Gay Marriage In John Leland's 'Shades Of Gay'

The twenty first century has brought along new and innovative advancements, concepts, and ideas to people. These notions came with the price of society’s diverse opinions of them. Because of this, people are beginning to learn how to tolerate modern novelties because there is no way to prevent one from hearing, seeing, or being influenced by these new perceptions. Tolerating other individuals’ actions suggests that the general public is almost forced to condone another person’s disparities. Instead of using tolerance in order to bear one’s different thoughts and opinions, people should respect and accept them for who they are.

First of all, tolerance is not the same as acceptance. In “It’s Time to Turn Down Volume, Learn to Listen,” Tom …show more content…
In “Shades of Gay,” John Leland evaluates the actions and reactions of increasing advocation and support for gay marriage and whether they should obtain the same civil rights as a heterosexual person. When Proposition 22 was passed in California in 2000, it did not allow gay people to be legally married. Many of the people who voted happen to be conservative as well, which understandable because conservatives are generally heterosexual and tend to be more cautious about modern changes. Leland acknowledges that the biased opinions of heterosexual individuals may be the cause that inhibits gay people from being given the same rights as a “normal” person. These individuals do not consider the reality of problems gay people actually struggle with. Homosexuals encounter prejudice and discrimination on a daily basis. Although homosexuals are obtaining support from many gay rights movements, it is not ample to make an individual sense acceptance in society. Similarly, in the editorial “American Flag Stands for Tolerance,” Ronald Allen suggests that although Gregory Johnson’s act of burning the American flag can interpret a powerful statement, people shouldn’t assume the worst of the convict’s intentions. “Shades of Gay” and “American Flag Stands for Tolerance” relate to one another because they both tolerate opposing thoughts, but have not come to a thorough act of acceptance. In “Shades of Gay,” there are people who have come to learn to live with homosexuals in their vicinity, but still convey uneasy outlooks of the idea of gay marriage as parents have tried to hide homosexuality from their young ones. By the same token, “American Flag Stands for Tolerance” holds a great deal of people who oppose the Supreme Court’s decision on tolerating the burning of the flag.