PRIDE MONTH
“Respectful Dialogue” Is Easy When It’s Not Your Life on the Line
The privilege of free expression and the cost of silence
To my cishet brothers and sisters: don’t you see how little we have at stake?
The first day of Pride Month is an opportunity to remind people that respectful dialogue is great in theory but complicated in practice.
For instance:
I’m talking about two people finding enough common ground that they can…respect that one of them believes that marriage is only between a man and a woman and the other believes love is love, no matter the couple. Respect is something in short supply.
A noble idea or a classic case of privilege?
I’m a middle-aged straight white guy, but I’m also a classical musician, clarinetist, conductor, and musical theater director. If you think the list of people I’ve known has an LGBTQ+ presence on it, you’re right.
And I know the “respect other opinions” riff is problematic.
Are you entitled to whatever damnfool idea you want? Absolutely. It’s a shame you’re wasting it on rejecting the humanity of strangers, but that’s on you. I’ll defend your right to it.
