So they wanted to "mend fences"

[IngridsLittleAngel]

So over the last 24 hours or so, things have gone from tense to downright hostile here at DU over Chappelle and his "special"... Now, at the risk of getting meta, I've spoken up and pushed back.

As someone in the LGBTQ community, I am SICK and fucking TIRED of being told how I should feel about what I see as bigotry against OUR community. When I am in here in DU - in what is supposed to be a safe space, and I am being told "get over it", "calm the fuck down", "can't you take a joke?!", or a variation of those statements, I feel attacked by people who claim to be supportive of me and my cause. Even if someone is of another minority group, it doesn't mean they don't posses MAJORITY status in another area, as Chappelle does, since he is straight and a cissy. We are allowed to criticize anyone and call out their bigotry, and not have it be dependent on other factors! It is claimed he is "punching up", but that is NOT possible! He is NOT trans, he is NOT gay, so he isn't punching up just because some trans and gay people are white, he is PUNCHING DOWN as a privileged MAJORITY, straight and cis!

You wanna punch up?! Punch the police. Punch a corporation. Punch the government. In the immortal words of the Dead Kennedys: PUNCH A BANK IF YOU GOT REAL BALLS!!

When I am in what is supposed to be a liberal and progressive space, I shouldn't feel like I am at a GOP fundraiser? People should be aware of their biases and re-examine their privileges, and that includes HETEROSEXUAL and CISGENDER privilege. It is time to stop "talking at us" and take the time "to listen to us"!

But they tell us to listen, while gagging us.

Fuck the straightsplaining and cissplaining. We are speaking, so, when do they listen? 10+ years now of wanting to mend fences, yet we get "Lady G" and "Bruce" Jenner and "Chappelle speaks about biology". We have been willing to mend fences, yet it's one step forward, four steps back. What I've seen over the last few weeks has gone beyond speaking up for Chappelle - they too have punched down.

I wish I knew when it would stop. Because so many don't get how much weight their words carry, or how much it hurts us.

I'd scream "Be best", but, that's been tainted.. So when will they just be better?