A recent thread on facebook which seemed to suggest that I support bigoted views insofar as homosexuality is concerned has caused me to pause to consider whether, or not, that might be the case. Accordingly, what I'm endeavouring to do here is to examine where, when, and how these opinions may have been developed.
Although it has taken practically the whole of my allotted span to appreciate it, one of the most satisfying aspects of my life has been an almost complete absence of any preconceived ideas about practically everything. For example, incredible though it may seem in this day and age, when the girl who become my wife and I met, neither of us had very much idea of what went where, when to do it, or why?
So, unsurprisingly, a similar lack of understanding about homosexuality existed - and, I have to say, this is rather intriguing from my own point of view because, from a very early age, I had attended boarding schools. However, apart from a somewhat disinterested suspicion that some boys might masturbate together from time to time, I had absolutely no knowledge of the more extreme behaviour single-sex relationships could involve. Indeed, it wasn't until I started my military service that I became aware of the existence of elements within society which, in those days, were called "queers".
I cannot deny that the concept of sexual intercourse between two men is completely abhorrent to me. However, when that relationship is non-consensual, it is even more disgusting and, for many naive young men who were conscripted into the forces in the fifties, the prospect was also quite frightening. For example, on three occasions during my own military service, I experienced the entirely unwelcome attention of predatory homosexual men - each of whom was older than me and, rather more sinister, senior in rank. Thankfully, I had been warned that 'something' might happen on two of these occasions; however, on the third, I experienced an entirely unexpected 'attack' and had to literally fight my way out of a tent.
After I left the army, despite these experiences, the first time I shared a workplace with what has now become known as a gay man, I was disappointed with some workmates' attitudes towards him. It was perfectly obvious, by the way, that he was what he was (as it were) because his behaviour was extremely effeminate. However, despite the fact that he was cruelly treated, unlike many of his ilk, he did nothing to conceal his 'condition' and I was sufficiently sympathetic towards him that he was invited to visit my family on more than one occasion. As a consequence, I saw how caring his 'sort' can be and, subsequently, in several different circumstances, I have been able to observe and share the company of more gay men and lesbian women than most and, more often than not, I have been completely at ease with them - and they with me (I hope).
There are, however, a couple of exceptions to that rule - and, getting straight to the nitty gritty, whilst I understand that men who are born with female characteristics might be attracted by the concept, nothing could persuade me that sodomy is natural. Accordingly, despite the old-wives' tale that many heterosexual men are secretly gay, I believe that those who choose to adopt a gay life-style are being disingenuous.
The second element with whom I'm uncomfortable, by the way, are those who take every opportunity they can find to shove their own ideals down everybody else's throats - and, since that characteristic doesn't just apply to the gay community (Christian couples, who try to select those who can or cannot visit their hotel, for example), on that note, I'll leave it at that - for the time being.
So, to sum up, that explains the 'background' and, notwithstanding the fact that I believe I've ended up reasonably broadminded, there may be some who feel justified in suggesting my views are (quote) "pointless bigotry". That said, I don't feel in the least bit compromised. Furthermore, I look on being branded Victorian as a compliment.
Although it has taken practically the whole of my allotted span to appreciate it, one of the most satisfying aspects of my life has been an almost complete absence of any preconceived ideas about practically everything. For example, incredible though it may seem in this day and age, when the girl who become my wife and I met, neither of us had very much idea of what went where, when to do it, or why?
So, unsurprisingly, a similar lack of understanding about homosexuality existed - and, I have to say, this is rather intriguing from my own point of view because, from a very early age, I had attended boarding schools. However, apart from a somewhat disinterested suspicion that some boys might masturbate together from time to time, I had absolutely no knowledge of the more extreme behaviour single-sex relationships could involve. Indeed, it wasn't until I started my military service that I became aware of the existence of elements within society which, in those days, were called "queers".
I cannot deny that the concept of sexual intercourse between two men is completely abhorrent to me. However, when that relationship is non-consensual, it is even more disgusting and, for many naive young men who were conscripted into the forces in the fifties, the prospect was also quite frightening. For example, on three occasions during my own military service, I experienced the entirely unwelcome attention of predatory homosexual men - each of whom was older than me and, rather more sinister, senior in rank. Thankfully, I had been warned that 'something' might happen on two of these occasions; however, on the third, I experienced an entirely unexpected 'attack' and had to literally fight my way out of a tent.
After I left the army, despite these experiences, the first time I shared a workplace with what has now become known as a gay man, I was disappointed with some workmates' attitudes towards him. It was perfectly obvious, by the way, that he was what he was (as it were) because his behaviour was extremely effeminate. However, despite the fact that he was cruelly treated, unlike many of his ilk, he did nothing to conceal his 'condition' and I was sufficiently sympathetic towards him that he was invited to visit my family on more than one occasion. As a consequence, I saw how caring his 'sort' can be and, subsequently, in several different circumstances, I have been able to observe and share the company of more gay men and lesbian women than most and, more often than not, I have been completely at ease with them - and they with me (I hope).
There are, however, a couple of exceptions to that rule - and, getting straight to the nitty gritty, whilst I understand that men who are born with female characteristics might be attracted by the concept, nothing could persuade me that sodomy is natural. Accordingly, despite the old-wives' tale that many heterosexual men are secretly gay, I believe that those who choose to adopt a gay life-style are being disingenuous.
The second element with whom I'm uncomfortable, by the way, are those who take every opportunity they can find to shove their own ideals down everybody else's throats - and, since that characteristic doesn't just apply to the gay community (Christian couples, who try to select those who can or cannot visit their hotel, for example), on that note, I'll leave it at that - for the time being.
So, to sum up, that explains the 'background' and, notwithstanding the fact that I believe I've ended up reasonably broadminded, there may be some who feel justified in suggesting my views are (quote) "pointless bigotry". That said, I don't feel in the least bit compromised. Furthermore, I look on being branded Victorian as a compliment.
