Don't ask, don't tell - and certainly don't put it on your shirt. Here's the story of how Lapriss Gilbert was forced to leave a Social Security office because she was wearing a "Lesbian.com" shirt:
As she headed for a line to pick up a Social Security card for her son, Gilbert was stopped by a guard who said her T-shirt, naming an educational and resource Web site for gay women, was offensive.
She said the guard, who works for a private company hired by the Department of Homeland Security, demanded that she leave the building or face arrest.
"As an African-American and a lesbian, I haven't been through one day without facing some sort of discrimination ... but this is just shocking," said Gilbert, 31.
Link - Thanks Tiffany!
(Photo: Hans Gutknecht)
It's definitely more offensive.
I just have to wonder why she was wearing the shirt. So she's a lesbian - it's almost like she's asking to be victimized.
The guard was probably wrong...legally speaking. But, sure don't have to be head cashier at Walmart to understand where he was coming from. I agree with ted. And if she wins a big lawsuit, I might buy a lesbian.com tshirt myself. ;)
What's ironic is I was just sitting here, minding my own business, thinking about starting a website called idiots.com when I read this statement: "I just have to wonder why she was wearing the shirt. So she’s a lesbian - it’s almost like she’s asking to be victimized." Ironic?
Give me a break.
^---Is what I would have asked him really loudly.
If you made that assertion, I wouldn't question your experience (unless there was obvious contradictory evidence). Give people a little benefit of the doubt, or at least a little respect.
Obviously, today she was discriminated against. Have you lived her life? Do you know something we don't? If not, how can you say that she hasn't had it tough on account of her race or sexual orientation, perhaps on a daily basis?
Peace.
Like she was asking for it eh ted?
Well she was also going about being Black...I know... on purpose, where everyone could see it.
Black as black could be...nappy hair and all.
I mean it's as if she wanted to be lynched by the Klan.
Your line of reasoning is ret*rded to the a point that it's a miracle that your brain stem can handle the breathing.
That's a 'conspicuously safe' thing to say. Leading the charge.. got a few hits for that one huh?
Jokes, jabs, murder.. grinning rictus of the straw man grows ever wider, but you've got to pay attention before you can make things better. The guard who abused privileges to bully another human being (an employee even!) needs to be disciplined accordingly.
Here's my line of reasoning broken down for someone with your superior intellect. Sorry I can't provide illustrations.
Point #1:
I don't think the guard was correct - in fact, he sounds like your typical junior Nazi security guard. It's ironic that he almost triggered the very type of event that he was ostensibly trying to prevent. Deserves to be canned.
Point #2:
Did I say it was okay to victimize someone because of a t-shirt? No. She has the victim attitude, however, and she exacerbates it by advertising on a t-shirt: "Hey, I'm a lesbian! Look at me!" Well, he looked.
So, yes, she is asking for attention. Maybe it gets her dates. But, when you ask for attention, you can't always choose which kind you're going to get. It looks to me, though, as if she's the sort of person who thrives on negative attention. There are people who love to be offended, and subconsciously (or consciously) misconstrue other people's words and actions into something offensive.
maybe it was just a free t-shirt, and it happened to be at the top of the clean laundry pile. i wear all sorts of random t-shirts i score as promos and end up advertising products i care nothing about.
And 'Homeland Security.' That always sounds like something we might have heard out of Germany, circa 1940. It makes America sound so fascist... and this police/security guard behavior is not helpful to counter that impression.
It appears she was just being harassed.
'You've heard it said its not over until the fat lady sings. Well, that not true. It's not over until the older straight white guy says its over. It's time we stopped listening to them." Margaret Cho
I believe her quote about how she is treated in every day life. As a woman, a homosexual, and a minority she has 3 strikes against her in our society. Being insensitive to her statement does not make it false.
However, on that idea, she could have said the same thing on her shirt but with humor.
Like these ideas:
"Guess what I learned in prison"
"I love the little man in the boat!"
"Waitress needed, apply above ^^"
"Camel toe Jockey"
"Ask why I smell like tuna"
"Want me to finish that for you?"
any body else got any ideas? :)
Humor only guys and girls.
And with "jokes" like Jimbo's floating around, you can see why lesbians would feel victimized.
I guess we now know what Jimbo sits around thinking about all day.
The woman has every right to wear her lesbian shirt; it's not offensive. In Canada, she could legally walk around topless in public.
It just seems that some people relish being victims. It makes life easier when you have someone else to blame for everything. Her mother's starting up a lawsuit against the security company...?
And it's interesting how we all assume the security guard is a white man. The article doesn't indicate what colour his skin is.
And I don't have vast oceans of wit. My wit's so dry, I have vast deserts of it.
Son? So I'm guessing wearing the t-shirt wasn't the only hasty decision this woman has made.
Does this actually make any sense that I'm missing? Are you implying her having children is evidence of irresponsibility?
I accept your line of reasoning as laid out above.
But the only stumbling block here remains as to her "Victim attitude", well it is actually right to feel victimised when you have actually been ...victimised.
And in a more general sense, ie not directed at you ted, this idea of Attention Whore strikes me as a self serving received idea.
I always get the impression that those who bandy it about would have said the same thing about Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi.
The Attention Whore, going about the place dressed in a sheet and his underpants.
By the definition of Attention Whore, he was one. So was MLK BTW.
"And I don’t have vast oceans of wit. My wit’s so dry, I have vast deserts of it."
great line btw.
I`m hoping Alex puts it on a t-shirt for me. That way, I can finally stop wearing my "Guess what I learned in prison" shirt.
Hey, Peeved. I don't think "most" people here are disagreeing with me. I think most people are shocked at the guard's actions, but not too surprised that she would milk the situation. A lawsuit for that? Come on... it's frivolous, and it cheapens much more serious problems.
I also didn't say she actively sought out controversy, just that she seems to enjoy finding it. Some people aren't happy unless they're unhappy.
However, having said that, let me be clear. She should not have lost her job over this unless the company policy has a dress code about such things. Many do, but they should have ask her to go home and change. That is what they do here. The very fact that is made it here means that it hit the media. So she is in fact an Attention Whore, to the core. Do know how many times in my life I have been treated poorly? Plenty, but do I call the news and become a Attention Whore? NO
I was even laid off on December 15th one year so they wouldn't have to pay me my week vacation pay. NOTHING I could do about. This stuff happens and it is always best to just do your job and make a statement somewhere else.
For the record, I would never wear a shirt to work that said something like www.youngpornmovies.com. I would get fired too!
BTW, glad some of you have a little humor
Maybe it's a cultural (USA) thing, but I wonder why she isn't satisfied with the resolution that the security company provided. A lawsuit would indeed be frivolous - did she suffer emotional trauma or financial loss from the guard's actions? It trivializes the real efforts of people like Rosie Parks and events like Stonewall, or the brutal murder of Matthew Shepherd. He was killed for being gay. She lost her place in a line for a few minutes, then got to go to the front of it: boo-hoo.
lol, Jimbo. Did you even read the article?