Rainbow/Queer Flags/Bumper Stickers--Yes/No?

Library_girl · 10-01-2011, 02:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inuus

I can relate to what you posted. Living in Oklahoma you are running the risk of serious conflict if you "flag". I do not deny who I am and in most instances at work especially I am out but to put that "out there" so to speak is asking for harassment and even physical harm to you or your property. I've had it happen to me....so to me it's not always appropriate.

The part of your post that I bolded I agree with 100%. Have said that for years myself.

I've lived in the South, the Midwest, and now the Golden State in a really gay city. And I've had gay stickers on all my cars since 1989 or so. Plus I have a "gay tattoo". I've never encountered any problems or harassment because of my "flags". (when my dad borrowed my car once, I told him what the stickers meant, and he just shrugged as if to say "so what?" This came from an old guy from the deep south!)

My personal philosophy is that if someone really wants to attack me or say something to me or do something to my car, let them! The possibility of that is not going to stop me from expressing myself or stating who I am.

My sexual orientation IS who I am. I know many LGBT peeps say that its just one part of who they are, it's a part of the whole person. That's cool. But for me, being a lesbian is who I am. Being a femme is who I am too, and being a librarian, and a Southern girl, and a few other things. That's just what identity means to me. So I have decided to express this on my body and my car. (Just like millions of other people do. I love that freedom of speech!) And if someone wants to hurt me, even kill me, because of it, they can go ahead and try. I paraphrase an FDR quote: "I'd rather die on my feet than live on my knees."

Glenn · 10-02-2011, 05:15 AM

I once restored an old VW camper van (my passion wagon), and it was my pride and joy. I'd go to the parades every year in Chicago with paint and tell everyone to paint some love and pride on my van. It was covered with symbols and sayings lol! One year, it even led in the parade. My poor van was keyed, had every tire flattened, every window bashed in, hate spray painted over all the love and pride,etc. No problem! I'd just fix the damage. Overall.. more people liked it, gave it the peace sign and smiles, much more than the hate in public.

Inuus · 10-02-2011, 06:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Library_girl

I've lived in the South, the Midwest, and now the Golden State in a really gay city. And I've had gay stickers on all my cars since 1989 or so. Plus I have a "gay tattoo". I've never encountered any problems or harassment because of my "flags". (when my dad borrowed my car once, I told him what the stickers meant, and he just shrugged as if to say "so what?" This came from an old guy from the deep south!)

My personal philosophy is that if someone really wants to attack me or say something to me or do something to my car, let them! The possibility of that is not going to stop me from expressing myself or stating who I am.

My sexual orientation IS who I am. I know many LGBT peeps say that its just one part of who they are, it's a part of the whole person. That's cool. But for me, being a lesbian is who I am. Being a femme is who I am too, and being a librarian, and a Southern girl, and a few other things. That's just what identity means to me. So I have decided to express this on my body and my car. (Just like millions of other people do. I love that freedom of speech!) And if someone wants to hurt me, even kill me, because of it, they can go ahead and try. I paraphrase an FDR quote: "I'd rather die on my feet than live on my knees."

I can see by your post it's very important for you to express yourself as a member of the LGBT community. That it works for you and is part of who you are and to express yourself in that way is great.(Love the Dad story!) However, it doesn't work for everyone. I can relate though when you said "My sexual orientation IS who I am." It's something you strongly identify with and feel a need to express yourself. I on the other hand, identify myself more by being an annoying bastard about animal welfare, especially spay/neuter (I'm known as Bob Barker on steroids and that's one of the nice names). It IS who I am. I willingly put myself sometimes in potentially harmful situations for animals. Thankfully there are those of us that have passions/beliefs/causes we believe in and are willing to lay ourselves open to whatever comes of it.

I did forget to add on my first post I do have one bumper sticker on my truck(and I hate them, took a lot for me to put one on my truck). It's a stick figure of a guy, next to him is his dog, next to the dog is a litter of puppies. It reads: This is Dick, this is Dick's dog, this is Dick's dog's puppies.... Don't be a Dick spay and neuter

Okiebug61 · 10-02-2011, 07:21 AM

I have one sticker on my car that is on the top center back window and it says Okie with the peace sign in the O. Never have been into tagging my vehicles with stickers.

T4Texas · 10-02-2011, 07:57 AM

I don't like bumperstickers and never have them on my vehicles. With that said, some years ago my GF had the rainbow antenna ball stolen from her car and they also managed to mangle her antenna so badly it had to be replaced. I wouldn't put anything on my vehicle that would entice vandals as I can't afford or desire vandalism. Besides, as someone else said, I am a walking advertisement for being butch, so I don't need no stinkin sticker.

Babyangeleyez · 10-02-2011, 08:49 AM

I have never been into bumper stickers. My dad laid down the law on them when he bought me my first car over 20 years ago. So, I have a removable rainbow ribbon that says "Support Our Families". I take it on and off depending on where I'm going. I used to date someone that live in a very small town and I would have to cross over a mountain to get there and I always would take it off at night when I traveled to or from there because I was afraid that I would be run off the road. So there is a safety issue for me. But where I live, I will display it. I also have rainbow beads with a rainbow ribbon hanging from my rear view mirror and I have my necklace with the double female charm.

10-02-2011, 07:21 AM	#4
Okiebug61 Senior Member How Do You Identify?: Light Butch Preferred Pronoun?: She Relationship Status: Hitched to Red Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 1,528 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 2,261 Thanked 5,381 Times in 1,245 Posts Rep Power: 21474852	I have one sticker on my car that is on the top center back window and it says Okie with the peace sign in the O. Never have been into tagging my vehicles with stickers. __________________ "Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawake." ~ Anatole France

10-02-2011, 07:57 AM	#5
T4Texas Member How Do You Identify?: Butch Relationship Status: Ready to play again! Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 233 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 436 Thanked 648 Times in 167 Posts Rep Power: 6739720	I don't like bumperstickers and never have them on my vehicles. With that said, some years ago my GF had the rainbow antenna ball stolen from her car and they also managed to mangle her antenna so badly it had to be replaced. I wouldn't put anything on my vehicle that would entice vandals as I can't afford or desire vandalism. Besides, as someone else said, I am a walking advertisement for being butch, so I don't need no stinkin sticker. __________________ Chivalry is when you meet a woman you would rather die for, than live with.

10-02-2011, 05:15 AM	#2
Glenn Senior Member How Do You Identify?: Ol Butch Bones Preferred Pronoun?: Old Thing Relationship Status: Too old to play. Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: :eyeroll: Posts: 1,546 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 3,597 Thanked 3,732 Times in 1,096 Posts Rep Power: 21474852	I once restored an old VW camper van (my passion wagon), and it was my pride and joy. I'd go to the parades every year in Chicago with paint and tell everyone to paint some love and pride on my van. It was covered with symbols and sayings lol! One year, it even led in the parade. My poor van was keyed, had every tire flattened, every window bashed in, hate spray painted over all the love and pride,etc. No problem! I'd just fix the damage. Overall.. more people liked it, gave it the peace sign and smiles, much more than the hate in public.

10-02-2011, 08:49 AM	#6
Babyangeleyez Member How Do You Identify?: Femme Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Virginia Posts: 242 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 152 Thanked 813 Times in 169 Posts Rep Power: 6511028	I have never been into bumper stickers. My dad laid down the law on them when he bought me my first car over 20 years ago. So, I have a removable rainbow ribbon that says "Support Our Families". I take it on and off depending on where I'm going. I used to date someone that live in a very small town and I would have to cross over a mountain to get there and I always would take it off at night when I traveled to or from there because I was afraid that I would be run off the road. So there is a safety issue for me. But where I live, I will display it. I also have rainbow beads with a rainbow ribbon hanging from my rear view mirror and I have my necklace with the double female charm.