It Doesn't Matter Nate Silver is Gay It Matters America Knows He Is

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http://thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/3-it-doesnt-matter-nate-silver-is-gay-it-matters-america-knows-he-is/politics/2012/11/18/54038

This article is a great expression of what many of us say when we ask if a particular heroic person is gay or not.

So, why does it matter that Silver is gay?

Four years ago, when I began The New Civil Rights Movement, anyone’s coming out was viewed as big news. If an actor at the Oscars, Emmys, or even Tonys acknowledged their same-sex partner, or even commented on marriage equality, blogs lit up and Twitter cheered. Today, if we ran a similar story, it would be met with yawns.

Times have changed, and for the better.

But not necessarily for kids.

Kids need role models.

That geeky, nerdy gay fifth grader needs to know there are geeky, nerdy successful and respected adults. That nine-year old girl who knows she’s different from other girls, needs to know there are lesbians like her and one of them just became a U.S. Senator.

And the school yard bullies who beat the crap out of geeky, nerdy gay fifth graders need to know that the gay kids they’re beating up today may well grow up to be revered statisticians.

end of quote lots more at link including source material for fact he is gay

[SidDithers]

1. "Kids need role models."...

Sid

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2. I was an adult before I knew that Turing was gay

as a gay math geek knowing that math geek that saved the UK and invented the computer would have been a big deal.

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3. kick

[Brickbat]

4. I have never thought of it this way and I appreciate the change in perspective.

I'll keep it in mind in the future.

[dsc]

5. thanks

[Voice for Peace]

6. the more the better, every size and shape of gay for every child who's looking for affirmation

and the more stereotypes bent and broken, the better!

[AlbertCat]

7. When my parents sent me to an all boy prep school...

.... in 1970, I actually thought I was the only gay person on the planet and there WAS something wrong with me.

I was humiliated 24/7 by the other boys AND teachers.

I contemplated suicide...but quickly found POT!

And Bach

And then for college went to the NC School of the Arts where more people were gay than not


Thank you.

[bettyellen]

12. have you read Barrel Fever? I love Sedaris writing about his neurotic childhood and then his

blossoming in college. Hilarious and very touching stuff, a rare combo. Your story brought his to mind. Thanks for that!

[Gman]

8. In your own opinion does it matter

But it's ONLY HIS business, not your business if the world knows.

[Spider Jerusalem]

9. Nah, I find his sexuality totally irrelevant to anything at all

I had no idea he was gay; I wasn't aware, it didn't occur to me, and now that I do know, it matters as much as it did before I knew it: not one little bit. Being gay is like being left-handed or blonde; it's an unremarkable thing that's within the normal range of human difference.

[smirkymonkey]

11. It doesn't matter to me that he's gay.

I still think he's brilliant. I am only a little disappointed because I actually though he was kind of hot.

Oh, well. Not that I had a chance with him anyway.

[bettyellen]

13. and so this isn't about you, but so others can eventually come around to that way of thinking

i remember my Mom's first open and out gay friend, she had been a very sheltered woman.
She was shocked he wasn't having orgies and acting like a girl. Serously!!
She had no clue that a gay person was just like everyone else. She liked him a whole lot, and I know her view changed to acceptance overnight.
Most people who don't care about equal rights for gays don't because they didn't know they already do love - or greatly admire- some gay people. It matters.

[KittyWampus]

14. Actually, knowing if a friend is left-handed is quite useful at dinner parties. Knowing where to

seat them, for instance.

Knowing a friend's hair color is also useful in picking out gifts.

Knowing where people are on those spectra can be useful in positive ways.

[Orangepeel]

19. Being gay *should* be like being left-handed or blonde. It *should* be unremarkable.

Gay people *shouldn't* be discriminated against or derided or bullied or jailed or killed.

I've heard that left handed people used to be forced to write with their right hands because crazy people thought they were possessed by the devil. Society as a whole has recognized how crazy that is, and now being left handed is mostly unremarkable.

Society is moving toward recognizing that it is crazy to think there is something wrong with being gay. But it is certainly not there yet. There are countries where homosexuality is illegal. In the US, gay people are routinely discriminated against.

I live in a state that just voted for marriage equality. It is remarkable that, for the first time, a small majority of voters said it was okay, even with ballot language and TV commercials that assured voters six ways to Sunday that religious organizations who think being gay is an abomination would still be allowed to do so. One of the most progressive states in the US, and 48% of people think being gay is such an awful thing that they will vote in favor of state sanctioned discrimination (a trivial amount of those people might have been pointlessly voting against state sanctioned marriage in general, but since a defeat would do nothing in that regard I can't believe it was many).

If a person's sexual orientation were irrelevant to everyone, it would be irrelevant. Congrats to you for not being a bigoted asshole that sends teenagers to anti-gay corrective therapy or brainwashes them into thinking they they can change who they are attracted to if they only pray hard enough. But such assholes do exist and as long as they do, gay kids need role models.

[FreeBC]

10. Math don't care if you're gay.

[AnnieBW]

15. I always assumed that he was a real-life Sheldon Cooper

Only with math instead of physics. You know, asexual and clueless.

[Kennah]

16. Isn't it most important we know he's fucking smart and education matters?

Yes, I agree that knowing he's gay is also very important.

[Wounded Bear]

17. So, he actually is gay? Didn't know that, didn't care....

Doesn't matter. He's one smart cookie, for sure.

Even when he accurately predicts Dem losses, I have to respect his abilities.

[closeupready]

18. Glad to hear that. Makes me like him more.

[UTUSN]

20. He's GAY??????????!1 I thought he was *ACCURATE*!1 n/t