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This is how subcultures form, and like it or not, homosexuality has produced a very definite subculture. That's not to say all homosexuals choose to take part in it, but many do. It's pretty insulting to say "well, in the future, these people won't be proud of who they are" or "they'll focus more on other things."
Uhm ... yeah ... nothing like a bunch of self-important, arrogant people telling everyone of a certain skin colour, sexual orientation or nationality how to be a 'true' Black, Homosexual or American ... and why should it be rude to say "in the future, things might change and you will actually get that accepance you crave for so loudly?
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And I find your equation of gay businesses to gay people needing different cups, bottles, etc. really offensive. I'm sure you think you're being very open-minded, and more enlightened than us Americans, but you're not only implying that I'm a homophobe, you're also flippantly dismissing a lifestyle as irrelevant.
You really got me all figured out, man. Yes, I do wonder how, exactly, gay people would, in a society where they are accepted the same way people of colour or with blonde hair are accepted, would need special stores to buy everyday stuff for. where exactly do I imply you being a homophobe? I am just wondering about something that makes no sense to me.
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No, Hermit, that's not what the matrix is for. Do you not go to bookstores or libraries because you have an internet connection?
I support my local gaming shop becuase I and the owner go way back, and occasionally, while prowling my local shopping street, I do drop by a large book store, but other than that, yes, I do buy most of my books online.
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But it's probably nice to have places you can go, and hand money to a clerk in exchange for goods, and not have them look at you like they're afraid they have AIDS now. And you're right, maybe Germany's completely free of prejudices, and this is just a problem with American society, but that's the society that Seattle's going to be descended from.
AIDS is not much of an issue anymore, at least here, to the point where the government feels the need to air a huge ad campaign with an "AIDS - it can still kill you, y'know?" theme. Also, as two state governors and the head of a major party are openly gay (one having won Berlin on a - no kidding - "gay and happy about that" ticket), as well as a number of media people being open about homosexual preferences, yes, I DO think Germany is much more tolerant of homosexuals than the US, where senators who find themselves outed usually step back and withdraw into privacy. I'm not saying all is perfect over here, by far not, but in that respect, yeah, Germany is more tolerant than the states (in all aspects including sex, actually). So sue me if that hurts your self-esteem. Won't make this any less true.
But even Americans can change in 60 years, can't they?

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They aren't there because of discrimination.
Of course they are. they form because people don't want that kjind of business near them, and restricting them to a certain part of the city is an old, proven and effective way to keep brothels out of your neighbourhood. Some are maintained for tradition or as tourist destinatuions nowadays, but that's where they come from.
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Obviously, there are gay people in every walk of life, in every street and in every demographic - so just treat a gay character [...] like any other character
QFT