Judging by a LOT of the posts I've been reading, I can guess I'm not going to get much, if any support on this... But I just don't see how it's acceptable for someone to say that I'm worse than other sections of society because of my sexuality - ???

I keep seeing comments about free speech, I'm not saying no-one should be allowed to state their opinion, not at all. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, of course they are!

But I will never, ever understand how anyone can justify asserting that people are automatically bad - or good just because of their sexual preferences/colour/religion/age, or that a hideous, devastating disease was spread by a certain section of society!!!

It doesn't matter whose mouth it comes out of, whether it's once or repeatedly, asserting as fact that a particular whole section of society is negative because they think/act a certain way is unfair DISCRIMINATION.

I remember being at gay pride several times in the late 80's/early 90's & people screaming abuse (And worse actually, but I can already hear the cries of "Biggins didn't throw a brick at anyone, you're so stupid") at the kids playing on the trampoline in the park because their opinion was that gay people & their offspring shouldn't be alive... It was only their opinion, but it didn't mean it was ok to abuse us because of it. I don't understand why it's suddenly ok for people (Not just Biggins or Renee, ANYONE) to say I'm worse than them because of who I'm attracted to, how dare you stereotype me, you don't even know me...

Well Biggins certainly isn't homophobic (being openly gay himself)

But bisexuals just aren't an oppressed group ... They can flow freely through straight and gay cultures

When a gay person has negative opinions on bisexuals, it comes across as a bit bitchy ... But you don't need Biggins' approval, and it certainly shouldn't offend you ... I think we should all be glad we live in a society where people are free to express themselves ... After all, isn't that what LGBT rights are all about?

It's interesting to see the politically correct and 'right on' BB go after a gay man to prove whatever point they're trying to make about minorities being offended.

It is their free speech to say you shouldn't be alive. You then state your opinion, as you have done here. That's your free speech.
If anyone hearing both yours and the hater's opinion then agrees with you, then that is a victory for free speech. Where the better idea wins.

agreed, OP. there is a difference between free speech and speech without consequence.

gays can be homophobic. it's called internal homophobia and it happens all the time. you see it all the time. gay men being like "i don't like super feminine gay men" is an example.

bisexuals certainly are an oppressed group and do NOT flow freely through straight and gay cultures. gays and straights alike are always telling them to "pick a side" or that they are just saying they're bisexual until they come out as gay. many people who can "comprehend" homosexuality cannot understand anything beyond that on the LGBT scale, particularly in this case bisexual because they don't understand how someone could possibly like both genders.

Yes. Free speech makes it ok to say anything, that's what makes it 'free speech'. If you disagree with them, you should tell them why you think they are wrong, not censor their opinions just because you don't like them


It wasn't presented as fact, it was someone's opinion. Saying someone isn't allowed to have an opinion you don't like or agree with is also unfair discrimination


They are perfectly entitled to not like "super feminine gay men" if that is the way they feel. Since when does everyone have to pretend to like everyone? You're basically saying people in 'protected groups' should be completely immune from negative judgement

way to harp on one example rather than understanding the overall point.

to say you don't like a specific group is not okay. to say "i hate all feminine gays" (whichas i said is an internalized homophobic comment and means something different coming from a gay person.) when you don't know all feminine gays means you would be prejudging all feminine gays. it wouldn't be ok to say "i hate all black people" or "i hate muslims" would it???

There's no free speech in the UK. There's no First Amendment in the UK like in the US.

Biggins is now under police investigation for the antisemitic joke.

Christopher Biggins is free to say whatever he wants. As a well-known personality, he's also free to lose a job and perhaps be questioned about his beliefs if they are offensive to others. He's also free to say he's not racist because he has black neighbours, though I have no idea why anyone would still use that old gem.

He is also free to be a bloated red-faced cackling gasbag, and has inexplicably gotten away with it freely, and praised for it, for years.

I wouldn't say that 'free speech' makes it okay to say offensive things, it's just that it makes it allowable. If you support it, you support someone's right to say whatever they feel, however offensive or however much you disagree with it.

My way of looking at it is, hopefully, anyone listening will see how offensive and hateful it is. Or even just how crazy. Unfortunately, that doesn't happen with everyone.

And certainly, even in the US, there are limitations to free speech. You will be held for the consequences of what you say ... the old "yelling fire in a theater" thing. If it causes a stampede, and people are injured ... you're liable. You incite hatred towards others by what you say, you're liable.

Truly supporting free speech is a difficult thing to do.