The GOP and Gays.

[ColbertWatcher]

I'd like to put an end to this.

Every time one of the GOP rising young stars is discovered in some homosexual affair, the links come up on GD.

However, I'd like to ask if we take care to make sure the reason for the link is the hypocrisy? Or do we post the story not realizing how the language or the post may be misconstrued as homophobic?

I'd like to ask the Moderators not move this to another forum since the posts I am referring to appear on the General Discussion forum.

[Bluebear]

1. We get the hypocrisy when the post comes up...it's what follows.

"He was obviously gay by the way he acted."

"Yoo hoo, Jeff Gannon and George Bush and Karl Rove, you have a fourth!"

"Ha ha ha, the Gay Old Party"

"We all knew he was somebody's butt buddy ha ha ha."

Etcetera.

Along with "lighten up! It's just a joke! Don't be so PC!"

[ColbertWatcher]

2. But, does everyone do that?

When I see a link for another story about another GOPher who has devoted his entire life as an elected official to discount and alienate his homosexual constituents, the first thing I think of is "another hypocrite".

I know others don't but how why does this keep happening?

[Bluebear]

3. Because you have a handful of folks who will never realize how their responses sound.

Most of our friends here do "get it", but some won't change their definition of what is offensive by way of commentary. It's like an automatic tic that a gay joke has to follow the OP.

[ColbertWatcher]

5. But, what is offensive?

Is just saying the GOPher is gay offensive?

For the record: I'm not completely innocent, but I try to limit my "gay jokes" to a satirical site, not DU.

[FreeState]

7. If you use it as an insult or in some way to show that the person is less than

because of their sexual orientation - thats what I personally would/do find offensive.

[Bluebear]

8. It is offensive 1) when there is no indication of same or 2) if it is used as an insult

i.e. Karl Rove must be gay, Sean Hannity must be gay, Rev. Dobson must be gay. We don't want them.

[galledgoblin]

4. has DU clarified the board position on "homophobes hate gays because...

they themselves are closeted gay"? I know statements of that nature offend some.

[ColbertWatcher]

6. I don't know if the rules are that specific, but...

...there is a page that discusses forum rules (http://www.democraticunderground.com/forums/rules.html)