Welcome to Gaia! ::

... I did that... I almost lost my best friend that way... But it is good advice. Although she didn't feel the same, she still loves me as a friend.

For a while I didn't know what I was either. I have a boyfriend, although he lives in a different state, but I also like a really good friend of mine.

There is nothing wrong with being proud of who and what you are. Pride isn't a bad thing, like most people think. Sometimes, pride is a good thing--maybe even a *needed* thing. The gay community has been thrown around and pushed into proverbial closets for centuries, due to fear of difference and the need of power. There is nothing wrong with being strong and accepting who you are--and naturally having the urge to show others who you are.

Like some other people have mentioned, it's great to be proud of who you are--but you should use caution. While it's by no means wrong to be proud and to want others to accept you...the sad truth is alot of people won't accept you and some may harbor ill will to you based soley on your orientation. The thing that you should keep in mind is..you are yourself--not your sexual idenity. There are a lot of gay people in the world...but only one you. You can be proud of being gay etc...but don't let it take over your life so to speak, just like we label others...we can label ourselves. If you put 'gay' before 'you', then others will do the same and not take a second look beyond your sexual orientation. So, use caution to who and how you show your pride.

As for why homophobia is so rampant? It's based on alot of issues, it's impossible to tie all the treads together. To up it in perspective i think it could be narrowed down to three things. Religion, Tradition, and Men vs Women.

I think the most important reason is that men wanted total power over women, and to keep that power. Not only with women, but everything. The struggle to be the most powerful--the richest, strongest. It alll really boiled down to...keeping the opposite sex at bay. To keep women submissive and obedient. All most all ancient cultures adhered to this idea.

Religions spawned, catering to this law of Men over woman, Traditions were started, and upheld and women were held..at bay for millenia. In a nutshell, these religions struck at idependent women, pagan religions that drew women, and also homosexuals. Why? Because, gay men were thought to have thrown away thier loyalties to manhood, they were 'like women' and therefor obviously submissive and currupted. Lesbians were just as bad--or worse because they neglected the use of man completely and were content with one another. These groups of people lessened man's hold on the world, the Churches hold on the world--and so they had to be stopped. We are still feeling the effects of this battle--beause it's still going on.

There is nothing wrong with anybody's sexual preference.

That really isn't fair, but then again most of the world isn't "fair".

People are just idiots and this will take time to pass over them. Just like when black people were such lowly beings all those years ago.

Who the hell cares whos lebian, bi,or strait. smile

I agree I really don't care, if they have a problem with it TOUGH!!