Gay Teen's family has aggressive & violent reaction, to his coming out

[Russic]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

It's probably real but anytime someone records (honestly a family discussion like this should be private IMO) something like that I feel they are staging it to their advantage to put someone in a negative light and make them look innocent. It seems he was talking about his dad in a negative manner on Facebook and while I'm not condoning the behaviour of anyone in that video I also feel that there's two sides to the story and being gay doesn't give someone the right to be manipulative.

He IS innocent. When you beat your son for being gay, frankly I don't care too much about your side of the story.

[DuffMan]

The funny thing about xtians and the gay issue, is right now they would consider (most of) us persecuting against them. When anyone questions their outright discrimination in regards to gays, they say they are being persecuted for not being allowed to express their religious freedoms.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

It's probably real but anytime someone records (honestly a family discussion like this should be private IMO) something like that I feel they are staging it to their advantage to put someone in a negative light and make them look innocent. It seems he was talking about his dad in a negative manner on Facebook and while I'm not condoning the behaviour of anyone in that video I also feel that there's two sides to the story and being gay doesn't give someone the right to be manipulative.

Huh? Manipulative? I don't know where you get that impression.

Listen, I think a little empathy is in order here. Even if he did post something negative, he's young and has almost no other outlet to express himself. It's not like he could go and have a heart to heart with any of these people. Even the one he did confide in (his stepmother) seems to turn on him in this video. Facebook at least gives him an outlet to connect with other like-minded people, as is the intentions of social media. It's not the best place to air dirty laundry about your family, but I think his options were limited. Think of how alone he must feel…wait a minute…now multiply that feeling by 100 fold and you might approximate what it's like to be him.

And he recorded it because it was an "intervention" staged by his family. Once he knew it was happening he recorded it to protect himself, as he says in the article, which it looks like was the correct reasoning and didn't work anyways.

I don't believe in a whole lot of traditional things in this world, but I believe that family needs to have your back no matter what (anything up to committing crimes against humanity). It's a lonely, lonely world if you don't feel like you have any family. I really hope this kids leaves this town far behind and finds a new family that he creates. This family seems dead to him.

[pylon]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

It's probably real but anytime someone records (honestly a family discussion like this should be private IMO) something like that I feel they are staging it to their advantage to put someone in a negative light and make them look innocent. It seems he was talking about his dad in a negative manner on Facebook and while I'm not condoning the behaviour of anyone in that video I also feel that there's two sides to the story and being gay doesn't give someone the right to be manipulative.

There is no two sides to this story. A 20 year old was disowned and beaten in the name of god over something he has zero control over. And it is all on video.

From what I understand, the mother has already lost her job, and I am assuming the rest of the family will be left in financial ruin for their actions, as they should be. I am glad they were exposed.

This isn't a spur of the moment thing. These people went to the trouble to gather together, plan and stage an intervention, all in the name of 'god'. I hope the kid uses the money to buy their soon to be foreclosed home, and evicts THEM.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by DuffMan

The funny thing about xtians and the gay issue, is right now they would consider (most of) us persecuting against them. When anyone questions their outright discrimination in regards to gays, they say they are being persecuted for not being allowed to express their religious freedoms.

In some countries, muslims have the religious freedom to stone their wives to death for dishonoring them. It doesn't make it right, it makes it bull####, and at some point I think we have to decide as a society what's more important: Having the ability to believe in our own fairytale stories of some magical being in the sky, or the dignity of a fellow human being. I know which one I am choosing.

[MarchHare]

Originally Posted by DuffMan

The funny thing about xtians and the gay issue, is right now they would consider (most of) us persecuting against them. When anyone questions their outright discrimination in regards to gays, they say they are being persecuted for not being allowed to express their religious freedoms.

"You don't tolerate my intolerance, so that makes YOU the real intolerant one!"

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by pylon

There is no two sides to this story. A 20 year old was disowned and beaten in the name of god over something he has zero control over. And it is all on video.

From what I understand, the mother has already lost her job, and I am assuming the rest of the family will be left in financial ruin for their actions, as they should be. I am glad they were exposed.

This isn't a spur of the moment thing. These people went to the trouble to gather together, plan and stage an intervention, all in the name of 'god'. I hope the kid uses the money to buy their soon to be foreclosed home, and evicts THEM.

As much as these are awful people and deserve something like that, I don't wish for it to happen. They are simply unenlightened, and that can be a product of being raised in an environment and never had their ideas challenged by a different environment. Ignorance is awful, but I don't blame them for not being educated.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Cali Flames Fan

As much as these are awful people and deserve something like that, I don't wish for it to happen. They are simply unenlightened, and that can be a product of being raised in an environment and never had their ideas challenged by a different environment. Ignorance is awful, but I don't blame them for not being educated.

I disagree.


This is not 1910 backwoods Mississippi.

This is 2014, they have these views because they want to have these views.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

I just finished donating.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

I disagree.


This is not 1910 backwoods Mississippi.

This is 2014, they have these views because they want to have these views.

Towns like Kennesaw still operate like it's 1910 though, that's the point. It's not Atlanta or even Savannah, Georgia. It's Kennesaw my friend.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2007/...19257620070418

Dent "Wildman" Myers, 76, styles himself as a keeper of the flame when it comes to Kennesaw's gun ordinance. His downtown shop contains a cornucopia of artifacts, including old uniforms and dozens of flags of the Confederacy that fought the Union in part in defense of slavery in the Civil War. At the back is a Ku Klux Klan outfit with a noose and a hood.

[codynw]

Originally Posted by Cali Flames Fan

I just finished donating.

Just curious, but why? The kid has already had $70,000 donated, and that is ridiculous to me. Sure, his parents are terrible and he's in an awful situation, but why do strangers feel the need to give him money for nothing? I'll never understand "crowd funding".

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Cali Flames Fan

Towns like Kennesaw still operate like it's 1910 though, that's the point. It's not Atlanta or even Savannah, Georgia. It's Kennesaw my friend.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2007/...19257620070418

They still choose to have these views, they have access to "modern" thinking.......

It is inexcusable, IMO.

[Nehkara]

Originally Posted by codynw

Just curious, but why? The kid has already had $70,000 donated, and that is ridiculous to me. Sure, his parents are terrible and he's in an awful situation, but why do strangers feel the need to give him money for nothing? I'll never understand "crowd funding".

It's a gesture of support. It's not about the number.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by codynw

Just curious, but why? The kid has already had $70,000 donated, and that is ridiculous to me. Sure, his parents are terrible and he's in an awful situation, but why do strangers feel the need to give him money for nothing? I'll never understand "crowd funding".

I don't know, it's the least I can do. If I knew him I would just take him in and make sure he was set up for success down the road, but I can't, so I can give him some kind words and a few bucks to lift him up after what is likely a heartbreaking situation that would turn a lot of people into an angry, bitter person. I don't want to see that. I want him to know that a perfect stranger cares about him enough to send him a few bucks. I want him to know that there is a greater community out there than just what he has been exposed to in this backward little town, and they are good people. I want him to overcome this setback and become a good person with something positive to contribute to the world, not let it drag him down.

In short, it's because I care.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

They still choose to have these views, they have access to "modern" thinking.......

It is inexcusable, IMO.

That's fine, it's your right.

I just can't help it. I have empathy for everyone, even the worst of the worst. I've always found it helps more to try to understand others rather than judge them. Doesn't mean I like them, but I understand them.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Cali Flames Fan

That's fine, it's your right.

I just can't help it. I have empathy for everyone, even the worst of the worst. I've always found it helps more to try to understand others rather than judge them. Doesn't mean I like them, but I understand them.

Oh, I understand them. I had very similair views at one time....so I understand them just fine. Perhaps that is why I am so unwilling to excuse their views.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

Oh, I understand them. I had very similair views at one time....so I understand them just fine. Perhaps that is why I am so unwilling to excuse their views.

Got it, totally makes sense why you feel the way you do. No worries.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Russic

He IS innocent. When you beat your son for being gay, frankly I don't care too much about your side of the story.

I video was way too shaky to see what was going on but it appears the kid was definitely shoved or smacked. Of course that is not condonable but all I'm saying is that it had the feeling of being staged by the guy. This guy could be a total lowlife for all we know but he's managed to put up a sympathetic video and receive a lot of $$$ in donations from strangers. IMO there is a little bit of exploitation of trailer park trash for financial gain going on.

[MarchHare]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I video was way too shaky to see what was going on but it appears the kid was definitely shoved or smacked. Of course that is not condonable but all I'm saying is that it had the feeling of being staged by the guy. This guy could be a total lowlife for all we know but he's managed to put up a sympathetic video and receive a lot of $$$ in donations from strangers. IMO there is a little bit of exploitation of trailer park trash for financial gain going on.

Jesus Christ, EE, knock it off with the victim-blaming.

[Nehkara]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I video was way too shaky to see what was going on but it appears the kid was definitely shoved or smacked. Of course that is not condonable but all I'm saying is that it had the feeling of being staged by the guy. This guy could be a total lowlife for all we know but he's managed to put up a sympathetic video and receive a lot of $$$ in donations from strangers. IMO there is a little bit of exploitation of trailer park trash for financial gain going on.

Do you ever give someone the benefit of the doubt? I don't find anything in that video that leads me to believe that.