Sure im angry and full of rage, why wouldn't i be when i read such bigotry. i nearly threw up to think views like hers are still alive and being spread by such a notable newspaper.
I was trying to show that her angle that we dont or wont make good parents is drivel.
I wont ever be buying the Sunday Times again and i hope all others will do the same until they take her off that soapbox shes on.
yeah, talking about her views might make her think shes right but whats the alternative? go back into the closet and keep my mouth shut? they were the dark ages and i dont intend to go back there thank you.

I don't think EBO disagrees with your right to be angry about this, which is a very natural feeling, but the way in which you choose to direct it. When you're passionately angry, and start saying that the heterosexual community are the wife-beaters, rapists and overall degenerates of the human race, you make yourself easy to dismiss and greatly diminishes the impact of your response. Similarly, spelling, grammar and coherence are big contributors/detractors to your argument being considered in a serious light.

If you're using the medium of text to respond to articles such as hers, you need to focus yourself, and bring yourself to a rational place. You need to start deconstructing it, countering the points. Rip it asunder, carefully highlighting how weak the points are, and taking the utmost care not to draw your own feelings and hyperbole into the argument itself. By all means, use your emotions to fuel the reason for it, but the product itself must be free from it. Otherwise, it's just a shouting match, and it draws all the wrong attention.

My own theory is that there should probably be a Zen-like acceptance of the fact that Brenda won't change her mind, at most, the best direct result is that she can't publish work like that again. You won't convert those who are deeply entrenched in their beliefs - that means her article isn't going to sway the LGBT community that want this, nor will our best efforts bring an epiphany upon the the Brenda Powers in this world.

What is at stake are those that have yet to make up their minds.

We need to convince those people. We need rational, eloquent arguments. We need to be (relatively) likable, or at least presentable (this is where the spelling and grammar come in - spellcheckers are very handy things). We need to remember that most of the undecided will not be gay (most of them already know where they stand, so it's simply preaching to the queer... so to speak) - so let's not insult them, and say that they're the folk of wife-beaters. That doesn't win them over.

Also, it's worth noting that the work of people like Alan Turing (who was gay and was responsible for a lot of code-breaking in World War 2), resulted in the death of a lot of German soldiers. Alexander The Great is reputed to have been gay, and was responsible for attempts at mass genocide. There are reports of same-sex partners who physically and emotionally abuse their partners. All of these points will be used to counter any of your attacks on the heterosexual community that you previously posted. Those attacks will not win over the people we need on our side.

While your original post touched on decent points, they were clouded by anger and the thrust of the piece was largely uncontrolled, swinging in all directions with a strong possibility of losing us the allies we desperately need.

All that aside, welcome to the Spud, and I hope the above (which is meant as constructive criticism rather than an attack on your good self) doesn't stop you from posting and enjoying yourself on the forums.

Regards,
Aoife

I take all  your points and yes i agree, but i am so bloody angry at her and her right wing views. Any of the points i raised have been raised and used before in the fight for gay rights. My spelling and grammer mistakes come from not having a good education, because i was regularly used as a punch bag, bullyed by teachers at school and never took much interest in learning,i have never gotton over this and this is no excuse. I wish things could have been different and never have had any problems in life so i could have grown up without such hang ups and fear. Being beaten because your gay leaves great deep scars, well for me it has.
Thank you for your welcome.

On the other hand, it shows we're not going to take it

No no, not this thread. I more meant the Times site and other websites which aren't as welcoming and openminded as the spud.

What a crock of uninformed bollocksology! 

Does Brenda Power let out Dr Evil style manical laughter when she is writing this homophobic nonsense, I suggest that her wrap-around top in her profile photo is just a little too tight and has deprived oxygen to her brain. Gay people want equality, nothing more nothing less! I thumb my nose to your traditional values Ms Power ( I will presume you are female for now).