One of the things I've come across when going out to campaign against our local gay marriage ban (or frankly, quite often when I just discuss gay rights with someone who opposes them) is a belief that they and their opinions are the majority, and that gays and those who support them are a tiny, alien, fringe group. I think this leads to people forming ideas and opinions without regard to that community and being a little shocked to be asked to think of them, and think of them as equals.
In the conservative, suburban neighborhood where I went and stood outside a Target collecting signatures, there were a fair number of people downright shocked that the very idea of equality for gays was being mentioned right there in their community. It just never occurred to them that it was that big an issue. I think a lot of people think, "That's for those people in San Francisco," not that there are gay families, gay supporters, and people who are not only not offended but downright pleased about homosexual rights right there in their community.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2008-07-17 06:11 pm (UTC)In the conservative, suburban neighborhood where I went and stood outside a Target collecting signatures, there were a fair number of people downright shocked that the very idea of equality for gays was being mentioned right there in their community. It just never occurred to them that it was that big an issue. I think a lot of people think, "That's for those people in San Francisco," not that there are gay families, gay supporters, and people who are not only not offended but downright pleased about homosexual rights right there in their community.