It's "Emmys = karma, Joss" Thursday MKF 7/

[The Destroyer]

Fair enough, and good attitude to take, but I didnt bring up other boards.

[VampNo12]

I won't mention specific boards by name, but I have to agree that I at least felt uncomfortable at other boards. I used to lurk at a few other boards, but once the Tara death spoilers started to heat up I found other boards quite unpleasant with their comments regarding Tara (as well as the W&T relationship). Before I was able to tolerate these boards, but now I only visit/ happily stay (and post) at the kitty (a true "safe haven").

[supermus]

Sorry, didn't mean to stir up pointless argument. I guess I felt compelled to defend the C & S as it is my other home.

[Pipsqueak]

First of all, let me just say that I shouldn't even be online right now, since I'm on vacation with my family. But our hotel has high-speed Internet, and it's pouring buckets outside, so guess how I'm choosing to waste my time.

Just wanted to say something about this (rather old) quote:

[quote:c1b117f376][b:c1b117f376][i:c1b117f376]Quote:[/i:c1b117f376][/b:c1b117f376]

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WT have changed the minds of some people who used to be homophobes for the better

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[/quote:c1b117f376]

I can testify to this, because I used to be one of those people. It's shameful to admit it now, but it's true. I would [i:c1b117f376] never[/i:c1b117f376] have called myself a homophobe, of course, and I didn't want to go around beating up gays. But I believed my pastor and Sunday school teachers when they said homosexuality was evil and a sin. I would see gay pride parades on TV and roll my eyes, thinking to myself "Why can't they just shut up about being gay? If they wouldn't draw attention to themselves, they'd be treated like normal people." I thought it was a bad idea to show healthy gay relationships in movies and TV because the poor innocent children might see it and be "encouraged" to be gay, and wouldn't that just be horrible. I believed it was a "choice", and a sinful one at that. (Did I mention I was a VERY conservative, VERY fundamentalist Christian?)

My opinions started to change just a little when I joined an online posting board (not this one) where some of the posters were gay, and they seemed to be nice, normal people. Imagine that. Also, I read some very logical, straightforward arguments about why gays should be allowed to marry, and found myself agreeing. (I've always been a sucker for logic.) But I still thought homosexuality was a sin, and that we righteous folk can't let ourselves be corrupted by those gays.

Then I started watching [i:c1b117f376] Buffy[/i:c1b117f376], and got hooked. I noticed that two of the characters were lesbians, but didn't pay much attention at first. Then, after a while, I found myself smiling whenever Willow and Tara had a sweet moment, or when they kissed. I cried when Tara left Willow at the end of "Tabula Rasa". It was startling. Was I actually [i:c1b117f376] rooting[/i:c1b117f376] for a gay couple? How could that happen?

I scoured the Internet looking for [i:c1b117f376] Buffy[/i:c1b117f376] discussion groups, and in the process stumbled across this board. Wow. Talk about a [b:c1b117f376] major[/b:c1b117f376] eye-opener. I never knew about this thing called the "lesbian cliche". I never knew the gay community had so few role models to begin with. I never knew about all the hate and bigotry and general crap you guys have to deal with, every day. I read about your fulfilling relationships with your partners, and it made me smile. I read about your families rejecting you and strangers beating you up, and it made me cry.

I read some smutfic on Pens and got turned on. Whoa. I started looking at the world with new eyes and realized that I was attracted to women, and had always been attracted to women, but had refused to acknowledge it. (I'm still figuring things out, and can't say anything definite about my sexuality at this point other than that I'm not 100% straight, but at least I'm not afraid to be myself anymore.)

Now I realize just how "unequal" this world is, and it makes me want to make it better. I devour newspapers and magazines looking for articles related to GLBT issues. I tell everyone I meet about [i:c1b117f376] Buffy[/i:c1b117f376] and especially about Willow and Tara, and how great they are (or were). I'm trying to educate my parents (who are pretty much a lost cause) and my friends (not so lost!) about gay issues. I want to help all those gay teens out there who are struggling with their identity and feel lost and hopeless and alone. I know now that it's not a choice, it just IS, and you don't "turn" gay or straight. And it's not evil or sinful, because how can love be a sin?

It's hard to explain, but the difference in my mindset is like night and day. I'm still a Christian, but have learned to think for myself, and now I can see that love is love is love is love. And it's always beautiful.

This wouldn't have happened if not for the wonder of Willow and Tara, and for this board. You guys have taught me SO much. All I can hope to do is to repay you by trying to educate others the way you have educated me. Joss did a horrible, unforgivable thing when he killed Tara, but he can't destroy the good things that she brought about.

Maybe that's corny, but I think it needed to be said. Okay, I'm done now.

[BoredNow99]

[b:fa9db90ede] Pipsqueak[/b:fa9db90ede], that was a really moving post, and a brave one, too.

Obviously I know how important Willow and Tara have been to the gay community, but it's good to hear how much they helped you personally, and made such a difference in your life.

Thanks for sharing it with us, and I'm glad you found the Kitten

[friskylez]

All i can say is WOW Pipsqueak, what a wonderful post..Its nice to know that there are those in the world who can keep an open mind and can accept people for who they are..Thanks for a heartfelt post

[xita]

Pipsqueak, wow, that was a great story. The changes you've gone through, it's amazing and you know after the little troll incident in another thread, your post made me smile and reminded me why we put up with that and continue on. You are an amazing person, it takes great strength to go through what you've gone through. Congrats

[Dave V]

Pipsqueak, thanks for the moving post. I hope things go well with you and your family.

[roamin]

Pipsqueak thanks for the great post, and thanks for being an open and thinking individual.

You should write Joss, Wanda, TVGal, all of ME and share your story with them. it's a great story that shows how much good Willow and Tara did by being on TV, and how much more good they could have continued to do.

[VampNo12]

Pipsqueak what you said wasn't corny at all, but rather quite touching/moving about how W&T has changed your perspective/feelings . I am really glad you shared this with us, it put a smile on my face ( ). Thanks again for sharing!

[Willowlicious]

[b:8ea185df48] Pipsqueak[/b:8ea185df48], thank you so, so much for sharing that.

Amy

[Ben Varkentine]

First of all, Pipsqueak, great post. Real "this is why we're voicing our protest" stuff.

Now, I just wanted to inform people that over in the BuffyGuide.com forum someone made a post spreading misinformation about The Kitten. Claiming we've been doing something that AFAIK, for the most part we're not doing. I've posted what I can to level the playing field, but if anyone wants to join me it's the "Should BTVS be Cancelled?" thread.

[BytrSuite]

Yes, Pipsqueak, thank you for sharing that wonderful post. It was very moving. Thanks for having the courage to post it.

[Sheridan]

I went, I read some of the posts, I felt like strangling people. Can't really recommend going there, especially as you have to register to post and I am not going to boost their numbers.

[hilarita]

yeah...every couple months i feel the urge to go to a board and defend myself, and then i just remember what made me hate going to these places to begin with.

[Kalita]

Pipsqueak, I'm just so enheartened and boosted by your post. That you have made this journey in your life, that you have shared it with us, and most importantly, that we had some part of it, is just too incredible for words.

I'll just say, thank you for sharing, and for being yourself.

[urnofosiris]

Thank you Pipsqueak, that was a wonderful post. It illustrates two of the important aspects of WT: positively changing people's -whether they be homophobes or not- minds about what being gay means, and helping people -whether they be gay or not- feel better about themselves. And this board has helped me a lot and taught me many things as well, still does, and whatever negative stuff might occasionally cross our paths here, people like you and your post make it worthwhile ten times over.

[Ben Varkentine]

I wouldn't have said anything here if it were just the usual kind of sideswipes...what pissed me off was the misinformation. It's one thing to disgaree...

But enough about that...back to the much deserevd praise for that post...