The cost of admission for being a gay kid in Bismarck High these days is, apparently, their feelings of safety in public spaces, where Forum Communications Co. columnist Rob Port describes our fictitious student being harassed. Though we should be able to hope for better from the next generation, it is indeed merely the cost of being American; a balance of personal liberties occasionally (or often) colliding with others around us, sometimes resulting in escalations between opinions.
That’s what the best part of America is, right? Our First Amendment protections of free speech?
If we take Port’s claim as true, then we must also recognize that the people being billed this fee are not all but a specific faction of American society paying it.
It costs nothing extra to be a straight white male in this country. For America, historically and apparently still today, the debt held by these men remains the most minimal, because attitudes continue to perpetuate this as a ‘baseline’ and ‘norm.’
For our LGBT+ folks, however, cracks and insults aimed at them solely because of the people they choose to love are just additions to our tab.
Just like not having equal housing protections when looking at rentals in North Dakota.
Just like seeing North Dakota officials try to prevent a ban on conversion therapy from passing.
Just the price of being gay in North Dakota, right?
Or living in a society like ours?
Mr. Port, you said yourself that you’re not a fan of making sweeping comments, at least in regards to “…always listening to the experts.” I hope you’ll agree that this is another place that perhaps your sentiment does not ring true for all.
Taylor Dominguez, Grand Forks
"port" - Google News
June 20, 2021 at 09:00PM
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Letter: Rob Port's words do not ring true for all - Grand Forks Herald
"port" - Google News
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