Sunday, May 18, 2014

2014 Hop Against Homophobia and Transphobia - Same-Sex Marriage and What Being a Supporter means?

  

When I started writing this post, I wasn't entirely sure what I wanted to write. I decided to do what I do with my stories and just go. This week there is a huge group of authors, reviewers, and bloggers everywhere who are posting to support the Hop Against Homophobia and Transphobia. I think this is a wonderful way to show support within the LGBTQ community and I truly hope it makes the impact we all want to see it make. Raising awareness of the hatred still held within the hearts of so many to others outside of our community will someday bring about the one thing we still so desperately want... acceptance and equality.

While the United States and the people here have come quite a distance from how it was thirty, twenty, even ten years ago, we still have a long way to go as a society in accepting people no matter who they are. I'd like to see the distinction between marriage and 'gay' marriage gone. It's just marriage! No matter whether it's two men, two women, or one man and one woman. It's still just two people who love one another and support one another in times of hardship. Two people who want to spend their lives together and build a family. Isn't that all that matters? Why should anything else matter? 
 

To kind of take a tangent off in another direction, I wanted to express my opinion about something which touched a nerve for me recently. There are some people in the LGBTQ community who believe if you aren't out on the street dressed in a rainbow t-shirt with a rainbow flag marching in a parade or protest and proudly screaming for equality you aren't a true supporter. So because I'm not one of those who run out to every Pride festival or rally or stand on the White House lawn yelling at the President and demanding equality for all, I'm not allowed to say I'm a supporter of LGBTQ rights? Who says? Who makes that determination? I write gay romance. I hurt for those I see affected by the hatred still felt in so many hearts. I reprimand anyone in my little bubble of a world who says anything offensive or snarky about gay men and women. I CARE. I donate to LGBTQ charities. I openly and proudly tell people what I write without a care of what they think. Why doesn't this count? 

I don't see how there should be a distinctive way to support LGBTQ rights. I guarantee you a ton of those people who voted YES on same-sex marriage are like me. Are the ones saying if you aren't actively out there demanding equal rights you aren't a supporter those people don't count as one either? I think that's b.s. They are supporters because if they weren't there wouldn't be those states which now have legalized same-sex marriages. I don't believe you have to be shouting from the rooftops to be heard. Sometimes a whisper is much more effective than a scream. 

Maybe my post will anger some, but how is the judgment of those whispering any different? 

That sort of went all over didn't it? Sorry about that. I have been told more than once my thoughts are fragmented and I can't help how they come out sometimes. Same thing with my writing. My sentence structures tend to come out in unique ways because of the way my brain works. 

On for the part you're all here for... the give away! :D  So this is just a simple thing. Comment to win! I will randomly choose someone as the winner of a bit of swag from Rainbow Con 2014, some of it mine and some it from other authors. I have key chains, pens, and more! No restrictions on locale. If you live in the US or outside of it, doesn't matter. So feel free to comment no matter where you live! :) The winner will be drawn the day after the last day of the hop, May 25th. PLEASE include some form of contact, be it an e-mail or social media avenue. I need to be able to get in touch with you to get your mailing address. 


Please be sure to visit the many, many other blogs participating in this HAHAT event! There are such wonderful posts and awesome prizes to win! Please visit this post to find the links to the other blogs: Hop Against Homopbia - CLICK HERE!

31 comments:

  1. What a great post :) and i agree your a supporter just by actually supporting each and every person no matter what, not how loudly you scream

    Thanks for a chance in you giveaway
    Beeheeley(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. Thank you. :) I think everyone should be able to express themselves how they feel they can.

      Good luck with the contest!

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  2. I totally agree with you love. I sign petitions, do all I can to support LGBT rights, but I've never been to pride, don't own a rainbow flag anything. There is so much we can do without screaming about it. You write, I edit, so I've donated my time to editing books to raise money for charities supporting gay rights. Hopefully that was more useful than me stood somewhere waving a flag. People we know here know we love them, they know we are always here for them, no matter what, that's what counts. I find people have a very skewed view of what actually helps. People forget it's often the quiet ones, gently teaching their kids not to hate, that are slowly changing and shaping out future.
    Keep doing what you do, you're doing great x

    facebook val(dot)hughes(dot)319

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    1. xoxo Thank you! :) Good luck with the contest!

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  3. I agree with you. I don't believe that someone has to join a protest or shout loudly in order to say they support LGBT rights. In fact I'd even go so far to say that those that think people have to and behave belligerantly toward those that don't use those tactics are actually perpetuating another form of bigotry.

    penumbrareads(at)gmail(dot)com

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  4. We just have to keep hoping and working toward the changes we want to see! Great post! Love all I have been reading on the blog hop!
    Thanks for the giveaway too!
    aegger.echo @ yahoo .com

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  5. I have heard over and over - change one thing, one person - change the world. Every whisper has the chance to help or damage, so thanks for helping. I don't write or walk in parades, I do my best to counteract the negatives in my small piece of the world and I read. Boy do I read, so I support multiple causes and people the most effective way I can, I read..
    Cinders1964@yahoo.com

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  6. Have to heartily agree with you, I have both gay and transgender friends and quietly support causes when I can. I have to say I never usually think of them in terms of sexuality the same as a friend of mine who was insulted (she thinks because of her colour) and I said "huh what colour", we have been pals so long I just don't see any difference and never have. I just think of her as my friend not my black friend, and my LGBT friends the same way.

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  7. JR, lovely post. I agree that there are loads of different ways to be a supporter. I don't think your post rambled... made good sense to me, and hey(!) you had David Tennant in a pic. I'm sold. *hee hee*
    ~~Cherie Noel~~

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  8. I agree wholeheartedly. As a fellow writer I understand how your mind works. I admire the fact you are brave enough to share your creations, your babies with the rest of the world. And grateful. .I love your writings.

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  9. Yes! That really is all that matters, but there are plenty of people who cannot understand that. It's frustrating, but hopefully some day it won't be a big deal and marriage will just be marriage. That day cannot come soon enough in my opinion.

    trishaboylove@gmail.com

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  10. What a great blog post.
    I can not see why same sex couples can not get married everywhere. There love is no different from a M/F couple.
    No one should be able to tell people who they can love.
    geetracy1170 (at) gmail (dot) com

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  11. I'm also a supporter, not a screamer
    love is love

    leetee2007@hotmail.com

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  12. I'm supporter for equality for all.
    cvsimpkins@msn.com

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  13. I am more the sit-quietly-in-the-corner-at-the-party type, so, being out loud & proud is beyond my comfort zone. There are so many ways to make changes and the way I raised my kids to be accepting is something I think will help. We all do the best we can.
    mommidono@yahoo.com

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  14. I try to support everyone. lena.grey.iam@gmail.com

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  15. I agree sometimes a whisper is enough.

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  16. AGREE!
    Thanks for being a part of the hop and for the chance to win :)
    raynman1979(at)yahoo(dot)com

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    1. You are the winner of the contest, Rissa! I have already emailed you for your mailing address. Please reply when you can! Congrats! :)

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  17. I totally agree with you. I love that so many people are taking part in this blog hop.
    svblix@gmail.com

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  18. Wonderful post. I couldn't agree more. Everyone has their own of supporting a cause they believe in.

    humhumbum AT yahoo DOT com

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  19. Nice of you to share and participate

    bn100candg at hotmail dot com

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  20. I totally agree. I don't think I'm not a real supporter because I can;t go out there on the streets with the gay peeps. The important thing is that I love them and I defend them whenever I can. This was a lovely post. Thanks.

    shayla.mist@gmail.com

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  21. People are great at judging each other, no matter what the context might be. To me, support is when an author goes into a room for her signing, sees that not one single person has shown up, goes back to her table, and finds another author who patiently and kindly listens to the reading the first author never got to give to her audience. You touch lives in many ways, and you don't need to defend yourself to anyone.

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  22. I agree! Not everybody supports in the same way.

    Deborah H
    Deborahhansen52@yahoo.com

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  23. I agree, it is the support that matters, quiet or vocal, we can all make a difference.
    MHupp2003203(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  24. I agree. It's not always necessary to go on parades to support an issue. We can promote its awareness in our own little way.

    ladyunwritten[AT]gmail[DOT]com

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  25. Thank you so much for your thoughts!
    OceanAkers @ aol.com

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  26. Thanks for taking part in the hop!

    kimberlyFDR@yahoo.com

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  27. I agree with you too. I enjoyed your post. Thanks for being part of the hop.
    sstrode at scrtc dot com

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  28. Thank you for the chance to enter! wendynjason04@gmail.com

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