Gay marriage with guest Jesse Cowell

[stickmangrit]

It's always seemed strange to me that gay bars are always maligned as such, when "straight?" bars exist for the exact same reason, for people to meet and sometimes go home together to have sex. Is this not a clear double standard?

of course not, because gays are icky and an abomination before god, whereas heterosexual premarital sex and colossal inebriation are totally kosher.

but one should also consider the fact that most straight men would like to know that a gay bar's a gay bar. that's really not the place you want to wander into for the sheer inevitable awkwardness that's going to result, combined with the social paranoia of being spotted by someone you know, resulting in rumors. kinda like how most evangelicals don't like to be spotted at the liquor store.

[NH Baritone]

It's always seemed strange to me that gay bars are always maligned as such, when "straight?" bars exist for the exact same reason, for people to meet and sometimes go home together to have sex. Is this not a clear double standard?

of course not, because gays are icky and an abomination before god, whereas heterosexual premarital sex and colossal inebriation are totally kosher.

but one should also consider the fact that most straight men would like to know that a gay bar's a gay bar. that's really not the place you want to wander into for the sheer inevitable awkwardness that's going to result, combined with the social paranoia of being spotted by someone you know, resulting in rumors. kinda like how most evangelicals don't like to be spotted at the liquor store.

I remember in Seminary (30 years ago) taking a group of classmates in my Christian Ethics class to "The Lost & Found," a gay disco in DC. Most who came along were women, and the couple of men in attendance sort of clung to the ladies.

Stick, that experience and your post kind of suggest that STRAIGHT MEN ARE WIMPS.

[stickmangrit]

Stick, that experience and your post kind of suggest that STRAIGHT MEN ARE WIMPS.[/color]

i'm sorry, were you expecting an argument?

[spongebob]

Spongebob,
I think the distinction is only made in order to determine which kind of bar it is, and because the majority of people are straight, they don't have to specifically state it. It's like boys/mens clubs, girls/womens clubs, bikers clubs, clubs for people of color, clubs for certain religious beliefs, social clubs, athletic clubs, etc. If it's open to everyone in general, it would not need to be specified as a certain type of club, but since these groups are all part of smaller subcultures, it helps to define them. At least that's my take on it.

Right, I get that, but here in the deep South when the words "gay bar" are uttered, there's usually a none too subtle emphasis on gay that makes the connotation clear. Putting the word "gay" in front of the word "bar" isn't just an adjective, it's a derisive adjective, not far from meaning a pervert bar or possible even a criminal bar. A co-worker just last week warned me about a certain bar in town that used to be known as a gay bar until the owner closed it down and reopened as a restaurant.

[whoosanightowl]

Spongebob wrote:

Right, I get that, but here in the deep South when the words "gay bar" are uttered, there's usually a none too subtle emphasis on gay that makes the connotation clear. Putting the word "gay" in front of the word "bar" isn't just an adjective, it's a derisive adjective, not far from meaning a pervert bar or possible even a criminal bar. A co-worker just last week warned me about a certain bar in town that used to be known as a gay bar until the owner closed it down and reopened as a restaurant.

OH, Okay! That makes sense now, and I know what you mean by the condescending tone made on the word "gay", like it's something to be derided and ridiculed.

[Ninar]

Hi, I am catching up on podcasts after about five months away from my iPod (sadness) and just listened to this episode of A Christian & an Atheist. I haven't read any of the other comments because it would be too tempting to get into a discussion ... but I just wanted to post and say BRAVO to the two hosts. It was a great listen! I actually kind of wanted to go to law school at the end ...