Tuesday, July 20, 2010

The Reason Behind the Name

                                         Why I Co-Founded This Site by Lee Bantle

I hate being tolerated! It's so flat. No emotion. No joy. I don't want the world to tolerate LGBT people. I want us to be loved. For all our creativity, our style, our panache'.

And, Hello! Because we're part of the human tapestry.

Which explains the name of this website. Let's Get Beyond Tolerance. We don't want to be tolerated. We want more. We want to be embraced!

The way we're going to work on that is to celebrate LGBT people, the books and plays they write, the music they make, the shows they star in. This is a rich vein to draw from.



Let's be honest. Without gay contributors, human culture would be impoverished. Sappho, Walt Whitman, Steven Sondheim, Rita Mae Brown, Ian McKellan, Ellen DeGeneres. Can you imagine a world without them? Or the multitude of other gay artists?

On this site we're going to celebrate all kinds of LGBT artistry. Music from Queer Urban Orchestra to George Michael. Authors from Christopher Marlowe to Jacqueline Woodson, from James Baldwin to Malinda Lo. Movies from Patrik, Age 1.5 to My Beautiful Laundrette. New authors, new plays, new music. But also the classics.

This is gonna be a fun, hip site to watch. And it's gonna be so gay.

If you like that, sign up. Write us. We LOVE comments.

Above all, embrace us. Help us get beyond tolerance!

42 comments:

ohhhfire said...

i love the site concept. i am a straight person who believes firmly that people should be able to love and date whomever they please regardless of sex, ethnicity, and age

Ellz said...

OHH, I love George Micheal! Seriously though...great post. I agree that LGBT works should be celebrated and shared. Props to you.

Ashley said...

This is a great site to start! I too think that we need to celebrate LGBT people and not just tolerate them!

Kiki said...

Completely and utterly agree.
Toleration implies there is something wrong. There isn't.

Great post!!

kikisescapades(At)gmail(dot)com

Okapi said...

This site looks like its going to be awesome! Tolerance rocks :)
xicecreamsjx@aol.com

Okapi said...

*Beyond tolerance

Eden said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Eden said...

I love this blog! I know a lot of gay people and family members. I don't think people should "tolerate" it either, they should accept it as normal. It took me a while, but I got used to LGBT lit and now enjoy it.

Stacey Smith said...

I think people should be love for how thay are not to change them.people are all ways try to get me to date I like being a lone I do not need somebody drama in my life but every body thinks its wheird that i don't want no one at all I think its not there problem.in wolf packs there is some that don't mate at all that is what i am a lone wolf .don't see meany of us.
sasluvbooks(at)yahoo.com

DG said...

I like the name. simply yet direct and definitely understandable. This is a great blog idea and I commend you on it!

LAMusing said...

Wishing you much joy in your blog :)

Mrs. DeRaps said...

I agree. I have not loved the word tolerance for some time. It just has such a negative feel. Let's celebrate, not tolerate!

hderaps @ mbrsd . org

carmen said...

So, so true! It's imperative that we learn how to reach out to one another--despite differences--and learn to love and appreciate one another for who they other. This is true for sexual orientation, economic poverty, etc. Best of luck with the new site!

Shanna said...

Great site concept! =]
shanna.elizabeth@hotmail.com

Shanna said...

Great site concept! =]
shanna.elizabeth@hotmail.com

rhapsodyinbooks said...

Sounds like this will be a great addition to the blogosphere, and I love the sparkly star!

nbmars AT yahoo DOT com

Anonymous said...

Great blog!! I love the layout!

lovestoread0708 AT yahoo.com

meeyeehere said...

Terrific blog,I couldn't agree more. Beyond tolerance!!!! Yay! That is the kind of world I want to live in too!!! It's getting better,I can feel it.Thanks and have a wonderful week. This blog makes me feel cheery and positive!
jacksoncrisman@yahoo.com

Vidisha said...

Great blog...
vidishamun@gmail.com

sodahoney said...

Great idea for a blog

sodahoney said...

I forgot to to tell you that i will be entering your CSN giveaway

Jessy said...

What a fabulous idea! Good luck with the new blog.

Henry said...

We are living in such a powerful and wonderful time. A time where a blog like this can exist and the majority of bloggers support. Keep up the good work.

quitecontrary1977@hotmail.com

Breanna said...

This is a really great new blog, and I loved this post! I really can't imagine what the world would be like without all the gay performers and just gay people in general. The world would be a lot less colorful.

I'm entering the CSN giveaway too.

-Breanna

Erika Powell said...

i love this for a new blog, definitely welcome in the blogosphere!
sportsDOTerikalynnATgmailDOTcom

scottsgal said...

Good for your for starting this site - I'm straight but fully support gay rights and have several gay friends who are no different than anyone else.

Carol W. said...

It's very thought-provoking blog. I'm hoping for your success.
Please enter me in the CSN giveaway.

wolfcarol451(at)gmail(dot)com

lmurley2000 said...

entering giveaway at other blog

lmurley2000@yahoo.com

The Scarf Princess said...

I love the idea behind the name and your reasons for starting this site. I truly believe that everyone, regardless of any differences, should have the same rights and ability to achieve happiness.

As a quadraplegic, I too experience being a second class citizen and forming a united group is the best way to fight for your rights. Keep up the good fight.

And thanks to your sister site for the CSN giveaway.

joderjo402 AT gmail DOT com

bmom76 said...

Love!
(beyond tolerance)it's our familys thing. :]
chelsreb(at)aol(dot)com
Thanks for the giveaway!

thatlittlehouse said...

I agree with everything you said. Don't tolerate, love!

thatlittlehouse said...

I agree with everything you said. Don't tolerate, love!

throuthehaze said...

Great blog!

mandala said...

I agree, I hate the word tolerance - it somehow connotes that you have to "endure" something that you do not like. I believe in respecting diversity in a pluralistic society and in celebrating people's individual strengths and uniqueness. Cheers!

Meredith said...

Great site! Love the concept! Good luck with it!

Unknown said...

Congrats on the new site!

Debbie said...

It struck me a few years ago when I was talking to some friends about teaching our kids tolerance that tolerance wasn't really my goal. It seemed so judgmental, really. I love the word "embracing". That is what I want to teach!
Came over from CSN giveaway and now I'm really glad I did!

Andie said...

I agree, tolerance just isn't enough. I really do wish people would be really accepting.

Kyle said...

Found your site via your White Collar Giveaway--like the concept of open and accepting of everyone...

Marilyn said...

I love the concept and message that this site is trying to send! Everyone should embrace tolerance - but they should also do it with acceptance, too. The world wouldn't have as many wars as it does if everyone accepted, or at least tolerated, each other!

Unknown said...

This actually made me think for once, the word tolerance...the word brings to mind for me is a 'Zero-Tolerance Policy' on drugs and guns in US schools. Do we as a nation or better yet, a human race want to associate sexuality with drugs and guns?

Thanks for writing!

Alessandra said...

I've just realized that Let's Get Beyond Tolerance has the same acronym as LGBT. Yes, I know, I'm slow. Brilliant name, though, I love it :)