By: Michael

Michael — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 20:53:57 +0000

The only letters that matter are H-U-M-A-N and the rest can be let go of … the alphabet soup followers make us look S-T-U-P-I-D.

By: David Urquhart

David Urquhart — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 07:36:20 +0000

Thank you Katherine. Regardless of our sex, sexuality or gender each of us has an equal right to have our voice heard and to assert our right to dignity, and freedom from violence, discrimination or shame. It’s important that the general community and our own communities understand the differences indicated by ‘the alphabet’, and why the differences are important to us.
I describe myself as I see myself. In the 60s, when the word ‘camp’ had currency that’s what I was. When I, with many others now represented in the ‘soup recipe’, was fighting for gay liberation I was ‘gay’. Now I am homosexual (which is not included in the soup recipe. I am not gay because of the connotation it carries of belonging to ‘the gay community’, with which I no longer feel any affinity. I am also queer, a term I don’t use publicly as too many non-queer people use it as a catchall.
Just as it’s vital that the age-care sector provides one with adequate and appropriate services, it is equally vital that all other services provided by government or community are adequate and appropriate to one’s specific needs, taking into account sex, sexuality and gender.
Both the NSW and Federal Governments are working to understand our diverse needs through recent ministerial consultations. The Lobby has also conducted a number of consultations focused on some specific groups. ACON’s Diversity Statement claims to serve the interests of all the ‘soup groups’ without naming them.
Progress is being made at an official and bureaucratic level. What remains is for us to, as you suggest Katherine, either come up with one acceptable name or for us to clearly define our terms, and the reasons for their importance to those who use them.
In the 60s, life was simple, though mostly simply dull. It’s the acknowledgement, acceptance and naming of our differences that make this seventy-two year old happier than I have ever been.

By: Ben

Ben — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 04:30:19 +0000

Thank you kindly~ It’s a particularly persistent example of eating our own kind when people take this so far as to call someone a bigot or ‘enemy’ for not agreeing on how to use the dang alphabet the same.

By: mike

mike — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 03:35:29 +0000

so sick of everyone wanting to be called something different

Comments on: Rainbow alphabet

By: Michael

By: David Urquhart

By: Ben

By: mike