What happened to tolerance and compassion?

Posted 31 May 2010 by Walaa Idris

It is amazing what you see when you have to look. David Laws being outed might have caused him, his family and friends some distress but it has forced some of us to look and listen – as unfortunate as the whole episode was for him some good did come out it!

In Britain, we pride our self of being tolerant and understanding and mostly we are. However, every once and awhile something happens and shakes that belief. This time that something was our inability of unconditionally accepting homosexuality.

Living in the UK for almost 20 years, I never thought the day would come when a 45 years man well forcibly come out only to divide opinions and bring out what we thought is a bygone attitude.

Putting the £40K expenses claim and his resignation aside, the reaction to David Laws’ coming out was not at all, what I expected it to be in 2010. Especially the reaction of some openly gay men who condemned his reasons for ‘not coming out’ as a betrayal to the gay rights movement [he should come out and join the fight…] said Peter Tatchell – Gay Rights Campaigner. In addition to others who labelled Laws an opportunist, [using his sexuality to hide his financial indiscretion…], not once taking into consideration that his feelings and fears might be genuine!

If this is the kind of reception coming out gets is there any wonder why some will rather stay closeted!

Add to that, the militant attitude of some is borderline bullying not to mention very divisive!

Being gay is OK, it is just like being short, tall, white, black, thin or fat, but does that mean we are all happy and confidant by who we are!? Some people easily and quickly come to terms with who they are, others take longer. All we need to do is allow those who need the time some time and be compassionate in our understanding of them.

Now how hard is that?

3 comment(s)

Helen

Helen
1 Jun, 00:57

Walaa, Laws “outed” himself and incidentally, why did he need to be in, anyhow? Are the Lib-Dems that intolerant? The place is full of politicians who are openly gay and nobody cares. He was caught with his hand in the sweet jar. That is the bottom line. He was breaking rules while crowing about the discomfiture of other MPs. OK, I’ll spell it out: he was taking money from the taxpayer and handing it over to his partner when he could easily have afforded to live in London, anyway. Ah yes, but he was entitled to those expenses. Well, that is the problem with the country: the entitlement mentality, which starts with the politicians. He brought his sexuality into the story because he thought he could use that to get away with breaking the rules. Nothing doing: rules apply for homosexuals as well as heterosexuals.

Walaa

Walaa
1 Jun, 10:59

Not every gay person is/want to be openly gay. It is his right to stay in or come out if he chooses it. The attitude that it is OK to come out so why did he not come out – or why is it a problem for him to come out is very patronizing and unfair. What happened to freedom of choice!

Helen

Helen
1 Jun, 12:44

He is free to choose what he wants to do but not at the taxpayers’ expense. What happened to honesty?

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