tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6795165206797872713.post7912713396268451783..comments2023-10-24T07:15:57.850-06:00Comments on Eruptions At The Foot Of The Volcano: THE OPPRESSION OF SEXUAL MINORITIES WARPS LIVES: ¨...older gay men and lesbians came of age at a time when homophobia and discrimination were much more toxic and pervasive...¨Leonardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16667415590825321701noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6795165206797872713.post-65306958330806249102011-04-05T19:23:40.914-06:002011-04-05T19:23:40.914-06:00You're right, and it's good of you to poin...You're right, and it's good of you to point out the bias in that NYT story, which was really not much more than a headline. But I would add one point to those you made: the toxic influence of internalized homophobia and self-oppression. It's what we learned growing up, a whole constellation of negative attitudes; and while the rational adult mind learned to reject anti-Gay stereotypes as untrue and vicious, it retained the emotional lessons of childhood, from age 8 and 10 and 12. <br /><br />It takes a lifetime of thinking and feeling, and a very strong personality, to overcome child abuse. It can be done, just as age can bring wisdom, but for most of us it isn't easy. <br /><br />Many of the disorders the article refers to are to some degree self-inflicted - which was always part of the deadly programming. Then they blamed us for having symptoms! <br /><br />But living well is the best revenge, and the surest route to healing is forgiveness.Joshhttp://joshtom.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.com