Saturday December 10, 2011 at 2:06

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Quote

“My fellow queers and assorted allies: we have got to stop using arguments like “We were born this way!” and “Being queer is not a choice!” as our first line of defense against heterosexists. It might sound like a neat little trick to pull on these people: if we can’t help being queer, then it’s not fair to punish us for something we didn’t do. But in reality, every time we use this argument we are actually weakening our own position. Shouting “Born this way” from the rooftops is the opposite of progress…. I think the most serious problem with this argument is that it reinforces the idea that we need an excuse to be queer. As a result, using this line subtly supports the idea that being queer requires excusing in some way. Don’t use it. Don’t allow straight people to generate an understanding of queer sexuality that sounds like: “Well, of course Bob wouldn’t wish to be queer, but he was born this way. I guess we better give him equal rights – poor Bob, he just can’t help it. We shouldn’t punish him for something he didn’t choose!”
Meanwhile the real reason that you shouldn’t punish Bob for queerness is because there’s nothing wrong with it!”

— Social Justice League - Fauxgress Watch: Born This Way.  (via anotherlgbttumblr)

This post was reblogged from Hear my beaten heart exclaim.

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    I was seriously just arguing this…we were having this discussion on gay rights and what-not with my family(never again...
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  17. yourface69 reblogged this from peaceballs and added:
    really, really agree with this quote. I pretty stronly...queer, and while
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  22. snowstorminjuly reblogged this from turnthestaticup and added:
    Because I don’t identify as queer (amongst other reasons), I have a problem with saying that this argument shouldn’t be...
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