dagblog - Comments for "Anderson Cooper stands up, is counted"

The key here is that while

Elusive Trope — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 18:13:38 +0000

The key here is that while one kid might relate to a Frank Ocean, another kid might better relate to Anderson Cooper. That AC isn't all things to all people doesn't diminish the good he might possibly generate by coming out.

It's kind of one those: if one gay kid out there feels a little more empowered, a less alone in the world, then it was worth it.

I not saying one shouldn't

Elusive Trope — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 18:07:30 +0000

In reply to Right, never look at the

I not saying one shouldn't analyze or draw conclusions. What I am saying is the method by which derived your conclusion leads one to miss the significance of the statistics. There are roughly 313,963,000 people in the US. If there are 17,000 murders, that means murder is something that impacts directly 0.00467% of the population. Using your methods, we should say that murder is not something we should concern ourselves with. When one thinks about all the tax dollars spent tracking them murderers down and then prosecuting them...

Of course, there are other factors involved in many cases, including the environments they end up living in. Of course, also, I have known a number of folks who, because they were so emotionally messed up from dealing with their sexuality among other things, that they turned to drugs and alcohol to kill the pain and this led them to be living in not so nice neighborhoods as a result of their addiction.

The point I am trying to make is that murder is not something most people engage in. The fact there is a facet of our culture that facilitates such a hatred/fear that people (men usually) are driven not only to violence, but murder, is significant. And just like network executives looking at the Neilsen numbers, one figures for every guy that actually murders someone for being not straight, there are plenty of others who would like to and would pat him on the back.

One merely has to go onto the various websites for "guys" to see the homophobic hatred/fear in the comment sections, as well as the various memes that run out there right now that basically say you're not a man if you are gay.

I have known those who have been attacked simply for being gay, visited two in the hospital on separate occasions. All of them by the way in liberal Seattle.

(Transgenders have always been the ones most likely to experience this kind of violence. Many experience difficulty finding acceptance even within the LGBT community.)

Think this is the accelerator

PeraclesPlease — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 17:37:29 +0000

In reply to Uh, is that where they seed

Think this is the accelerator (serious)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLKvH0kV4A0

Right, never look at the

PeraclesPlease — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 17:22:47 +0000

In reply to Probably one shouldn't try to

Right, never look at the detail, just look at the composite and panic.

I can't draw any conclusions, that 30 is a low number nationally, that 40% of the murders are transgender females (how many in the sex trade? how many in a minority ghetto?) - I just have to wring my hands about how terrible someone would be targeted because of sexual orientation, and can't think about what the other conditions are there.

Of course it doesn't touch on non-murders, so we can do some more hand-wringing and oh-my-gods.

But if you're off giving paid sex in a poor crime-ridden black or Mexican ghetto, then yes, your chance of getting your ass capped increases, while other factors could increase the danger. (like if they think they're having sex with a natural woman and find out she's a transgendered man, yes, that might create some difficult moments)

And where a Matthew Shephard might be interested in Anderson Cooper, I really doubt Frank Ocean would be.

Anyway, forget it - not supposed to analyze or draw conclusions.

Probably one shouldn't try to

Elusive Trope — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 17:06:59 +0000

In reply to There were almost 17,000

Probably one shouldn't try to break this down to some kind of proportional summary in terms of looking at its significance. The point is that there are individuals within this culture (and thus products of this culture) who are driven to murder someone simply because of their sexual orientation. I think you will agree that for the most part, people don't just going around murdering people for this or that attribute. Personally, I don't fear someone will cap my ass because I have blue eyes or like to go to out to dinner for Mexican food rather than Chinese food.

And this doesn't touch upon the number of hate crimes that don't end in murder. And the numbers we have as they indicate in their report is based on self-reporting. I don't have to tell you about the psychological issues involved in coming forward about being a victim in these kinds of cases.

Is AC coming out going to have some kind of major impact on these stats? Of course not. But no one single person's actions is going to have this kind of impact. But does his act join in with many others, to collectively help us move forward slowly and gradually, yes. That he is a high profile individual on a major cable news network (regardless of its content quality) help lift the profile of those who are part of the LGBT community in the eyes of those who are sheltered from it? I believe so.

There were almost 17,000

PeraclesPlease — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 16:45:16 +0000

In reply to Anti-LGBT Murders Hit 13-Year

There were almost 17,000 murders in 2010, and with gays presumably 10%, that would be 1700 murders. Philly alone has 320 murders a year.

Instead, last year there were 30 LGBT murders nationwide, from an LGBT population of roughly 30 million?

Per the report, since it's so statistically few, it's hard to get a trend, could be mostly random, but was high in 1999-2000, then low (10-20 for 2000-2006) then last few years were 21, 29, 22, 27, and now 30.

In 2011, 20% of murders were involved with sex work, similar to previous years.

47% of murders were Black, 1/3 Latino, 7% Asian. Only 13% were white.

Transgender women were 40% of the victims, non-transgender women 7%; gender non-conforming 3%.

My 3 takeaways are: women especially transgender have a tough time; minority risk should be brought down, and this has little to do with Anderson Cooper.

And police acceptance of LGBT crime reports should improve.

Anti-LGBT Murders Hit 13-Year

William K. Wolfrum — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 15:56:06 +0000

In reply to Anderson Cooper stands up, is counted

Anti-LGBT Murders Hit 13-Year High in 2011.

Maybemaybemaybe. Someone may

PeraclesPlease — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 15:47:40 +0000

In reply to problematic like getting

Maybemaybemaybe. Someone may be affected. Many more won't. The news moves on. (Do high schoolers even watch TV news anymore?)

problematic like getting

Elusive Trope — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 15:42:19 +0000

In reply to Washington DC and NYC are

problematic like getting jumped and beaten up by homophobic thugs, or problematic like being shunned by family members, or problematic like being discriminated in the workplace and taunted or worse, problematic like being bullied at school until one commits suicide.

And who knows maybe that kid in Wyoming who sees AC come out can realize that maybe he or she isn't alone.

Check out Dan Savages It Gets Better Project website for gay youth. The knowledge that there is a possible better life beyond the torments and isolation of being young and gay is a powerful thing, and unfortunately the message is one that needs to get out there. Heck for that kid in Wyoming, maybe now they can dream about going to a place like NY when they get older, where people like AC can be out and accepted.

Okay, I'm not going to argue

Peter Schwartz — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 14:41:45 +0000

In reply to Anderson Cooper is primarily

Okay, I'm not going to argue the point.

For me, he did a good thing of whatever size and moment.

It's worth some acknowledgement (to me) and moving on.

To his credit--AFAIK--HE isn't making a big deal of it, doesn't think it's a big deal, and isn't pushing it. Other people are.

In terms of his demographic, I only mentioned because I know who are center-conservative watch him and like him.

But I don't know what the big numbers are.