Being “Out” is so Gay

I detest hearing people say something “is so gay” when they are talking about “stupid” or “dumb.”  That kind of thoughtless use of language continues to make members of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bi and trans-gendered)community feel disrespected and can foster an environment where real bigotry occurs.  But let’s face it, when most people think of being “out” or “coming out,” being gay or lesbian immediately springs to mind.  As it should.  The experience is often one of the most important and traumatic a homosexual person will ever go through and living as an openly “out” gay or lesbian means learning how to deal with small mindedness and bigotry on an almost daily basis.

Which brings me to my point.  I’m uncomfortable with the term “out” when used by atheists going public about their world view.  I understand and agree with the basic premise of Richard Dawkins’ Out Campaign.  Greater acceptance, lessoning of fear, political consideration and a willingness to listen and understand an atheist’s point of view are all worthwhile goals.  I just don’t like riding on the coat-tails of the LGBT movement.

We, as atheists or skeptics or free-thinkers or what have you, are not engaged in a civil rights struggle.  Atheists are not a suppressed minority and laws don’t need to be enacted or changed to protect my unpopular point of view.  (And before anyone talks about changing laws to get Intelligent Design out of the science class room, that needs to happen, not to protect my non-religious world view nor because it offends me, but because it is bad science.)  So let’s not minimize the real struggle and real progress made by the LGBT community.

We don’t need to be so gay.

-Jay