I think that the black community thinks that the gay community is trying to portray the Gay Rights Movement as the new Civil Rights Movement of our time and that the black community finds this to be very offensive. What a gay man has had to openly endure for the last 10 years is not as bad as what a black man had to endure during the 60's. Portraying the Gay Rights Movement as the new Civil Rights Movement of our time is only a tool used to try and secure gay rights. If you don't recognize the tactic being used, you risk becoming an instrument that can be used to advance the given agenda. Advancing the gay agenda is not necessarily bad. Not knowing how you are being manipulated is bad.

Nazis portrayed Jews as rodents in order to manipulate people into killing Jews or, at the very least, to look the other way while they did the killing. This tactic is a very effective tool and can be used for evil. It is for this reason that this tactic should be exposed for what it is so that others have a chance to evaluate how it is being used on them before they commit to the cause applying the tactic. The cause applying the tactic is not inherently evil and must be evaluated in a case by case basis.

I pass no judgment on the Gay Rights Movement their cause nor their agenda. I merely feel uneasy about anyone that uses this tactic to advance their cause. Hell, I even feel uneasy when I use this tactic. Like when I just used it on this debate. Did you see it ;)

The way the blacks were treated in the 60s was horrible. The way gays are treated now is horrible. I think the difference is that blacks were treated poorly in an outwardly aggressive manner whereas the gays are treated poorly in a more passive aggressive way. There is a saying I have heard for this, "Being killed by a million little cuts." Yes, no one act against the gays as been as bad as some against the blacks, but there have been a lot of very little things that can really hurt a person over time.

Is this a joke?

When blacks fought for their rights, they drew parallels to women's rights.

The Gay rights movement is for CIVIL RIGHTS. It's part of the same movement, just by a different group. Don't be ignorant. But then again, if you think being gay isn't anywhere near as hard as being black, you must be. You don't think gays are murdered for being who they are? Come on.

ZOMG, WHAT HAD GAY PEOPLE TO ENDURE? HOW ABOUT ONE OUT OF FIVE GAY TEENAGERS SUCCESSFULLY MAKING A SUICIDE?!!!!

DID BLACK PEOPLE EVER ENDURE SUCH AN OPPRESSION AS TO HAVE SUCH RESULTS?!!!!

I HIGHLY DOUBT IT!

[edit]Ok, maybe I went a little defensive with the caps, but why should black people be insulted?! They were in similar position and now they are to deny other minorities to get equal treatments?!

WHY?! It's not like they are EVIL and just wanted to rule the groups and think "those pesky gays are worthless compared to elevated black race"!!!

I'm quite certain they don't want to be KKK for the gays! It's absurd!

[edit2]Besides, what would that repulsive idea mean to a black gay person?! Ever thought of that?!

"If so, does/should the black community finds this offensive? "...GARRRH, what a MORON thing to say!

[edit3]Maybe when YOU are going to have heart attacks at the age of 18 because of stressing out for not being able to change your sexual orientation you might understand!!!!!!!!!

Wow, what a sensitive subject. It's a difficult answer, especially since I am neither black nor gay. But I will give this a go.

First of all, I think most people relate "Civil Rights Movement" with the plight of the African-American Community here in the states during the sixties. But let's look at the definition (according to Merriam) Civil Rights: the nonpolitical rights of a citizen; especially: the rights of personal liberty guaranteed to United States citizens by the 13th and 14th amendments to the Constitution and by acts of Congress

Since slavery does not apply here, let's look at the 14th amendment,

1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law, which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

Ok, sounds like the gays qualify.

Now how about, how similar is the Gay right movement & the African-American rights movement?

1. "Who had it worse" arguments never work. The biggest difference here is that the African American civil rights movement began with slavery. A crime that was allowed by our government, which set a VERY VERY long and arduous path for the African-Americans to walk. That path they paved is why the march of the gays is not going to be quite so arduous. Which is why the black community and gay community should really be embracing each other. And if the gays really want to change things, they need to look at the black community to see how it's done.

2. At this time because of the animosity towards gays, we have no real idea how many gay hate crimes occur everyday. So it's hard to say what the casualties really are. Same with how many gays are treated badly in such a passive way that it can't really be proven that it was related to them being gay. Except for the massacre of gays during the holocaust in Germany. Such animosity towards gays is why this moment in WWII history is not even taught in schools. Read the linked article, and then tell me that the gays have not suffered. They have.

So yes, it is similar on the sense that every civil rights movement has the same goal, which is reinforcing their civil rights as guaranteed by the 14th amendment?

And it's different for two reasons.

First of all, every movement has it's own unique story to tell. African-Americans, Gays and yes, women's suffrage even. Heck, even the Irish Catholics couldn’t' find jobs when they were fresh off the boat. They could barley eat in restaurants outside their own neighborhoods. Until Joe Kennedy came along and had a son...but I digress.

Second, the gay community is unique in the sense that there are many many black gay men and women. Where is their voice in all this? How can we ignore the fact that here is a community that includes people from EVERY other oppressed group in history? That must mean something.

well, we live in an era where no one can marry the opposite sex... and same sex couples can't adopt. Wow, that's totally like being arrested for NO REASON, or being shot by vigilantes and the country officials saying "not my problem".

So like being arrested for BEING AN OLD WOMAN WHO'S TOO TIRED TO GET UP FOR A YOUNG WHITE MAN. totally like being HOSED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREETS whenever you protest. Fuck dude, i see gays beating up old religious women and invading churches... no hoses... no tear gas... i wonder why.

It must be like not being able to drink from the same water fountain, or not going to the same schools, or using the same bathrooms. After all, you can't get married to someone of the same sex... exactly the same then.

No the Gay movement is nothing like civil rights movements.The Gay movement is for them to marry not for Independence.

"i see gays beating up old religious women and invading churches... no hoses... no tear gas... i wonder why."

Wow that's a pretty wild and obviously untrue claim...gays beating up old religious women? Laughable.

There are alot of similarities between the two movements. And there are reports from all over of gays being attacked (lesbian raped by 4 men, college cheerleader attacked by straight couple yelling slurs, Mathew Sheppard anyone?).

Gay pride began to celebrate the fighting back (Stonewall riots) when police were invading gay clubs and beating people up for no other reason than they were gay.

Not in america, but let's also not forget gays were killed in numbers not even known during the holocaust.

There are over 1,000 laws that give rights to straight people that are currently being denied to gays and lesbians.

Even the president elect, whose own parent's marriage was not reconized by 12 states at the time, said about the issue that it's "a decision that the LGBT community has to make. That’s not a decision for me to make." Sounds very much like a government saying "it's not my problem".

And the fight is not limited to marriage. Gays also cannot serve openly in the military and cannot adopt in many states.

Can we all step back from this for a second and realize that injustice of any kind should not be tolerated? It isn't about who suffered more (if that is even a measurable concept).