You belong among the wildflowers...

Unfortunately, while there shouldn't have to be a National Coming Out Day, at the moment there does people need to notice. On the other hand, the minority acceptance issue and the fact that anger should be channeled into productive work. The anger provides energy. However, hostility is different from anger. Anger-good, necessary for change. Hostility--bad, leads to fruitless arguments. In that, Alex, you're right that we'll get more done without it. But without anger there's a lot less emotion for most people. It's easier to channel.

I'm saying this pretty much as someone who will never be integrated as part of any social scene. Integrated equality under the law and general treatment is not the same as "everyone being equal." That's conformism, and no one wants that. The problem is, not only for homosexuals but for ethnic and religious minorities (and women too, to an extent), as well as the lower classes, is that secularly legal and economic equality is the issue at hand, not erasing feelings of differences. Differences are good. Differences are what keep life interesting. But the point is to make people understand that difference doesn't mean "to be given fewer privileges or discriminated against." The point of integration is that differences exist but that as far as legal and economic procedures are concerned, they are erased by the simple fact that we are human beings. Thankfully we can stick to the species thing. I don't want to think about what would happen if we didn't. But as it is, that definition will suffice. The fact of the matter is that there will always be people who dislike other people for their differences, and frankly no amount of preaching at them about coming together will really change that. No amount of working for integration will prevent people from just not fitting in, but that's not really what it's about. If, however, people are treated equally under the law and protected and supported equally by that law, then there is room for that acceptance to take place. Which is part of why National Coming Out Day is good. It's an issue that needs to be brought into the public domain of discussion, and it brings it to people's attention in the first place.

[On examples of not having reasons for scholarships beyond intelligence or low income.] Some people are better at sports and will spend more time on it--they might need that money so they don't have to take a job to pay for school. Low income is a perfect reason for scholarships. Also, research grants are available--money given for work someone wants to do. All good things, and from differences. And the "equal" that you're talking about is something that is in the legal and economic stage, and that's what those laws are for: to establish that equality. In the hypothetical, never-to-exist world where everyone believed everyone equal, the minority laws wouldn't be necessary and so shouldn't be used. It's like "How would you feel if your mother had had you aborted?" Answer: "I wouldn't. I wouldn't have been born to feel." That which doesn't exist is not an issue. Being "the open-minded people" is really just an arrogant statement that you're better than someone and totally not what striving for equality is about, so there you're right.

But actually, yes, we can march for reasons that we're born with. People born with two X and no Y chromosomes did for the right to vote. People with more melanin in their skin did for the right to vote and for protection and support of the government. And that's the point. People need to be aware that these things need to happen. And that's what the day is good for. (Also, as a very small note: the actual definition of "moot" is "open for discussion."