[nmnita]

Originally Posted by smithy77

Maybe the turnout was small because Omaha can still be a very conservative, hostile, fearful, closeted community when it comes to anything gay. Many gay people like myself left long ago for greener pastures in more accepting places than Omaha. This may be changing, I hope, with the under 30 crowd in Omaha. Civil rights have never been granted to any group of people in this country who 'sat down and behaved'. Sometimes you have to make some noise to be heard. That's just part of American history, whether you like it or not.

Smitty, there is taking action, trying to make yourself heard and there is hard core protesting that often leads to violence, anger and more hatred.

NIta

[SurfOmaha]

Originally Posted by DTO Luv

Well the event got done around 1:30 so I don't know what it was you were seeing.

There can always be a bigger crowd but it was very cold today and no matter what the issue it can always be a struggle to get people to show up for any kind of political event. It's one thing to complain, it's another to go out and do something about it.

Also some people I talked with about going don't feel like they can be "out" in Omaha/Nebraska which is sad.

That's right DTO, lots of gays in Omaha don't feel comfortable in situations where their sexuality could be revealed to their employers. Like I've complained before, its still legal in Nebraska to be fired just for being gay, which has nothing to do with job performance. But that's one of the biggest obstacles I run into whenever I try to promote one of these events. Weather is another factor, but people are primarily afraid of losing their jobs for being gay. Thanks for the bigotry Nebraska! Alas, we will try again, warmer weather will be here. We will March down the heart of the Old Market. This years Gay Pride Parade will be politically charged. Better stay home that weekend, especially if you hate gays.

btw, I finally met DTO. I got to show him my scary fatigues and my activist hammer I stole from one of those activist courts. No one seems to be missing it.

By the way, in case I've never properly introduced myself, My name is SurfOmaha, and I'm here to recruit you.

[SurfOmaha]

Originally Posted by smithy77

Maybe the turnout was small because Omaha can still be a very conservative, hostile, fearful, closeted community when it comes to anything gay. Many gay people like myself left long ago for greener pastures in more accepting places than Omaha. This may be changing, I hope, with the under 30 crowd in Omaha. Civil rights have never been granted to any group of people in this country who 'sat down and behaved'. Sometimes you have to make some noise to be heard. That's just part of American history, whether you like it or not.

Smithy77 gets it. Nita, you do not! *smacks down activist hammer*

[Stacy From Cali]

Originally Posted by nmnita

Smitty, there is taking action, trying to make yourself heard and there is hard core protesting that often leads to violence, anger and more hatred.

NIta

Actually the origins of the gay movement lie in violent protest. Look up the Stonewall Riot and see what happened. It was incredibly successful.

[DTO Luv]

So we should dress in drag and fight the police? I'll have to start practicing karate in my heels.

[Filet Mignon]

Originally Posted by SurfOmaha

That's right DTO, lots of gays in Omaha don't feel comfortable in situations where their sexuality could be revealed to their employers. Like I've complained before, its still legal in Nebraska to be fired just for being gay, which has nothing to do with job performance. But that's one of the biggest obstacles I run into whenever I try to promote one of these events. Weather is another factor, but people are primarily afraid of losing their jobs for being gay. Thanks for the bigotry Nebraska! Alas, we will try again, warmer weather will be here. We will March down the heart of the Old Market. This years Gay Pride Parade will be politically charged. Better stay home that weekend, especially if you hate gays.

btw, I finally met DTO. I got to show him my scary fatigues and my activist hammer I stole from one of those activist courts. No one seems to be missing it.

By the way, in case I've never properly introduced myself, My name is SurfOmaha, and I'm here to recruit you.

So cold weather and fear kept 50,000+ homosexuals from protesting?

I don't think so.

[Stacy From Cali]

Originally Posted by Filet Mignon

So cold weather and fear kept 50,000+ homosexuals from protesting?

I don't think so.

Dude, just because one is gay does not mean one must be an activist. Are you disturbed/intrigued by the (lack of) numbers you saw because it convinces you that there are no gays in Omaha (dream on)? Or because you wish the gay community here were more visible? I am unclear what drives your curiosity/scorn.

DTOLuv: Its stories of the Rockettes-style kickline that always cracks me up! Kickline...in the middle of a riot! That's kahones.

[Filet Mignon]

Originally Posted by Stacy From Cali

Dude, just because one is gay does not mean one must be an activist. Are you disturbed/intrigued by the (lack of) numbers you saw because it convinces you that there are no gays in Omaha (dream on)? Or because you wish the gay community here were more visible? I am unclear what drives your curiosity/scorn.

DTOLuv: Its stories of the Rockettes-style kickline that always cracks me up! Kickline...in the middle of a riot! That's kahones.

Well, I hear SurfOmaha, et al, constantly venting about how gays are discriminated against, and how Omaha is such a backwards hateful place, and good employees being fired just because a boss found out they were gay, and I'm just not buying it.

As difficult as it is to find and retain good employees, I seriously doubt that there are employers in Omaha who are firing people simply because they're gay. Not only would that be incredibly stupid, it would cause all hell to break loose.

Also, if Omaha is such an oppressive place against gays, I'd think homosexuals would be adamant about pressing for their rights.


That said, I was just struck by how inconsequential this "protest" or "march" was. It just seemed like pretty much nobody - gay or straight - was paying much attention.

So maybe it's really NOT that big a deal in Omaha...

[DTO Luv]

I would still say it's a big deal to lots of people whether 3 people show up or 3,000 show up. It was part of a national protest in many cities across the country and being in Nebraska it's always going to be hard to get any group of people together unless something for the huskers.

I know of one person in my company who quit his job because his boss made him feel uncomfortable because he claimed that she treated him differently once she found out his orientation. Unless you are gay I don't think you would understand the need to fly under the radar. Yes most people are going to be fine with you but I myself have had peoples attitudes towards me change to negative after they found out I was gay.

Standing out on a street corner might not be comfortable to some people especially with the media there. While this particular even may have been small it doesn't mean that there aren't many other people who don't feel the same way. I never made any claims about this being some big city stopping event but this is hardly indicative of other gay events in Omaha that do draw hundreds or thousands of people. There is Pride, Night of 1,000 Stars, The Gay Rodeo, and many other events that draw people out. (Also all warm weather mind you and not political but social events.)

[Filet Mignon]

Originally Posted by DTO Luv

I would still say it's a big deal to lots of people whether 3 people show up or 3,000 show up. It was part of a national protest in many cities across the country and being in Nebraska it's always going to be hard to get any group of people together unless something for the huskers.
Well... Then that would mean that the Huskers are more important than civil rights - even to homosexuals?


I know of one person in my company who quit his job because his boss made him feel uncomfortable because he claimed that she treated him differently once she found out his orientation.
He quit his job - he was not fired.
He claimed that his boss treated him differently. But that is EXTREMELY subjective.


Unless you are gay I don't think you would understand the need to fly under the radar. Yes most people are going to be fine with you but I myself have had peoples attitudes towards me change to negative after they found out I was gay.
Sure, but that's a far cry from discrimination and/or being fired.


Standing out on a street corner might not be comfortable to some people especially with the media there. While this particular even may have been small it doesn't mean that there aren't many other people who don't feel the same way.
Yes this is true - but if gay rights are that big of a problem, and that big an issue, there WOULD be more people there.


I never made any claims about this being some big city stopping event but this is hardly indicative of other gay events in Omaha that do draw hundreds or thousands of people. There is Pride, Night of 1,000 Stars, The Gay Rodeo, and many other events that draw people out. (Also all warm weather mind you and not political but social events.)

Honestly, I'm a pragmatist. IF something is a big enough problem, we WILL do something about it.

The obvious absence of the overwhelming majority of Omaha's homosexuals - at this "protest" - shows me that the overwhelming majority of Omaha's homosexuals don't feel there are issues worth protesting.


I've got a good friend, a homosexual, who is a school teacher in a local junior high. His orientation is not a mystery to anybody. He is not harassed at work, and has not been fired. I also know that he was not at this protest, because it's not that big of a deal. He's just busy living his life.