Reasons for Being Part of SEE.

[Terry Shayar]

[moved here from Introductions thread]

On a more serious note, I'm someone who believes very strongly in social equality. It's been always a rather sore issue with me that everyone seems to preach liberty and social equality, but in truth, that doesn't really happen. They talk about it, but they never do anything about it. Or, they attach certain conditions to their idea of social equality. Social equality is apparently only applicable to straight people, and more so for people who are male. I mean, when you tell us that a man having sex with another man is an action which is considered to be a crime, that is conditional social equality, is it not? (and this is a true law in Singapore, unfortunately) One of the best teachers in an elite school got fired due to his coming out of the closet. Even though many students were angered by it, and protested against it, there was no move to hire him back. Is this our idea of social equality? And do you really think that people of the LGBT community want to be ostracized from us and given lesser rights than us? It certainly is not right that the so-called basic human rights that we cherish so much is so conditional, and we definitely must do something about it!

Therefore, when our dear Lance proposed the idea of SEE Trek, I jumped on the wagon immediately. What better way to show the next generation that people of the LGBT are no different from us than by showing it in popular media? We need this badly. To show to the world that our future is not about just better medicine and better healthcare and wider and further boundaries to be explored. Our future is not just about the better political system, and the idea of a great Federation stretching across the galaxy(egoistic much, humans?). Our future is also about making sure the social equality is not just an ideal, but something real. That gender does not make a difference, and sexual preferences do not make a difference. I mean, when it comes down to the barest of things, we're all just genetic material in the form of nucleic acids, and whatever these nucleic acids code for. And we are ALL homo sapiens.

[Catty-the-spy]

AKA: My Reasons
--

I'm Christian, born and raised. Apparently, somewhere in the Bible, it says that God doesn't like people being with people of the same gender.
Fine. Good. Water under the bridge.
I don't like that people use religion as an excuse to treat people unfairly. They used the Bible to justify slavery, people, and I think that's wrong. If God says something's wrong, fine, but I'm not going to stop treating a person like a person just because someone else thinks I should.
I was always told to treat people the way I wanted to be treated, and that's what I'm trying to do. I don't think it's right to discriminate against someone just because I disagree with them. If I did that to everyone I disagree with, I'd be discriminating against myself and everyone I've ever known.
I don't see how someone can try and teach me about God, try to tell me that the way I worship God is wrong because it's not "the way it is in the Bible", and then turn around and live the opposite of what they teach.
I love my grandma, and I'm happy that she's an ordained minister, and I'm glad that she's happy with where she's going to church, but I'm not happy with the way she's become two-faced. I don't know her anymore, and that's horrible, because she's supposed to be the person I go to when I don't understand something about God. I can't even talk to her anymore, because we're on two separate wavelengths, and she's trying to tell me things that seem to disagree with what I'm getting from God.
Once, she preached that when I hear the truth, I'll know it, because it would sit well with my spirit. I've discovered that most of what I hear from her doesn't sit well with me at all, mostly because a lot of it disagrees with that sense of right and wrong that I've been raised on. Sometimes I see in her what I see in those people who think that it's okay to insult a person for being different. She wants me to grow up but she won't let me; she says that we're not supposed to push God on people, and she turns around and tries to do it to me. I've started to feel like I was drifting away from God, because all I see are hypocrites trying to tell me what to believe and not practicing it themselvse.
Recently, participating in this and going to different churches and spending more time with my mother or listening to my own music by myself, I've been feeling closer again, and that makes me certain that I'm doing the right thing.
The same rights that I want for myself, I want for other people. I feel that God would wants me to share what I've been given, no matter what I think of what that person's up to. God wants me to be good to my enemies; why not be good to someone who isn't my enemy, someone who isnt trying to hurt me, someone who's just trying to life their life.
It's less "Josie vs. God" and more "Josie vs. her family".
My mother is the only person who even tries to understand me - really tries. She told me she was proud of me today, even, when I told her what we were trying to do. It's not because she agrees with me, not necessarily, but more because I see something wrong and I'm trying to fix it. It hurts, really, that I can't share this with the rest of my family. My mother understands me a bit, but she doesn't get everything. She get's the why with this, at least, even if she thinks I'm a loony.
My grandma...the rest of my family in general...the same isn't true there.
It hurts really.
My granmother told me - stern voice, bordering on sermon-strength - that gay people, and people who support them are going to go to hell. She told me that if America voted to legalize gay marriage, God would abandon the country. Apparently, God's already left Iowa.
It hurts that she believe's giving someone equal rights means God's going to abandon the country. It also hurts that she says these sorts of things.
This is the same woman who told me that people who read prayers out of books (like say, The Book of Common Prayer) weren't really praying, and that they were sinning, and then she gathers together a prayer group, and buys a book that has...wouldn't you guess it...a list of prayers you're meant to pray. She's the one who told me that Catholics don't believe in Jesus, and who implies that rich people "obviously" don't have God. Does she hear herself sometimes?
But...it's people like her we have to get past, people who say one thing and do another, people who use religion to treat people unfairly. People who want others to worship exactly the way they do, believe exactly the same things they believe, hate exactly the same people they hate.
I can't do that.
I can't be a discriminator. I can't be unfair. I can't judge people that harshly and expect to get by when God judges me the exact same way.
I can't do it. I have to do what God tells me is right.

So Grandma...people who support homosexuals are going to hell?
I guess I'm headed where God leads me.

I have to do what I feel is right. In this case, being a part of SEE feels like the right thing to do. If that means my grandma - or even the rest of my family and friends - is going to cast me aside, at least I know someone sees what I see.
How's that for the truth feeling right?


--
I'm not going to proofread that. My head hurts a little, and I'll only get a little depressed, and I"m hungry.
That, and immediatly re-reading emotional writing means I miss mistakes. I'll give myself a few.

[Elle]

Oh, Catty...-hugs- Braver than I'll ever be.
I have a bit of a different story, and its not as...tragic as some. But, I'll share anyway.
Born in a semi-religious family, which became less and less religious as time go on. I'm agnostic, but still very spiritual, if that makes any sense at all. However, my extended family, outside of my parents, are extremely religious and extremely judgmental and homophobic. I was scared to come out as bi until after my "grandmother" died, because I was afraid of being cast out completely. Actually, I only came out to my parents a few weeks ago.
I live in a conservative Indiana town, filled with hicks and homophobes. I've been threatened, bullied, and had a cutting problem in the past, which I still struggle with occasionally. All because I was absolutely terrified that my family or I would be hurt because of my sexuality and the fact that I actively confront people who bash others because of any involuntary reason. But that was tiring. I wanted to do something that could make an actual difference in society. Then I found Home and the forum and SEE and the rest is history. I just met you all, and I <3 you already. Thanks.
I think we're on the edge of something big here, and I can't wait to see it.

[Xerxies]

My reason for being a part of SEE in any way I can? I have several, let me list them in a cute number format for your enjoyment.

1. I'm a lesbian. Anything the media can do (or we grassroots movements can convince them to do) to improve my position as a sexual minority in several ways (female and non-straight), is something I wish to support. It's a selfish thing, honestly. I want my life to be better, so I don't have to be afraid of being shunned by half the people I meet just because of who I chose to be with and whom I'm naturally attracted to or not attracted to.

2. I'm a big K/S fan, because it's a beautiful thing even when it's simply hinted at, and I can't imagine how wonderful it would be to have full acknowledgment of it onscreen in a major motion picture. It would be a giant success for many people. I think many people involved in Star Trek would agree it's time for something like this, that advanced the acceptance of LBGT people in the mainstream, to happen. And why not by the pioneer of so many new things, Star Trek?

3. They ruined Uhura for me, in the new movie. So if we do decide to push for a slightly stronger character for her instead of that insipid but bitchy...creation that appeared in XI, I'll be quite pleased. Seeing a better, truer Uhura would do my heart good. This point is minor, hence its place at number 3.

[Lance]

Hey guys! I know the majority of you have probably read this, but I thought I'd post my reasons as well. I'm just pasting an excerpt from my "speech" or whatever you want to call it from FF.net. So here it is. ^_^

I am a gay man, as some of you may know, and I have faced pressures and
hardships from peers, family, friends, and enemies alike. I know what it is
like to be a sexual minority, especially where I'm from in Oklahoma, and I can say, it's not easy. Thankfully I go to a liberal arts school where I am
basically free to say and think what I feel, but in certain circles, I have to
keep my mouth shut. I am tired of living in the dark. Now I am well aware that we won't be able to reach everyone, but our work here will have a positive influence, I can tell you that right now. By advocating LGBT characters and stronger women in Science Fiction, and Fantasy, we are going to able to reach an audience that maybe previously has not been exposed to many positiveportrayals of sexual minorities. We will also be able to reach an audience that maybe in questioning with themselves about their sexuality, and seeing a positive portrayal of a sexual minority will no doubt encourage them to accept themselves for who they are, and finally be able to stand up for themselves. We may be even able to save a life.

I promise, I won't badger you on about my personal life, but I think it is
important to everyone to let everyone know that I am in this for the long
haul, and I want everyone else to be too. I want you all to know that this
project means the world to me, and I hope it does to you too.

The closet is a scary place to be. I was closeted for five years before I
finally had the courage to come out. It took some dragging by some of my
friends and mother, who thankfully were nothing but supportive. It even took me a few "girlfriends" to totally realize that women just were not, even one percent, my thing. I love women for companionship, and the majority of my friends are women, but I am not romantically inclined to them at all. Now, I'm not about to get into an argument about why I believe that sexuality is something that is simply a part of ones self, and not a product of their environment or upbringing, I will simply say that this is what I believe. I know I don't have to convince you guys, but I just want for you to understand where I am coming from as a person, and I want to be closer to my team. I want you guys to trust me, and have a desire to be open with you, and so I simply feel it time to share this information with you.

I am currently twenty-one years old, and going into my junior year of
college. I am pursuing a Bachelors of Music in Education with a minor in
Directing for the Theatre and English. I also have a fond interest in LGBT
rights (obviously), film-making, and musical composition. I also never thought I'd be working as an advocate of any kind, but here I am.

[Catty-the-spy]

*hugs Ella back*
I hate being teased.
I mean, there's nothing wrong (to me) with joking with people, so long as everyone knows that the jokes aren't meant to be taken seriously and people aboid sensitive subjects, but...
I hate people being mean for no good reason. Maybe it was because I was teased at school (and it took being thought of as "crazy" to stop it), but...I really don't like malicious stuff. (I'm back on that fairness kick again.)
No reasonis really a minor reason (except for maybe "I had nothing better to do"). Everyone has some sort of reason, just like everyone is capable of valuable input.
And dude...I'm nowhere near brave. (This is the person hiding her views from her grandmother.)
Admiting your sexual orientation to someone who might not (or probably won't) be supportive takes a lot more guts.

[Elle]

Aw. It seems we're very much on the same page here. Random acts of hate confuse me, mostly. It's like, "is being a jerk seriously the only thing you have to do? Jeez, why don't you use your time being useful?" It's a little sad, actually.

[Mikkiness]

Woah, Catty, from the sounds of it you basically did the same thing I'm doing to avoid teasing.
Its actually part of the reason I'm so eager to take a part in this movement. Part of it is almost getting back at those idiots who teased me, in a sort of 'look I'm making a difference, and what are you doing exactly?' combined with a 'see? I can be useful' and also, because of my efforts to act as an insane psychpath, my reputation wont suffer no matter what I do. My mates are all aware I'm not actually as crazy as I act, and nobody else will dare say anything derogatory to my face. Besides, by this point, they expect me to do strange things and will listen purely for a chance to laugh about it later, as long as you can make them listen to what your saying you have a shot at making them think about it later.

The rest of the reason, is purely that I believe the human race has bigger things to worry about then other peoples genitalia and what they're doing with them. Heck, NZ's in the middle of a reccession, the environment is apparently going down the drain, and we still have to figure out where we're going with nuclear power and all the new potential in areas like genetic engineering, as far as I'm concerned that's more than enough to worry about without adding in dealing in such a pointless excercise in discrimination on top of it all.
Besides, K/S is hot, as are most slash ships, why would I want to supress them when I could be making them official instead?

[bakedbrownie]

My mom knows how I feel about homosexuality, is totally okay with it, and I think my dad is alright with it as well. We were in the car once, and he was about to tell me something very serious:

He goes, "Ashley? I need to tell you something."

-overly long pause-

"I'm gay."

I really wasn't sure how to react on that one, so all I said was, "Really now?"

But then he was like, NO JK, and informed me he was dating again. I don't really know about that man. He confuses me sometimes. AHEM.

To quote from Hairspray(geebus I'm a nerd), I just want tomorrow to be better. And be able to talk to my friends and family about the pairings I like without fear of them freaking out.

And also because sometimes, at the back of my mind, I wonder if I DO like the same gender. It's a little scary atm, and if it just so happens I do, maybe SEE can help people become a little more accepting.

[M'Lady Godiva]

I have to admit, I'm pleasantly surprised to find such support for this cause. I've lived in two completely different states now, and I've yet to find a friend who feels comfortable discussing gay rights or actually truly supports them. At best, they'll agree that homosexuals are just as normal as the next person, but when pressed about gay rights, they close off and mention that it makes them uncomfortable. With most, they just outright scoff and label such relationships as "weird" or "gross." I can't even find support with my parents, who I believe are religiously-minded enough in certain aspects that they find such a relationship "unnatural."

I'm not terribly outspoken. I'm also not courageous, as I've let this discomfort settle in me instead of speaking against what I find unjust. It honestly warms me to find such an swell of support and camaraderie from strangers all over the world for such a misrepresented demographic. I may not come across as an incredibly active member on this site, but that doesn't mean that I'm not here, that I'm not taking in this movement and revelling in its potential.

So from a quiet person who has been afraid to speak her mind, I'm proud to be apart of this project and so warmly welcomed by all of you :).

Live long and prosper, always

[Lanaea]

Alright, since we're talking about personal motivations, get ready for a looong post. My apologies in advance for tl;dr. Essentially what it boils down to is that I think, like most everyone else here, that it's about time modern society stopped being moronic about sexual orientation.

Okay, on a more personal note - and feel free to skip if you don't want to know - for the majority of my childhood and teenage years I was a close-minded idiot. I didn't think I was. My family is Mormon (agnostic myself, though), and pretty much everyone is widely divided on the subject of gay and lesbian rights. My grandmother and my mother both don't feel comfortable talking about it either way. My grandfather is staunchly against it. My father spent most of my childhood ridiculing people over it. One of my earliest introductions to slash was watching TOS with him when I was pretty small, and hearing him complain at the television that Kirk was behaving embarrassingly queer. At the time I just thought it was my dad being funny and complaining about a show. I'm sure that's what he thought he was doing, too. For my own part I would make fun of homosexuality and the way it was portrayed in media, not out of genuine maliciousness, but just because I wasn't raised to see it any differently. I still got furious when I heard stories about people being attacked or hurting themselves over the issue, so I wasn't a complete nightmare, but I didn't see the full picture, either.

When I was about fourteen my older brother ran away from home. He and my father had never gotten along. As it turns out, he's bisexual. I knew my father made a lot of gay jokes around him, teased him about it, but I just thought it was him trying to be funny again. (Since I grew up with him, it took me a while to realize that my father was essentially a complete and utter bastard). I'm ashamed to say that I actually joined in on the teasing. It was easier to deflect things onto my brother than to risk getting hit with them myself, and I was a coward. When he left I realized how much I missed him, I began to see that my father's way of behaving, even though not blatantly evil by most standards, was subversively cruel in the worst possible way.

I was a good person. Why hadn't I noticed any of it before? I believed in women's rights, and racial rights, and even thought that I believed in gay rights, but it hit me that I'd never made a joke based on someone's race. Whenever my grandfather did that I felt mortified. And yet I'd been going around for years, acting like sexual preference was a source of ridicule. My self-image as an accepting individual was shattered.

I had the benefit of my brother to figure it out. But not everyone has someone like that in their life to shine a light on their own darknesses. The fact of the matter is that mainstream media is the best way to reach out to the largest audience, groups of people who don't even realize that they're promoting negativity with the way they act, who don't see that it's their stupid jokes that eventually lead to larger acts which they would find deplorable. As I've mentioned before, my sister, for example, wouldn't even consider K/S as anything but gross until I actually showed it to her. Then she realized it wasn't gross - not any more than any other kind of love. I think a lot of people would benefit from just seeing two characters have that as an aspect to themselves, not as the main focus and story, but just as a simple fact of their natures.

What my father used to make fun of has now become something that, to me, is very moving and deeply human, and in keeping with the true spirit of the show as a whole. I like to think I've still retained a sense of humour, but that I use it for good rather than evil now.

Nothing I can do can make up for the way I behaved when I was ignorant, because those facts won't change. But if mainstreaming K/S can help people see another side to something that's either a joke or a source of hatred and misunderstanding, then I'm all for it, and hopefully they can become more open-minded before they hurt someone they love.

I haven't spoken to my older brother in years. The only person in the family he'll talk to is our mother, and I guess I can't really blame him. Instead I blame my own behavior, and the media that promoted it.

But, the good side to all of this is that I firmly believe that if we can show people what we're talking about, and explain why current portrayals are wrong, and really drive home the message that so many people in the world are walking around with blinders on, then it is possible to change. Some people won't, but I truly believe that society as a whole can be brought around to a different way of seeing things, even if I only believe that because I myself was. Kirk and Spock are icons. They're icons because people love them. When someone you love comes out of the closet, you can't hide anymore from how you feel on the issue.

The best way to get things resolved is to just drag all of it, the ugliness and the diamonds, into the open and sort it out. I think K/S would go a long ways towards doing that.

/End hopelessly long-winded rant.

[Elanor Sarralyn]

One thing that I have truly been grateful for in my parents is that they never did try to indoctrinate me into their views. I developed my own views on things, and for that I am very, very glad. I only just figured out that my parents are somewhat uncomfortable with homosexuality--they never talked about it, and the only reason I found out was because I tried to talk about it and there was silence and then awkward change of subject.

A few of my friends are bi or gay, and thankfully my school is pretty accepting of them. (I'm in Minnesota, northern US, mostly liberal where I am.) Having these people as friends, I get extremely angry at homophobes because I simply cannot see why these people, these lovely, amazing people, don't deserve the same sorts of rights straight people do simply based on who they love. Love is love; who you love doesn't make any difference.

I think that much of that sort of prejudice, however, is founded in fear of the unknown. If you don't know something, for some people the first instinct is to hate it and fear it as a defensive mechanism. I understand this, but it doesn't stop me from thinking it's wrong and hurtful.

I also don't see how it is anyone else's business who you love. That is your own private life; who are you to judge their lives? You don't know them, don't know their motivations, don't know their experiences. To me, it is the height of narcissism and self-importance to think that you can tell someone who they can or cannot love, and to think that somehow their choices will impact yours to such a degree that you have any right to complain. Your universe may revolve around you, but my universe does not.

I have to say I didn't like Uhura much in the movie. She could have, as one friend put it, been taken out of it entirely and it wouldn't've changed the main plot a bit. I felt that she was put there predominantly just so they had a symbolic woman onboard, and as someone said earlier, to discourage the K/S slashers. I honestly didn't like Spock/Uhura--this was before I even started shipping Kirk/Spock. Spock and Uhura just didn't seem like they had the chemistry that Kirk and Spock had, and Uhura being pushy in the beginning about getting on the Enterprise just irked me.

Star Trek has been around for so long now that it's nearly impossible not to have heard of it at some point. Kirk and Spock, likewise, are famously constantly slashed. What with this new movie, we could finally move beyond the ambiguity that Rodenberry had to put in the series in the 60s, and show their love instead of stepping gingerly around it.

[Lance]

Wow, okay. I kind of realized that these reasons are all amazing. I've been reading through them and saying... my lord, these are so moving and powerful. So I have a question, slightly OT. But I'm the administrator. Deal with it.

Would anyone be adverse to having these reasons (in an edited form, of course) be put on the website? We do have the personal testimonial aspects of the essays, and I think that all of these are great, and would make a great addition to the site. Does anyone have any thoughts on this? I'd love to include these on the main site. It's too powerful to pass up. If anyone would like to edit theirs to make it sound better, of course, they could feel free, or I can just assign all of these to an editor to compile together. (BTW, Editors, get your red pens out, you are all about to get some material within the next 6-8 hours). Thoughts? Of course, if you don't want your reasons displayed, just say so. I won't publish anything on the website that anyone does not want.

You guys are the best,
Lance

[Pirate College Graduate]

I'll write a testimony soon, though I must admit it won't have a lot about homosexuality in it. Instead, it'll mostly be about MY bouts with discrimination and minority issues. But yes, feel free to use it on the site. I think personal testimonies would DEFINITELY benefit our cause.

Lindsay

[Lanaea]

I think using personal testimonies is a great idea. Feel free to use anything I post, I won't mind.

[Catty-the-spy]

Feel free to use my stuff also. I'm not really embarrased by it, and I generally don't mind.

[AkitoTsubaki]

So this is not going to be nearly as eloquent as the wonderful, smart, insightful people's testimonies before mine, but I just wanted to throw my two cents in anyway.

I didn't actually know what this forum was about until after I joined it. All I knew was that I found it via Lanaea's profile, so it must be something good. Now that I know what it's all about, I am really, really glad that I did join.

I haven't had a particularly difficult childhood, nor have I ever personally encountered discrimination because I'm gay. My parents and my sister are all wonderfully, wonderfully supportive of me, as is most of my extended family and nearly all of my friends. I could be on the streets right now, but instead I have a family who loves me and lets me wear suits and actually takes me to support groups. My mother is in the MassEquality mailing list. My father spent hours searching the internet for an LGBT support group for me. My sister wears an Ally pin on my request, even though she defines herself as nonpolitical.

It breaks my heart to hear about so many people like me who are kicked out of their homes, bullied, threatened, and harassed, and I feel incredibly grateful that I grew up being supported wholeheartedly when so many people are so much less fortunate. I recognize that I am one of the lucky ones.

While discrimination, stereotypes, and downplaying in the media gets me steamed, at least I have a family I can vent with about it. I can't even imagine what it must feel like not to have anything positive to look to as a representation of your lifestyle, and with no familial support to boot.

So the reason I'm here is largely an accident, but the reason I'm staying is because I want my children to grow up in a world where heterosexuality isn't the 'default', and everything else is considered 'strange' or 'different'. It is vitally important that we start to buck up, get our acts together, and stop representing man/woman as the only acceptable form of romantic love. We need to stop making a big deal out of homosexuality when it's represented in films; by branding any movie with a same-sex couple in it as a 'gay movie', its own subgenre, we're furthering the notion that it's not normal.

The next generation needs positive gay role models in fiction, accurately represented and not treated as an anomaly. You can bet that if every movie with a Jewish character were treated as a 'Jewish film', most people would be up in arms. Homosexuality is no different than any other minority--it escapes me why we insist on treating them as something potentially offensive. Why the fuck is conservatism always considered the 'family friendly' option, especially in regards to this?

And anyway, K/S is a cultural icon. At this point, it's impossible to ignore the subtext, which went on for three whole seasons. And Gene Roddenberry never explicitly denied it.

At the very least, it's a travesty to the original series to gloss over the bond Kirk and Spock share. If we dismiss it because it's too 'queer', throwing Spock into the arms of a perfectly lovely character with whom he is in no way compatible romantically, we're dismissing a huge part of both of their characters.

That's my take on it. >>; Feel free to quote/steal/paraphrase anywhere.

[Elanor Sarralyn]

I don't mind at all. ^^

I thought that making Uhura's identity just The Woman Onboard also rather gave her the short end of the stick. She could've been developed so much more, into a actually good character--instead, her identity's consists mainly of Female and Is Into Spock.

[TheBrownRecluse]

I'll try to have my testimonial up by tomorrow. And feel free to use it as you will.

[Oni]

Watch, I'm going to start rambling and use really bad grammar while writing this. Its gonna be horrible. Hopefully I will get my message across though.

When I first watched the new Star trek movie, I was actually a little over whelmed by it with the amount of Action and CGI in what I thought was supposed to be a Star Trek movie, but it grew on me and it could have been a great new beginning. Now I say could because of all the little annoyances that the movie had, the lack of Red Sun and Sky on the Planet Vulcan, the amount of Lens Flair almost blinding me more than Vegas, Kirks Blue Eyes, and scenes that could have explained some things being cut for in favour of more action and CGI. The One thing that annoyed me the most was the introduction of S/U.

When the movie introduced the Character Uhura, she started out great with real promise for her. But then the Elevator scene happened, I will not lie, I blurted out loud in the theatre ‘WHAT THE FUCK?’ and a few people agreed with me. I had no idea where the hell it came from, S/U just appeared out of nowhere, with no Chemistry or reason. And then it continued to a disgusting display on the transported pad that was way OOC than any Fanfic I have ever seen the two characters in.
I was actually really confused by it, When the heck did Spock and Uhura hook up in the original Series? So I decided to do research, I watched as many TOS Episodes as I could and the entire 6 original Movies again. I even asked my father, a fan of the Original series back in the 60’s, and he told me that ‘Spock never really fell in love with any girl.’ Not unless some sort of Space Pollen, or being controlled by something spacey. So I went to the Internet to do research and found the Writers of the Star trek movie where answering questions. Apparently the reason for S/U was to ‘Dissuade the Slashers.’ And that it was an ‘Alternate Reality that Spock hooks up with Uhura’ now this pissed me off. Not only was that their reason, they also gave a reason as to why Kirk’s eyes where blue, ‘being born in space does that.’

Now in the Harry Potter books, Harry’s eyes are Green and like his mothers, but Daniel Radcliff who plays Harry in the Movies is unable to wear contacts so they left them as is and simply state his eyes are ‘like his mothers’ never saying anything about them being green. The Directors and the writers for the movies do not try and explain it; they simply tell the audience to use their imagination.

The Second that the Writers for the Star Trek movie started to make excuses for these things it rang a bell in my head, They where not trying at all to respect Gene Roddenberry’s original vision. They where just Fans of Star Trek writing a Fan fic of Star Trek bashing another pairing (Slash) to promote their own pairing, and they use the card that it is an 'Alternate Reality.’ to explain that basically ‘We can do what ever We want, because that is how we write it’

Now, I have been a Slash fan for ten years now. (Yes I was 12 when I got into it) and because of Slash I am a better person. I learned to appreciate the gay community through slash, and see them as people and wish them the same rights as I do. Who is to say that my love for a man is any different than the love a man feels for a man (or Women to women)?
Star Trek was a vision by a great man whose mind was ahead of its time and created what is probably the founding of modern Sci Fi Drama, and influenced a lot into our culture. His dream was of a united world of all races, colours, and cultures being together to promote Peace and Tolerance into the Galaxy. And just by Coincidence, his two main characters shared a wonderful bond that created Slash Fanfiction that helped me learn about the gay community. Who is to say that it was not Gene's original plan to have Kirk and Spock have such a bond to help promote acceptance to homosexuals? Gene had thought up a future United, perhaps some how homosexuality got into it as well? I hope so.

I joined SEE because I hope that maybe we can bring back the S/K into Star TreK, and help promote Slash and maybe use it as a way to help people accept Homosexuality, into the media and into our lives.

[Pirate College Graduate]

Hey Oni, I read that quote about Kirk's eyes being blue somewhere, but someone told me that they meant itit as a joke. I can't quite remember though, so don't completely take my word on it.

Also, do you have a link the to the page where the writers admit that S/U was simply for dissuading slashers? Cause I'd love to read it...and then get pissed off. Whoever made the final decision on that one? Oh boy...XD

Lindsay

[Oni]

I can't find it now, but I did read it some where.

Now all I can find is them saying that they put it in for the earlier episodes. I find it funny because nothing came out of the first season with her interest in Spock. Maybe like the first season, she will lose interest in him as well. But of course they are the writers are in their own little Fan Fic Alternate Universe.

This is just becoming a giant rant for me against the writers, I should really stop. Because I'm not a writer, and they did okay on some parts, its just that some things should not have changed and that the sought inspiration to change those things from the wrong source.

[Catty-the-spy]

Oni:
That sig is made of awesome!

[Oni]

@Catty-the-spy
Thank you :D

Heh, I just found out that Gene Roddenberry didn't really like 'The Motion Picture' the Movie because he felt there where to many holes in the script and that it was 'To focused on Action and special effects.'
I wonder how he would feel to the new Movie. I bet his ashes are spinning in Space!

[Larxenne]

Ha, so I don't exactly have a huge amazing story, though I am so impressed by reading all of these...I am also happy that there are a lot of people out there who can eloquently express their views on civil rights.

I grew up in the SF bay area, and while some of the general cultural homophobia has taken root over here, homosexuality and bisexuality are largely accepted. I only realize now, as I learn more about life outside of liberal California, how lucky I have been to be able to have honest discussions about sexuality in school and with my friends (being bisexual has never really made me feel weird or different or ostracized).

Before I became a conscious member of the "gay rights movement" (whatever that really is), I learned about US History. The thing I love most about the US is that we have a long history of continual improvement through social upheaval. I love the nonviolent civil rights movement and everything it still stands for, and believe that we still have a lot of work to do. (Skim this article from today's NY times: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/11/us/11gay.html?_r=1&th&emc=th)

I am hugely (and probably naively) optimistic about the future, and I believe that along with huge technological and political innovations in the future, there will be social change--but only if people like us are vocal and active. And I love Star Trek...and K/S.

[Mandiranda]

I don't have a particularly moving story, but I'm going to post mine anyways.
I didn't really have any affiliation with a gay person, so I was indifferent. I used to act like an uninformed idiot, going around using 'gay' as a substitute for 'stupid' or 'dumb'. I have at least one close friend that is bisexual. I now do not EVER use 'gay' as a bad thing, because my friend showed me that being gay isn't weird, or taboo (Even if she has no idea what she opened my eyes to). It's a love, and it's just as wonderful as male/female relationships. I'm glad that I have (forgive the cliche) discovered the errors in my ways. I am so thankful that, where I live, there isn't much overall hatred towards gay people. I'm grateful that I've got parents that have gay friends as well, and don't agree with homophobia. But most of all, I'm thankful that at the age of 14 I am a free mind towards gay people. I now have the rest of my life to live like this, where if I wasn't open I wouldn't have the chance to make wonderful friends in the future that may be gay. At around the same time I started feeling this way (approx.3 months ago), Star Trek was released. I started reading K/S stories, which have really propelled me towards my openness. The fandom led me to Home, which led me to SEE. Leading me to the actual title of this thread; "Reasons why you joined SEE". I joined because I realized that even as a non-gay member of society I can make a difference, to help let people like my bi friend become heard.
As I said, not a very moving story. :o Just adding my thoughts to the mix of very touching stories.

[MrEccentric]

...............

[Mandiranda]

Oh, and under my reasons I joined, I forgot to mention that K/S would be flipping awesome.:P
@Mr.Eccentric- I know what you mean about the older generation and their set ways. I kinda feel part of something bigger now, too :) The whole SEE thing makes it seem like we might be able to change that, so once our generation is older we won't have to same close-minded problems.

[Andrina]

Ok here it goes,

I am part of See because I grew up in a mall southern town that was full of hate. It was demoralizing and destructive to everyone but so many people there couldn't see it. I could because even though I am not gay, I do understand being hated and miss treated for being different. I was a short little girl with glasses and a hearing aid. The bullies picked me out a soon as I walked onto school grounds. Because I was not what they considered normal they ridiculed me and even beat me. I am not writing this for sympathy but to show that I know what its like.
When I saw how my gay fellow classmates were treated I was outraged. I realized just how bad it was when a guy friend of mine was nearly beaten to death because he was gay. Not only that, but the police would do nothing about it. The whole thing was ignored and that is the worst reaction injustice can recieve. It was easy for me to seen then that the hardships and unfairness that gay people face is also ignored and even applauded by the majority.
I feel that an injustice has been done by the was sexual orientation is presented or not presented in the new Star Trek film. I am a part of this group to help make sure that this injustice is not ignored. I believe that SEE has a loving message. Love is beautiful in all its forms and same sex love should not have to be hidden because of fear. SEE fights for the bright future that Gene Roddenberry wrote about and set out to create with his ground breaking show. Now it is up to us to carry his legacy on and make it a reality.

Sorry this is so long *Blush*

[LilianG]

This isn't gonna be as powerful and well written as everyone else's writings, but I just felt like saying something.

I don't remember how I found this forum in the first place, but I'm really glad I did, it's a great forum and you all seem very nice :)

I have had very little difficulties with me being bi, and I'm very grateful for my friends and family for it. Of course there are and alway will be people who say that there is something wrong with me, that I'm sick, or at least that I am too young to really know whether I am bi/lesbian or not. But all I can say is "I don't care!"

Yes, I am only 14, and I am very young, but I've been through a lot, including serious suicide attempt and desperation and spending many months in hospital because of that. I'm still fighting against depression and I've had so much help and support from my family and friends and I'm thankful for that. I'm sure that if I keep trying long enough, I can get over this shit.

Many of my friends are gay or bi, and not all of them have as supportive parents as mine, and I can tell that I am one of the lucky ones.
I feel very lucky to be born in Finland, where homosexuality is not so big issue, at least among young people.

In my oppinion people should start behaving like homosexuality is not so big deal -which it isn't. Some people are gay, some people are straight. Some people are black, some people are white. Some people have green eyes, some people have brown eyes. There's no difference. We're all as good as any other, and we should all know that and appreciate ourselves and others.


That's what I think. Feel free to use this anywhere. And oh, I'm very sorry about my bad english!