Tolerance of gay hikers (ie homophobia and trail safety question)

[joshua5878]

I don't think they'll have any trouble on the trail or in town, go hike.
What's with the speedo thing? If a guy, straight or gay, want to wear one who cares. Traumatized by speedos give me a break.
Tell them to hike on.

I don't think speedos are the problem, its the guys that try slippin a sweet potatoe in the front. :0) Just be careful it doesn't move around to the back.... :0(

[Dogwood]

Everyone has the right to their own belief system. But no one has the right to force that belief system on others.

Respect is the key I think. We would all get along so much better if we would just simply respect each other and our differences.

There U go. U got it. Now, if we all really lived in such a world.

[Tin Man]

I have met gay couple on the trail. I have also met tall, short, fat, and skinny people. People with poles and without. Different color people, different ages, different religions, even people who filter their water.

People on the trail are reduced to being no more than what fits on their back and what they carry in their minds. Behavior is the differentiating factor, nothing else matters. That's one of the things that is great about being out there, everyone is reduced to how they act and how they treat other people. Some grow from the experience and some just never get it.

[YoungMoose]

i think people wouldnt mind. you would probably find some ******* who acts strange around them.

[SunnyWalker]

I'm a happy hiker myself.

[weary]

Everyone has the right to their own belief system. But no one has the right to force that belief system on others.

Respect is the key I think. We would all get along so much better if we would just simply respect each other and our differences.

There U go. U got it. Now, if we all really lived in such a world.

One problem is that most dedicated, born again, Christians believe that the only way to achieve eternal life is through belief in Christ. Most seem to feel an obligation to tell us about their beliefs and to persuade us to share their beliefs.

As I read my Bible, it strikes me that they have an obligation to do so, if they also want to be "saved."

Weary

[warraghiyagey]

Please. . .

[TOW]

TOW and Jack - I'll be sure to point out your invitations. Although I will warn you- the two of them will talk your ear off! (One of them is a history professor who files things away like a walking encyclopedia.)

.

We got ears, we can take it and tell them a thing or two!

[Rockhound]

One problem is that most dedicated, born again, Christians believe that the only way to achieve eternal life is through belief in Christ. Most seem to feel an obligation to tell us about their beliefs and to persuade us to share their beliefs.

As I read my Bible, it strikes me that they have an obligation to do so, if they also want to be "saved."

Weary

I think you've struck on what annoys most hikers about the "Holy Rollers". Gay people don't hit the trail trying to convert people to homosexuality. Drinkers are not trying to force someone with 20 years sobriety to drink. Pot smokers don't force others to get high.....

[TJ aka Teej]

I have two dear friends that are considering a 2010 thru hike.

Invite them on a short hike or two, and stay at a hostel. Bring 'em to Traildays and to The Gathering.
No response here can replace actual interactions.

Tolerate them? Geez... I hope they can tolerate us!

[Spogatz]

If I see these guys on the trail I'll only have one thing to say to them:






Enjoy your hike guys....

[warraghiyagey]

If I see these guys on the trail I'll only have one thing to say to them:
Enjoy your hike guys....

As it should be. . .

[Summit]

I think you've struck on what annoys most hikers about the "Holy Rollers". Gay people don't hit the trail trying to convert people to homosexuality. Drinkers are not trying to force someone with 20 years sobriety to drink. Pot smokers don't force others to get high.....

Be careful not to be judgmental of all professing Christians either . . . two sides to the coin! I agree there are obnoxious overzealous witnessing religious people, just as there are obnoxious gays 'with an agenda' who practice PDA in hopes of receiving either affirmation or rousing discention.

Often when asked or I divulge that I'm a follower of Jesus Christ, I'm immediately pigeon-holed as a 'Holy Roller' as you call it. I would say that stereotyping Christians is more tolerated than stereotyping just about any other group, but that's no surprise. Jesus warned us 2000 years ago about that! Case in point: this thread, which started about gay acceptance but has turned of late to Christian bashing.

As to hiking/camping with gay couples, I'd treat them like anyone else so long as their behavior did not warrant otherwise. If the campfire discussion turned to the morality of homosexuality, I'd share straightforward what the Gospel teaches on that. If anyone is interested in what that is, PM me.

[2011_thruhiker]

Hi CJ!

Tell them to hike it!

No matter where we go in life, some one is going to oppose us for what we are, like, do, color of skin, and sexual orientation. The trail is no different as you will find ALL walks of life hiking it.

I don't think that it really matters if someone will not like them there as much as it matters how they respond or not respond to such a person. To me, if someone can't except me for who I am, the heck with them! Cause at the end of the day-it is me I am sleeping with and not them.

So, tell them to hike it and hike their own hike-have lots of fun hiking it, hopefully I will run into them on the trail and give them a big Virginia friendly "Hi!"

[Bumpa]

If they want to talk openly about being gay like at shelters, hostels, sure, as long as it's okay too for others to share about their belief in God and Jesus.

What they choose to practice or believe is absolutely their own personal choice.
You can love the person but disagree with their belief.

Being Gay is not a belief system like religious beliefs...you are born Gay, not taught to be Gay....you are not born with religious beliefs...you acquire them. Believe it or not...there are Gay Muslims, Buddhists, Jews and Christians. It is only a matter of if they accept their sexual orientation or are forced to hide it....Heavens!!

[Rockhound]

I did not mean to imply that anyone with deep religious beliefs or convictions is a "Holy Roller". Just that % that feel it is there duty to preach to every person they ever meet. "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven".

[Skyline]

Skyline you pretty much ran through every stereo-type, in situation and place. Why do you think it is a good thing to where a patch on your pack that signifies who you want to sleep with? I have never found it necessary to tell folks who I was sleeping with and why. Never needed a patch to let someone know. But then I go to the trail to hike.

Clyde

Clyde,

First, it's a small patch, mingled with a bunch of other patches. Together, they help tell a story about the trails I've hiked, my political pursuasions, environmental POVs, volunteerism, memberships, and who I am as a person.

The reason I put the patch you question on my pack, mostly, is to let other gay hikers or those who are gay-friendly know that one fact about me. It's about social and perhaps political comaraderie, not sexuality. It's a small rainbow triangle—not porno. Those in the know will "get it," those not will ignore it.

Sort of like why many of us put AT decals on our vehicles—we want to let other AT hikers and supporters know who we are. Sometimes it results in a wave, a horn toot, or even some spoken words at a restaurant or highway rest area.

I, too, go to the Trail to hike. Hope you weren't suggesting anything more.

[Skyline]

I did not mean to imply that anyone with deep religious beliefs or convictions is a "Holy Roller". Just that % that feel it is there duty to preach to every person they ever meet. "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven".

I've never met a gay man or woman on the Trail whose agenda including "converting" anyone.

Can't say the same for Christians. Thankfully, most don't go that far but some do. It can be hurtful and sometimes hateful when one is the target of their vitriol because one was born differently than the majority.

I also have never encountered a shelter with pro-gay pamphlets littering it. Can't say the same about pro-Christian literature.

The same-gender couple referenced in the original post seem like they could handle the rare instance of condemnation or prosyletizing they might encounter on the AT. If it even happens, it probably won't be any worse than what they've already experienced elsewhere in their lifetimes. So I'll stand by my initial response and advise them to truly hike their own hike, keeping in mind that danger is always potential for anyone out there, so don't let one's guard down completely.

Before they get to Bly Gap, just north of the GA/NC border, I'll bet they will have made friends who totally accept them as they are as part of the Class of 2010. Their conversation, when it involves their status as a couple, will probably be brief and matter-of-fact. They will probably be good ambassadors for both AT hikers and gay couples. And their conversations will probably be centered on things like weather, food, and spectacular viewpoints.

[Skyline]

Invite them on a short hike or two, and stay at a hostel. Bring 'em to Traildays and to The Gathering.
No response here can replace actual interactions.

Tolerate them? Geez... I hope they can tolerate us!

Teej, this may be the best post on this entire thread!

[Ramble~On]

Myself and most of the people I know and hike with don't care if you're homophobic, heterophobic, drugophobic, boozophobic, gay, black, white, purple, asian, african, inidan, male, female, both, undecided, alien, feline, canine etc.

The AT is open to the public and as such it is expected that all users conduct themselves in no different a manner than they would in any other public setting.

No person or group of people should have anxiety about who or what they are on the AT or any other public place unless their behavior is something that would warrant anxiety.

Your religion, gender, age, income, hiking style, music preference, race, political point of view, favorite tv show, favorite color, sexual orientation, education, tattoos, body piercings etc etc etc are yours . Just as all of those things are unique to you - the same is true for everyone and none of that should effect anyone else.

What could or does become an issue? - a lack of respect for those around you sharing the same public space. Letting your dog run around without a leash in the shelter and watersource, smoking with no regard to who is having to deal with your smoke once you exhale it, being loud and obnoxious into the night when people are trying to sleep, openly doing drugs in front of everyone, swearing like a drunken sailor around kids...
- People will annoy you at some point no matter how tolerant you are.
Whether or not you keep your sex life to yourself or care to share it with everyone is entirely up to you...but it shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone that people will be turned off by someone or a couple who are "very open" with their partner in a public setting - hetero. or homo.
I'm not saying, "keep it in the closet"..I'm not saying, "keep it in the bedroom" I'm not even saying, "Keep it to yourself"
What I'm saying is, Keep it out of my face, offer those around you the same respect you wish for yourself.