Quotable.

Sometimes I run across a blog comment that really strikes me as insightful. I'm happy to re-post this comment left on Joe's blog regarding the recent comments from Larry Kramer. He repeated his oft-mentioned belief that gay people are fundamentally better beings than straight folk. You can imagine the commentary that followed. I don't always agree with Larry, but his ability to provoke a discussion can't be denied. One of the comments left after Joe's posting is reprinted below, as I think the author makes some important points.

"I do think its undeniable, that as a class, gay men and women have made contributions to our society in so many ways that are disproportionate to their numbers -- from great literature and art, to gentrification and reclaiming neighborhoods, to fighting for social justice. And there are reasons for this -- economically, socially, psychologically. We've all heard "that which does not kill you, only makes you stronger." We endure a lot. It strengthens characters. It creates empathy and understanding of others. It forces us to search outside our families and connect with others. It's made us more mobile, risk-taking and adventurous as we seek to define and understand ourselves. We question more -- our path is not set in stone, we've have to choose what we are going to make of our life without the traditional societal support structures and expectations. We are forced to defy them to live. It's all powerful stuff. And its created many amazing gay men and lesbians that I'm proud to call my friends.

"Better" is too reductive. But oh, we are so very, very different. And they're all differences I"m very proud of. And the world would be such a lesser place without us."