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stevesnj · Oct 29, 2005, 06:16 PM

I was in the car with a friend of mine and his son who is in High School and we were tlaking about how over time the latter generations seem to be more accepting of Gays and Lesbians. So I figure since most of us here on the forum are straight I wanted to get your opinion of how you think your generation lets say those that were teens in the 60's 70's, 80's, 90's and you current teens in the 00's.

Personally, I went to high school in the late 80's and while there we knew the girrls abd guys who were gay, Bi, lesbian and well we could care less. In fact most of the graduating class that we knew and still talk to over the years had no problem either. Friends from other schools felt the same way yet older friends that grew up in the 70's seem to be less accepting. My friends son says the gay and lesbians are more open and no one seems to care.

As a teacher i see more displays of affection between same sex students in the hall and other students look and comment but nothing discriminating and seem accepting about it.

So what does your generation think of homosexuality these days? and for those in High School still... do you see displays of affection?

Scandalous Ion Cannon · Oct 29, 2005, 06:33 PM

It really depends on the country or even town.

stevesnj · Oct 29, 2005, 06:40 PM

Originally Posted by Scandalous Ion Cannon

It really depends on the country or even town.

I understand that...it is just an informal question I thought was brought on by an interesting question.

But im in the USA in New Jersey

OldManMac · Oct 29, 2005, 07:19 PM

I graduated High School in 1965, and if you were thought to be homosexual then, you were in for a rough time, and my generation still isn't accepting of it, as evidenced by the recent votes to ban gay marriage in most states. Most people will tell you they don't care one way or the other, but when it comes time to actually vote on their beliefs, they sing a different tune. The youth of today do seem to be more accepting of it, and hopefully that will translate to changes in the future, where all people will be accepted for who they are.

Sage · Oct 29, 2005, 07:38 PM

I’m a high school senior. At my school, there is a huge amount of acceptance – here it’s viewed as just “a part of you”, like being black or having skinny legs. In all seriousness, gays aren’t really treated any different around here than heterosexuals – people might poke fun occasionally, but in the same way that friends might throw racist jokes at each other for fun. I know several gay people on-campus, and they’ve never been discriminated against.

That said, there are a few openly homophobic people here and there (one happens to sit next to me in AP Lit), but they’re usually ignored or literally told to eff-off. You’re way more likely to be verbally attacked here if you’re a homophobe than if you’re a heterosexual.

So, yes, we’re very accepting. Sometimes I’ll even flat-out forget that a person I know is gay.

OldManMac · Oct 29, 2005, 07:44 PM

As the father of a lesbian, I'm certainly glad to hear that.

stevesnj · Oct 29, 2005, 07:52 PM

Originally Posted by KarlG

As the father of a lesbian, I'm certainly glad to hear that.

Karl thanks for revealing that here. I don't know if you have in other posts and I didn't intend to have anyone reveal themselves or family it was an question I was curious about. I don't want to get too personal but how has or was her acceptancein High School?

OldManMac · Oct 29, 2005, 08:18 PM

She wasn't out in high school, which was over 12 years ago.

ghporter · Oct 29, 2005, 08:56 PM

I went to high school in a small town in Southeast Michigan in the mid 1970s. A VERY small town, in fact; my graduating class had 107 people in it. I was not aware of any students who were gay, but at that age most of us are only really "aware" of our close circle of friends and what we hear from them. One of our teachers was gay and many of us knew it, but another teacher (the first one's room mate) was under everyone's radar.

As my parents knew a few gay people socially and weren't at all weirded out by it in general, they brought me up that way too. It was - and still IS - no big deal for me. In fact, people who get freaky about other people's sexuality are what weird ME out. What's the problem? Affraid they'll hit on you? Or maybe it's the other way around...

OldManMac · Oct 29, 2005, 09:01 PM

Originally Posted by ghporter

. <snip> In fact, people who get freaky about other people's sexuality are what weird ME out. What's the problem? Affraid they'll hit on you? Or maybe it's the other way around...

Bingo! If one is secure in his/her beliefs, what other people believe don't bother him.