It has been said the gay rights movement has no social boundaries; however, in the first Mattachine Society, women were forced to separate due to sexism. This is a clear example of an esplanade for gay rights'. I understand since the Gay Liberation Front, or before, gender issues have come together. I don't keep up with this area so it's better to ask those who know, in your opinion; Are there other boundaries within society which the movement does not cross?

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"It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried" Churchill

I think it's naive to think that any sane person supports anything that breaks all social boundaries. Some boundaries exist for good reason, others for no reason at all. I would hope that anyone who claims to support a movement for no social boundaries really means they support the abolishment of social boundaries that exist without good reason. And not by force, of course, but by education. Law, however, is subject to force on this front.

The gay rights movement has joined together, although relatively recently, in support of gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgendered persons. My ignorance of other possible baseless social boundaries aside, this, to me, represents perhaps the last greatest social barrier that exists in society without purpose.

Other boundaries that exist include bestiality, incest, and pedophilia. I believe good reason can exist to create social stigma and legal barriers regarding these practices, though it is up to argument. Maybe you want to include certain religions among those the movement does not support, though i don't suppose the movement is against any religion that also does not seek to get in its way. Did you have any other social barriers in mind?

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True knowledge exists in being aware of what you don't know.

oops. Double post. Sorry!

AH

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“Every morning in Africa, a Gazelle wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning a Lion wakes up. It knows it must outrun the slowest Gazelle or it will starve to death. It doesn't matter whether you are a Lion or a Gazelle... when the sun comes up, you'd better be running.”

In South Africa, there used to be division on racial grounds, as everything was in those bad days.

Now ther eis once more talk of deviding it, since the feeling is that current groups are too Eurocentric, as the cultural problems do differ.

I am against racal devisions.

And talking about this - I can NOT understand racist gay people. You get discriminated against for who you are, and then turn around and do the same???

AH

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“Every morning in Africa, a Gazelle wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning a Lion wakes up. It knows it must outrun the slowest Gazelle or it will starve to death. It doesn't matter whether you are a Lion or a Gazelle... when the sun comes up, you'd better be running.”

I suppose you could add youth to the list that we erect social barriers around, both "socially" and legally, and which "the movement" does not seek to destroy.

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True knowledge exists in being aware of what you don't know.

The OP is a bunch of hooey. Gays and lesbians have social boundaries too. What disturbs hets is that they aren't familiar with gay culture or seeing gays and lesbians express themselves freely. When we do so, they feel upset.

There is a difference between social boundaries and being in the closet. IMO some str8t folks want us in the closet--they want that level of social boundary.

We want to be open just like they are. Taking time off to be with my wife when she's ill or needs to go to the doctor. Considering my inlaws--her family the same as a married hets inlaws. Things of this nature.

Most of us are living quiet lives just like everyone else. We cease to be quiet when it comes to living a life as a second class citizen as gays and lesbians.

Young people at stages of life of high sexual actinig out--like college students at spring break are not much different from young gays and lesbians who get outrageous at Pride Parades.

They're all blowing off steam. With gays and lesbians, it is the steam of repression.

I think the OP is asking a question in a sneaky way. What the OP wants to know IMO, is whether gays and lesbians draw a boundary about pedophilia. We do. No one supports child molestation or pedophilia which is against the law. Where we draw the line, is that what goes on in the privacy of consenting adults bedrooms is nobody's dammed business. And we should not be discriminated against for private consenting behavior that harms no one.

Wow. This wasn't a flaming thread, I was trying to understand the movement better as I stated in the post. It was a valid question which would make one think. How does this offend anyone? I haven't pitted myself for or against any category, and have stated only facts. Please explain.

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"It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried" Churchill

I should clear this up. Compared to other movements such as civil rights, this is the one which transgresses all perceived boundaries, not in a bad way, (which some people took it). There is a legitimate path the movement took to ease tensions within social networks, media, etc., understanding this is the key for anyone who is discriminated against. This is what I am trying to apprehend, not to be 'sneaky'.

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"It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried" Churchill

Prior to June 27-28 1969 The gay movemnet did not exist. It started with the riots at the Stonewall Inn. You refer to the old GLF which has been altered now to LBGT. The GLF is actually gone. They formed in NY. Pror to this there were gay groups that met but none was prepared to take on the US laws and make this a fight.

GLF started after the Stonewall Bar incident. The next year they held the first gay pride parade. Being homosexual at the time was against the law. The acts of a homosexual were banned and illegal even after bans on gays themselves were lifted in some states.

I was at that first pride parade. The banner was Remember Stonewall. I refer to all these events in another thread.

The movement has simplt wanted to be equal in all aspects of society. Much as the Civil Rights Movement was looking for equal access to the law so are we. It has been a long time getting as far as we have.

There is still a long way to go. Much of the difficulty comes from the religious views that many people have. Many gays not all struggle with religion because that is the main barrior to the laws we want to change.

We and I believe that these views are religious nased predjudice and they should not have any effect on the law making process. The religious argjement shoul in fact not be heard by the states. the aspect of Human and Civil rights should be looked at.

I hope that helps you with your questions.

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Nice post and I'm wondering if it addresses the 'social boundarie' question, which I still don't understand.