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10/07/2022

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Amaiya

Reading this article made me upset that the world is still afraid of gay people. This article was a great insight of a point of view of a family that was discriminated against. This affected older generations such as the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, 90’s, and even the early 2000’s. During those times it was extremely dangerous to be yourself as a gay person. Being a young black 18 year old lesbian woman, that in it’s self is a struggle. The gay rights movement will live on just as the hateful people spew it upon us; as we are now included in everyday advertisements. For example it can be seen commercials, billboards, and family products such diapers for your baby. There are decades of research of queerness and its people. Queer kinship defines it self as people coming together while being in a peaceful enviornment. Other than that, queer kinship was discovered in the early 1990’s. In my opinion, it was the study to see how LGBTQ+ people develop bonds with others outside of the heteronormative family. As it says in the article “Queer kinship first emerged in the early 1990s as a concept in anthropology to describe the ways that LGBTQ+ people develop bonds outside of the heteronormative family.’’ ( Bradway and Freeman, 2022) There is a lot I could say about this article; this is what I will say after reading it. It made me smarter as a person and a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community.

Hannah

I honestly didn't find this article too surprising. Our society is evolving daily, and we're constantly redefining the norm. A “family” is typically or ``traditionally” characterized as a married mother and father, and a few kids. The mother takes care of the children, and the father goes to work. The “American dream”. Well now, more and more families are challenging that standard. Two people don't need to be married to have a child or start a family; they certainly don't need to be a man and a woman! Many families only have one parent or guardian. Nearly a quarter of children (18<) in America live in a single parent household. (Census.gov) Your parents don't have to be your blood relatives, or even be romantically involved. This article talked all about this and what they defined as "queer kinship." The article also talks about how America has and constantly tries to break up those "abnormal families'' and that they still do. They mention slavery, the Native American genocide, the recent family separation at the border, and even the current attack on the LGBTQ+ community and their right to adopt children. Because so many Americans don't fit into the conservatives idea of an ideal family, they not only face attacks from society, but they're having their rights violated and infringed upon.

Zachary

I find that reading this article very impactful to the people who have not seen the restriction against the LGBTQ community. I agree with Amaiya on the fact that it is upsetting that people are still afraid of gay people. Hannah said something important in their blog post that their rights are being violated by society norms is a hard truth that must be heard. In 2022 there was 238 laws released against the LGBTQ community (nbcnews.com). That is a very scary number why is that people are so against people loving who they love and what they want to be. The fact that people would kick their own kids out of the family just because of what they are is just a sad and terrible truth. Instead of accepting the changes that are happening in both their kids and society, they decide to ruin their kids’ lives and disown them. The article states “In the aftermath of Roe v. Wade, many have been quick to point out the hypocrisy of Republican policies that purport to be ‘pro-life’ only until birth. In response, conservatives now argue that they must begin to develop legislation around” ‘the basic social building block of the family’ (Tyler Bradway and Elizabeth Freeman). The fact that people even made a movement against the LGTBQ+ targeting rights of the community is something that must be heard. They are people too why must we suppress them and keep taking what they have to them they were already limited with rights as is from past rights, but we just keep putting more laws and making their life worse to a fellow human being.

lisbeht B

Reading this article demonstrates how so much people fear change and are so close minded. which I agree with Amaiya that before the 2000's is was dangerous to find the same gender attractive or to even think of that idea. There is nothing wrong to be with the same gender or to switch genders most people just happen to feel that way and there is nothing that can be done but to accept. A family should not require a Mom and dad especially when most families are missing a parent for many reasons. Although if there is a possibility to have two moms or two dads there should not be hated because the LGTBQ community is providing innocent children a family who most people can not do. LGTBQ community should have a right to speak for themselves and find better solutions than mistreating them. After all they should have a voice they are not "abnormal". IT is the 21st century new generation is more accepting than the older generation but somehow the older generation adds laws to prevent any LGTBQ community to live a peaceful life. I hear so much hate towards them and the community treats them poorly.

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