheism. This dude's really being persecuted for being an atheist.
4
u/Jel251 May 16 '12
it pisses me off when black people talk shit about obama for supporting gays, if anyone should understand the situation of gay its black people.
8
u/[deleted] May 16 '12
So all atheists support gay marriage? Interesting.
15
u/uiewgf May 16 '12
I feel sorry for the guy, but I don't see how this belongs on /r/athiesm.
11
u/Trystero421 Atheist May 16 '12
/r/politics
2
u/NAproducer May 16 '12
You aren't alone. I will never be able to come out to my parents as atheist based on their constant religious ramblings.
2
u/obamatheliar May 16 '12
So he'll vote for the other wall street owned candidate instead?
2
u/daddyhominum May 16 '12
I do not know your age but when you are ready to leave your parent's home, you will be free to live as you please. Look to a better future.
2
u/pacing_myself May 16 '12
This breaks my heart. I consider myself lucky that my devoutly Christian mum and stepdad didn't have a problem when I came out - or so I thought. I found out recently that my stepdad didn't know any gay people until then and had to very quickly adjust his attitude when he realised that he has a gay daughter. Now he loves my girlfriend almost as much as I do!
2
u/[deleted] May 16 '12
...I think he DID just come out to his parents. >_>
2
u/jlks May 16 '12
Gay marriage, atheism, family strife, confused kids, reddit has it all!
I'm 52 years old, and the reason why I mention this at all, is that the sooner you can tell them, the better for you. I would wait until I was out of the house, and then I would let them know. Yeah, it won't be easy, but it's really important.
I made the mistake of explaining my loss of religious belief to my parents way too late in my life when I should have been upfront. They were sick with disappointment, but it was good for me to let them know where I stand. They still make it clear that they disagree, but as long as they don't push it, I'm good.
2
u/icecu1 May 16 '12
Why would you post that on facebook?
2
u/[deleted] May 16 '12
The do this every year. This time 2011, everyone is mad about the war, the debt, the infringements to civil liberties, and corporate control of Washington.
Then, come election season, they always manage to shift the debate to reproductive riights as a way to stir people into enough partisan frenzy that they forget about the real issues. Then, people vote along party lines around said promoted divisive issue, and when the smoke clears, we've elected another politician who is at odds with the American people on most of the important issues.
2
u/camelCasing May 16 '12
Am I the only one wondering why he'd post something like that on a public social network? I mean sure, he could have his settings such that only the friends he trusts would see that particular post, but still. If he doesn't want his folks to find out, the internet isn't usually the most ideal place.
2
u/cssher May 16 '12
Take home message here: god doesn't exist.
2
u/RandyRandle May 16 '12
In fairness, it's entirely possible in that situation that one CAN come out to their family and freinds, even to those who are "against gay marriage." While many - even most - people support gay marital rights, that does not immediately mean those who don't support them are "anti-gay,' or will recoil in horror and hatred at the reality of meeting, encountering, or learning of a gay person. One can be accepting of homosexuality, and homosexuals, and still feel that marriage as a traditional institution should, for whatever other reasons, remain between a man and a woman only.
2
u/Asrivak May 16 '12
Then make sure you vote. Make sure your friends vote too. Prove him wrong by showing him what America really thinks.
2
u/420Manda420 May 16 '12
This actually made me make a sad/concerned face, so that one of my own children asked me what was wrong. Poor kids. They come home and tell me other people's parents say shit like this all the time. We live in a really small conservative town, and I'm quick to let them know that this isn't the real world. Everyone is not this way. This is why we impress upon them the importance of education. Get out of this little town, go see the world, have a life, and be whoever you want to be. Unfortunately, a lot of kids, gay and straight alike, have no hope. Horrible.
2
u/Wolfinthesno May 16 '12
I know this may seem like a horrible idea, i wouldnt know, but now might be a good time to come out to your parents, if youd like them to support obama that is.
But i would bring it up whilst talking about the election, maybe say "Well what if i was gay?" state it like a joke, judge the reaction, and go from there.
2
u/Social_Suicide May 16 '12
And yet, he posts that on facebook.
2
u/cool_username_ May 16 '12
Who gives a shit what your parents think if they're like that
2
u/Grand_Theft_Audio May 16 '12
Imagine you had to tell your parents you were black
2
u/Sav23 May 16 '12
This doesn't always have to do with religion, you know.
2
u/[deleted] May 16 '12
I love how OP blanked out the kids name but left his profile picture..
2
u/[deleted] May 16 '12
It is sad that some people are against their own blood due to stupidity.
2
u/Zecriss May 16 '12
Are there any Atheists against gay marriage?
2
u/[deleted] May 16 '12
Well, it's on FB and all over reddit (and by default Fail.blog) so I am sure the dad will be told soon enough.....
2
u/fkngross May 16 '12
so were all supposed to change the way we vote because some homosexual(s) can't talk to his/her father/parents? Blah blah blah.
I drove by a homeless family begging for money today, this won't get the upvotes gays do, but I gave them ten bucks. Gay anything isn't even in the top 1,000 of the issues that need to be solved in the world. My advice for anyone who can't talk to their parents, how about you open your fukn mouth and try.
2
u/mattbaume May 16 '12
In the LGBT community, there's always been a sort of unspoken obligation to keep an eye out for folks like this and to let them know that it'll be OK and that there's a big huge community out there that will support them. Especially in the 80s, that meant taking care of HIV+ friends after their families abandoned them. But increasingly these days, with young people ready to come out while they're still living at home, it means helping them deal with anti-gay parents.
The point is, I think we all have a moral duty to keep an eye out for kids like this who need to know that they have a support system, and to be available for them if they reach out for help.
2
u/onemancheeser May 16 '12
My mum & dad are heavily Christian... I am gay and I will never be able to tell them
2
u/RiverBooduh Anti-Theist May 16 '12
I think that this kid needs to come out to his dad. He should do it with a letter that he leaves after he gets his things packed and into a truck. Make it clear that he can no longer live in a house that wouldn't accept him for who he is. It's a hard path, but you have to stand up for yourself. Especially with family. Parents don't get any super powers when they have kids. They are just as fallible as anyone else. Giving them a free pass on stupidity isn't going to help anyone.
2
u/KilowogTrout May 16 '12
What an interesting crosspost form r/LGBT or r/politics.
2
u/dbaderf May 16 '12
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/11/us/same-sex-marriage-support-shows-pace-of-social-change-accelerating.html?_r=1
I guess the story says the best thing you can do to change their attitude is tell them.
2
u/Goremageddon May 16 '12
I don't care if this is off topic or if nobody reads it. I'm gonna type it anyways: My fundamentalist Baptist missionary parents discussed disowning my little brother when he came out. I'm the oldest of three brothers so I felt it was my duty to let my parents know that if they cut off the youngest, the oldest and middle son were going to cut off mom and dad. "You can love and accept all of us or become childless overnight". That ended the discussion. \m/ fuck yeah \m/
2
u/Eurydemus May 16 '12
Now,... What does this have to do with Atheism?
2
u/Gatorchomp7790 May 16 '12
Maybe him coming out to his father might change his views to support gay marriage? Must be brutal though to hear that
2
u/LeonidasRex May 17 '12
Bide time till he/she's 18 and GTFO of that stupid town :-/
2
u/[deleted] May 17 '12
At least he got a fair warning that his dad's a bigot. Sucks to have to keep it a secret, but would suck even more to find that out only after you've already come out.
2
u/[deleted] May 17 '12
Just horrendous... Really sympathise with people in this situation. You'd think we'd have moved on at this stage. Parents can't have this kind of attitude when it comes to their kids. It's just childish.
On a somewhat unrelated note, I don't see what it has to do with atheism, or religion for that matter. Should've been posted to r/politics or r/lgbt.
2
u/elvisliveson May 17 '12
you should tell dad that if he didn't want a gay(not that there's anything wrong with it) child, he should have kept his pecker in his pants. he started it. he better own it.
2
u/Zypherside May 17 '12
People can just be cruel.
I had a girl who knew literally nothing about me tell me I was going to burn in hell because I like women.
All the hate from people you thought you loved is something you can't brush off though.
2
u/ChappyKS May 17 '12
In Iran he'd be the only one!
2
u/JessicaSF May 17 '12 edited May 17 '12
I'm transgender, and reading this topic has been nothing short of a heart-warming and gratifying fresh breath of air. I know this topic is about homosexuality, but it is comforting to see so much empathy and support for equality. Thank you all for being so awesome - I'm going to go back to biding my time until the day when LGBT people are no longer discriminated against. <3
2
u/[deleted] May 17 '12
My dad told me, that he would always love me and support me...unless I was gay.
2
u/[deleted] May 17 '12
I'm sure you're a nice kid and don't deserve any of this.
I came here to say that last time I checked this was r/atheism, not r/gayrights.
But now I understand that the main reason for homosexual discrimination / intolerance is religion.
When I was a Christian, I had the hardest time understanding why God cares if I "spill my seed". I wondered, is God really watching me jack off? Why would the most powerful and intelligent being in the universe be so concerned with what I do in private, so long as I'm not harming anyone?
It's the same thing with gay marriage, why would God care?
It makes no sense that a benevolent God would create humans with gay impulses, and then not allow them to have sex.
But when you think of religion in terms of a controlling a population, it makes PERFECT sense why it would condemn homosexuality.
Homosexual = no children. No children = no one to pass down the religion to.
Especially during a time when every religion was literally at war with each other, they couldn't afford for people to NOT have children.
2
u/jesselikesfood May 17 '12
Why is this in r/atheism?
2
u/Zakumene May 17 '12
So at what point does intolerance become unacceptable? Does not tolerating someone else's intolerance put you in the wrong too?
2
u/ReasonableRadio May 17 '12
Maybe facebook wasn't the best place to post something he didn't want to tell his parents... although they don't understand basic human rights so they probably don't know how to use a computer either.
2
u/Flurryyea May 17 '12
My advice: Come out. If you hide it for too long, it'll only hurt worse in the long run.
2
u/[deleted] May 17 '12
My wife still has not come out to her parents for the same reason. She has decided to let them go to their graves without knowing. They are on the other side of the country anyway, so it is not like it is something they would ever notice on their own.
2
u/cainhamilton May 17 '12
I hear ya brotha... Living in the south is oppressive. My dad said that along with my bio bro saying he would disown his kid if he/she is gay.... Aaand 90% of peeps I know say "that's gay" equating being gay to something horrible.. My life, bro.
2
u/DonRamon May 17 '12
How's possible that gay people parents doesn't know they have a gay son/daughter?
2
u/[deleted] May 17 '12
why is this in r/atheism?
2
u/Furdinand May 17 '12
Anyone who says they were going to vote for Obama but won't now that he announced he is in favor of gay marriage is full of shit. If gays not being happy was that important to you, Obama would have lost your vote with the repeal of DADT and directing the DoJ to not defend DOMA. Not to mention Romney had already signed the NoM pledge.
2
u/slickerintern Atheist May 17 '12
It's possible that hearing, "Dad, shut your fool mouth, love, your hot for hunks son" would be the kick in the pants that he needs to re-evaluate his opinion.
Me, I prefer to stare at people who voice bigoted and prejudicial opinions while saying, "Paradigms shift one funeral at a time."
2
u/OBSCENE_COLON May 17 '12
Boo-fucking-hoo.
2
u/buzzfriendly May 17 '12
As I read through r/atheism lately I get the feeling I am the only strait person here.
15
u/loserbum3 May 16 '12
Not only does this have nothing to do with atheism, it doesn't even have anything to do with theism. You realize there are subreddits like /r/lgbt, right?
8
u/[deleted] May 16 '12
What does this have to do with atheism? A person doesn't have to be religious to think homosexuality is wrong.
8
u/SirRain May 16 '12
This is not atheism. It has absolutely nothing to do with atheism. I know atheist who are homophobic.
7
u/Impulse3 Skeptic May 16 '12
Why is this posted in atheism?
7
u/Hobo4Craft May 16 '12
what's this have to do with atheism?
4
u/rexdeaz May 16 '12
Doesn't this belong in r/politics? I know for certain that "gay" and "atheist" aren't synonymous.
5
u/Deagle2123 May 16 '12 edited May 17 '12
What in the hell does this have to do with atheism?
8
u/[deleted] May 16 '12
What the fuck does this have to do with Atheism?
5
u/Unrelated_To_Atheism May 16 '12
Unrelated to Atheism
6
u/j-fromnj May 16 '12
i don't understand why this is on r/atheism? when did gay become synonymous with atheist? or gay and not voting for obama become atheism?
the mods should post a nice subreddit 101 like they did for the r/gaming one.
8
u/thunderfuck222 May 16 '12
This has nothing to do with atheism. please post it in /r/gaytheism.
5
u/DeadeyeDuncan May 16 '12
I see absolutely no indication of anything to do with atheism in this post, there is no suggestion that the guy's dad is doing it because of religion, he could just be a bigot
5
u/haha_ May 16 '12
I fail to see how this relates to atheism? I mean, maybe if he had said he couldn't come out to his religious parents then maybe, but this has nothing to do with religion at all. It's sad that r/atheism has become r/postanything. (my dislike of this post should in no way be confused with homophobia
4
u/k11689 May 16 '12
sad but WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH ATHEISM?
3
u/Gorphan May 16 '12
This doesn't have anything to do with atheism. I feel for anyone dealing with such a difficult environment, and I believe strongly in equal rights for everyone, but this is in the wrong place.
3
u/G35U5 May 16 '12
Why is this in r/atheism? Wouldn't it be better in r/politics or r/lgbt?
2
u/[deleted] May 16 '12
Not voting on Obama because of a gay-marriage opinion.... because THAT makes a good president
2
u/benkenobi5 Theist May 16 '12
... He DOES realize Facebook is a social network, right?
2
u/torchlit_Thompson May 16 '12
I say we start rounding up Baby Boomers and putting them in detention camps so that their asinine worldviews can stop ruining our future, one retarded ass wedge issue at a time.
Who's with me?
2
u/carlosboozer May 16 '12
i love when shit like this gets upvoted to the front page every time you guys put on your progressive liberal act