I love your writing Ben. I so appreciate your perspective. I'm so tired of the new rainbow flag, the terminology of being CIS and all this new cult is emboldened to speak. Ive been a lesbian for 47 years and I'm loosing patience being associated with the gender queer community. I want to take back the word "queer" where is belongs.....It was about taking back the slur of lesbian and gay folks not gender queer folks.
Ben, thanks for referencing the article I wrote on my experience with politically correct activists, the precursors of woke, which I penned back in 1994 (when I was five years old :-).
Left-liberals, esp the young "digital natives", don't know how to construct or engage in a respectful and reasonable argument. I've tried for years on everything from Trans to BLM to Trump to Israel and have only been met by frothing rage, slander and bigotry accusations.
I think there's something about the internet and social media that gives everyone the brain of an angry entitled infant and debate or disagreement feels like I've snatched away their favorite toy. Also, now that all brains have been melted and merged into the hivemind, reality and morality have been turned upside-down: Tolerance means enforced celebration, Diversity means ideological uniformity, Liberation means someone else must serve you, and Love means total hatred for people who don't share your conception of love.
Ben, I'm demonized as a 'cis white non-affirming mom'. I get messages that I should die soon and/or kill myself and all sorts of "kind and caring wishes" like that. Carry on and forward Ben!
One small point. I don’t think Gen Z is anti gay marriage entirely because they’ve been led to believe it’s part of the patriarch. I think many of them are anti marriage, period. Also if it’s gay marriage Ali e they don’t like, it’s probably extreme activism they are reacting to
They say they are anti-marriage because most of them aren't old enough to be married, at least by the standards of their generation. Their "privileged" members are dependent on their parents until they are at least into their thirties. The overwhelming majority are heterosexual, as people usually are, and will be getting married like "cis, heteronormative" people usually do.
When activists use the word "queer" around me I tell them honestly that I am offended by it. Some of them actually look confused and even apologize, while others attack me in the usual ways you described in the article. The overwhelming majority of the attackers are young white women pretending to be "queer" and "non-binary." Their constant performative confessions of "privilege" amount to bragging about the reality of their socioeconomic position. It is a humorous but bitter experience to watch them eventually couple up with white guys. It is bitter, because after they co-opt, exploit, then discard one minority after another, they will move on from all of us without remorse, still justifying their abuse by blaming the true victims of it.
Ignorant, narcissistic liberals all across Western Civ have enabled and applauded the development of vicious mobs that attack the liberals' own identity groups. I have never been a social conservative and am not welcomed into any conservative groups that know who I really am, but I would love to see all of the above-described narcissistic abusers get their comeuppance. May it happen sooner rather than later.
Not only do I loathe the word queer in this context, I can’t stand the LGBT abbreviation (let alone the LQBTQIA… bullshit). I didn’t survive endlessly bullying and assaults in my childhood and teenagehood to be relegated to a letter (G in my case) and lumped in with all these other letters in some imaginary “community”. Every single time I’ve commented on a Substack article written my a gay man (other than A Sullivan’s) I’ve been railed against by other presumably gay commenters and even by the authors. One dismissed my comment saying the use of the abbreviation was “already settled”. It’s abhorrent what the “community” has devolved into.
This stuff about things being “already settled” drives me up a wall! It brings to mind something my Sociology 101 professor said to our class: “When somebody tells you how things are, you should immediately ask, “According to whom?’”
Also, so many of these supposedly “gay” and “queer” people are really straight. Some of them don’t know that yet because they are too young, others are just using “queer” to make themselves more special.
I agree completely. Most gay men either don't engage out of weariness or cowardice, or are too busy with getting laid and living their lives. But in private spaces, where truth is still allowed, the hostility to this crap is off the charts.
Glad to hear that rage is mounting against narcissistic abuse by social justice fundamentalists! I am not seeing it in my former social circle of retirement age white lesbians. They are all Democrats of course, get all their information from Democrat party media, and they have no idea that our communities are under attack. When I rant about this stuff they label me as a "Trump supporter." It's an odd experience, because I am not what they mean by a "Trump supporter," but I do now totally support President Trump, and they are part of the reason that I do.
Maybe it’s all the “march of dimes effect?” Don’t think so. More that the people leading these crusades never cared about the cause. It was just leverage for them to attain power. That’s how you get racists civil rights leaders and censors running the aclu
With DEI , Jews have been promoted to white oppressors, in SF Asians have been accused of "acting white" ,so it's only a matter of time until Queer overlords tag you as straight lite. There's always room for another oppressor group in the privilege caravan.
Cis white women in the HIV community are often ignored whereby webinars, workshops and support services are for Black and Indigeous women in spite of the fact that in real numbers there are far more white cis women.
There is no such thing as a “cis” man or women. When you use that prefix you validate the trans ideology! Because they need a prefix , they tack on a prefix to normal people who do not need a prefix! This gives them power, which is the reason I would never use this prefix! It’s enough to simply say “ man” or “ woman “. All sane people knows what those words mean!
Good article Ben. This country doesn't need more revolutions. It need awareness, understanding and tolerance for the many diverse people that live here. We should be able to have our differences but still have a common bond to participate in the American culture of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
I love your writing Ben. I so appreciate your perspective. I'm so tired of the new rainbow flag, the terminology of being CIS and all this new cult is emboldened to speak. Ive been a lesbian for 47 years and I'm loosing patience being associated with the gender queer community. I want to take back the word "queer" where is belongs.....It was about taking back the slur of lesbian and gay folks not gender queer folks.
Ben, thanks for referencing the article I wrote on my experience with politically correct activists, the precursors of woke, which I penned back in 1994 (when I was five years old :-).
Don't be a Cissy!
(Sorry couldnt help it).
Left-liberals, esp the young "digital natives", don't know how to construct or engage in a respectful and reasonable argument. I've tried for years on everything from Trans to BLM to Trump to Israel and have only been met by frothing rage, slander and bigotry accusations.
I think there's something about the internet and social media that gives everyone the brain of an angry entitled infant and debate or disagreement feels like I've snatched away their favorite toy. Also, now that all brains have been melted and merged into the hivemind, reality and morality have been turned upside-down: Tolerance means enforced celebration, Diversity means ideological uniformity, Liberation means someone else must serve you, and Love means total hatred for people who don't share your conception of love.
Good luck and congrats on the book.
>> Love means total hatred for people who don't share your conception of love. <<
Holy cats this is well stated.
Thanks!
(And I will be stealing "Holy Cats!" ;))
It’s an old expression. :)
Looking forward to your book.
Ben, I'm demonized as a 'cis white non-affirming mom'. I get messages that I should die soon and/or kill myself and all sorts of "kind and caring wishes" like that. Carry on and forward Ben!
One small point. I don’t think Gen Z is anti gay marriage entirely because they’ve been led to believe it’s part of the patriarch. I think many of them are anti marriage, period. Also if it’s gay marriage Ali e they don’t like, it’s probably extreme activism they are reacting to
We don’t know that. Marriage rates have declined. But yes , many feel they can’t afford to get married, which may be the crux of it
They say they are anti-marriage because most of them aren't old enough to be married, at least by the standards of their generation. Their "privileged" members are dependent on their parents until they are at least into their thirties. The overwhelming majority are heterosexual, as people usually are, and will be getting married like "cis, heteronormative" people usually do.
When activists use the word "queer" around me I tell them honestly that I am offended by it. Some of them actually look confused and even apologize, while others attack me in the usual ways you described in the article. The overwhelming majority of the attackers are young white women pretending to be "queer" and "non-binary." Their constant performative confessions of "privilege" amount to bragging about the reality of their socioeconomic position. It is a humorous but bitter experience to watch them eventually couple up with white guys. It is bitter, because after they co-opt, exploit, then discard one minority after another, they will move on from all of us without remorse, still justifying their abuse by blaming the true victims of it.
Ignorant, narcissistic liberals all across Western Civ have enabled and applauded the development of vicious mobs that attack the liberals' own identity groups. I have never been a social conservative and am not welcomed into any conservative groups that know who I really am, but I would love to see all of the above-described narcissistic abusers get their comeuppance. May it happen sooner rather than later.
Not only do I loathe the word queer in this context, I can’t stand the LGBT abbreviation (let alone the LQBTQIA… bullshit). I didn’t survive endlessly bullying and assaults in my childhood and teenagehood to be relegated to a letter (G in my case) and lumped in with all these other letters in some imaginary “community”. Every single time I’ve commented on a Substack article written my a gay man (other than A Sullivan’s) I’ve been railed against by other presumably gay commenters and even by the authors. One dismissed my comment saying the use of the abbreviation was “already settled”. It’s abhorrent what the “community” has devolved into.
This stuff about things being “already settled” drives me up a wall! It brings to mind something my Sociology 101 professor said to our class: “When somebody tells you how things are, you should immediately ask, “According to whom?’”
Also, so many of these supposedly “gay” and “queer” people are really straight. Some of them don’t know that yet because they are too young, others are just using “queer” to make themselves more special.
Bravo! If Tony Kushner is a socialist then I’m Lenin.
is hard to say whose writing is more dull and ponderous
I agree completely. Most gay men either don't engage out of weariness or cowardice, or are too busy with getting laid and living their lives. But in private spaces, where truth is still allowed, the hostility to this crap is off the charts.
Glad to hear that rage is mounting against narcissistic abuse by social justice fundamentalists! I am not seeing it in my former social circle of retirement age white lesbians. They are all Democrats of course, get all their information from Democrat party media, and they have no idea that our communities are under attack. When I rant about this stuff they label me as a "Trump supporter." It's an odd experience, because I am not what they mean by a "Trump supporter," but I do now totally support President Trump, and they are part of the reason that I do.
Maybe it’s all the “march of dimes effect?” Don’t think so. More that the people leading these crusades never cared about the cause. It was just leverage for them to attain power. That’s how you get racists civil rights leaders and censors running the aclu
True dat
With DEI , Jews have been promoted to white oppressors, in SF Asians have been accused of "acting white" ,so it's only a matter of time until Queer overlords tag you as straight lite. There's always room for another oppressor group in the privilege caravan.
THEY are the spicy straights. They hate us LGB because they know they’re straight.
I don’t know what’s more bizarre , the “lesbian” penis or straight kids playing queer?
By people who support butchering children with autism as a literal blood sacrifice to their Capital Letter Gods. 🤦🏻♂️
Cis white women in the HIV community are often ignored whereby webinars, workshops and support services are for Black and Indigeous women in spite of the fact that in real numbers there are far more white cis women.
There is no such thing as a “cis” man or women. When you use that prefix you validate the trans ideology! Because they need a prefix , they tack on a prefix to normal people who do not need a prefix! This gives them power, which is the reason I would never use this prefix! It’s enough to simply say “ man” or “ woman “. All sane people knows what those words mean!
I don't think I'd want to go to bed with someone who had to "train himself" to be attracted to me.
Good article Ben. This country doesn't need more revolutions. It need awareness, understanding and tolerance for the many diverse people that live here. We should be able to have our differences but still have a common bond to participate in the American culture of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Uncle Bill