I Am Me First, Intolerant Second

I have a tendency to be pretty intolerant. Well, at least that's what the conservatives of the world would like people to think. I am gay, therefore I am intolerant. However, I'd like to point out that I am intolerant of many, many things, but it has nothing to do with my sexuality, it's all to do with my personality. And try as they might to pigeon hole me based on who I'm born to love, I have to point out that there is a difference between the two.

Here's the thing. I do not tolerate what I perceive to be ignorant. Here are a few things that I have decided are ignorant:

• Using religion for the basis of an argument. Just about any argument, with the exception of religious/theological arguments, in which case go for it.
• Justifying hatred of a minority group based on lies and fallacies.
• Demoralizing people through the anonymity of the Internet.
• Reducing an argument to insult simply because you have nothing left to banter with.

This is just a very short list. When I witness people that do these things, I will judge them and treat them accordingly as fuckinig idiots, whether overtly or not (usually overtly though… I'm not the most subtle person either). I realize that it doesn't win me any arguments. But I also realize that I have very little time in the world, and for me to even bother acknowledging someone who is a fucking idiot is wasting that precious time. They are obviously not going to change their perspective, because they base their ideals on flawed concepts.

Elitist? Probably. But to be honest, I'm pretty accepting of most people. I've forged relationships with people of all walks of life. I feel it's important to have varying opinions in your life, as long as they are reasoned and not idiotic.

I fully support people's rights to believe what they believe. I do not, however, support people's rights to use their religious and theological beliefs to enforce their belief system on others. Please, by all means, go to church on Sunday and tell your "flock" about how evil the gays are. That's your right, even if it leads to mental instability in young queer people that happen to be there. My right is also should be to do the same thing. My right is should be equal to your right.

I could honestly care less what the evangelical whoo-doo preachers like to do with their time, but when their ignorance impacts my freedoms, a line has been crossed. Truthfully, not all Christian Evangelicals are evil bigots. I'm serious when I say that. A few of my friends from my old Pentecostal days agree with me that our rights should be equal, regardless if they somehow believe I'm going to hell. But sadly, the loudest faction of their movement are haters. And when presented with a hater, I will most certainly be intolerant of their attempts to restrict my rights and quell the fire inside me. It is, after all, their movement that fanned these flames.

So when you want to call me intolerant, I am more than happy to lay my bias on the table for scrutiny. I am aware of who I am. But if you want to start throwing out labels and degrading titles, be prepared for the same to come back to you.