Today Of All Days
Dec. 6th, 2006 08:02 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
tcepsaBloody hell. I just overheard the janitor ranting about homosexuals (specifically men) and it hit me a lot harder than I expected it to. I can take it pretty well when someone is joking about something and I can tell they don't really mean it; they're entitled to be uncomfortable or uncertain about it and I usually figure that, while they might not want to hang out with a bunch of folks with alternative sexualities, they don't really have a problem with the fact that they exist. I'm okay with that. There are groups of people that I don't think I'd want to hang out with either, but if they want to get together without me that's cool.
But that's not what I overheard today. I heard hatred. And it triggered my fight or flight something fierce. I did neither--he was down talking to someone else in the cubes. That someone else was doing his level best to defend people's right to their own lifestyle, but the janitor was having none of it. I wanted to jump in, but I could hear how that someone else was doing and realized that nothing I said would make any difference (plus I was paralyzed because it was the best way I could think of at the time to keep myself from bolting.) I'm very proud of that someone else, though, and glad to know they are only a few cubes away. I stopped by afterwards and thanked them.
For now, I think that's all I'm going to do. If it happens again, though, I'll be talking to my supervisor. (Oh, and my dry-erase board is now sporting a nice rainbow across the bottom ;) I'm a little off balance, but recovering quickly ^_^ And it's reminded me not to take the community for granted.
The incredible irony of this all is that we're going to be hosting S. Bear Bergmann tonight for a presentation of hir book Butch Is A Noun, which focuses on gender issues. Full speed ahead!
But that's not what I overheard today. I heard hatred. And it triggered my fight or flight something fierce. I did neither--he was down talking to someone else in the cubes. That someone else was doing his level best to defend people's right to their own lifestyle, but the janitor was having none of it. I wanted to jump in, but I could hear how that someone else was doing and realized that nothing I said would make any difference (plus I was paralyzed because it was the best way I could think of at the time to keep myself from bolting.) I'm very proud of that someone else, though, and glad to know they are only a few cubes away. I stopped by afterwards and thanked them.
For now, I think that's all I'm going to do. If it happens again, though, I'll be talking to my supervisor. (Oh, and my dry-erase board is now sporting a nice rainbow across the bottom ;) I'm a little off balance, but recovering quickly ^_^ And it's reminded me not to take the community for granted.
The incredible irony of this all is that we're going to be hosting S. Bear Bergmann tonight for a presentation of hir book Butch Is A Noun, which focuses on gender issues. Full speed ahead!
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no subject
Date: 2006-12-06 09:11 pm (UTC)I'm sending warm supportive thoughts to you and to your co-worker.
no subject
Date: 2006-12-06 10:22 pm (UTC)"I don't have a problem with gays. I'm all about gay women, because darnit, I want to watch. And the more gay men there are, the less competition I have for the women. So, really, I'd like to encourage people to be gay."
In general I get a chuckle out of them when I say that. Very rarely do I have any of them rant again in my vicinity. 'course, this argument is only successful once I establish that I personally am Heterosexual.
Ah, and this, btw, is not intended to get them to change their minds. It is intended to undermine their ability to argue/rant about gay people within my hearing. Which is really my intent at that point.
Never argue with a fool. People won't be able to tell which is which.
If it keeps going, definitely mention to your boss that recriminations about peoples' sexual, political or religous practices make you feel uncomfortable.
no subject
Date: 2006-12-06 10:45 pm (UTC)I am also glad to know that person exists, a few cubes down, and the others throughout the world like them. And not just related to this specific incident either. I still people 'fighting' the racial issues and others, too. It's frustrating.
*hugs*