I don't feel welcome in mainstream LGBT spaces

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BlueIris24
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15 Apr 2019, 12:03 am

I don't feel welcome in mainstream LGBT spaces because of my political beliefs and values. From what I've seen, a majority of LGBT communities are radical left, and they try to censor/shut down anybody whose opinions don't fall in line. Believe in free speech for all? You're a racist/white supremacist! Voted for Trump? You're a horrible, disgusting POS that deserves to jump off a bridge! Dare to criticize Islam in any shape or form using actual facts and evidence? You're an Islamophobe!

Even though I'm not a big fan of either political party, my beliefs on certain issues tend to fall more in line with Republicans than Democrats. I believe in gun rights, freedom to speak without government-enforced censorship or punishment, and closed borders. I'm all for gay marriage and LGBT rights. Even though I don't agree with Trump on certain issues (eg: the environment and animal rights), I do believe he is doing a good job so far on the issues that I do agree with him on.



BTDT
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15 Apr 2019, 8:50 am

Is is possible to transgenders to get together in a public place if you don't recognize the existence of transgenders?



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15 Apr 2019, 9:30 am

BlueIris24 wrote:
I don't feel welcome in mainstream LGBT spaces because of my political beliefs and values. From what I've seen, a majority of LGBT communities are radical left, and they try to censor/shut down anybody whose opinions don't fall in line. Believe in free speech for all? You're a racist/white supremacist! Voted for Trump? You're a horrible, disgusting POS that deserves to jump off a bridge! Dare to criticize Islam in any shape or form using actual facts and evidence? You're an Islamophobe!

What you said reminds me of what my older sister, who's gay, would say. She doesn't really like the idea of LGBT pride because those who do get involved often have labels forced on them, even if these labels don't necessarily match the person's actual sexuality. I myself am ace, but like my older sister, I don't want to get involved with pride because those people are a bit too radical.


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BlueIris24
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15 Apr 2019, 10:06 am

BTDT wrote:
Is is possible to transgenders to get together in a public place if you don't recognize the existence of transgenders?


Well, I do believe that trans people exist, of course. And I believe they're entitled to the same civil and human rights that anyone else is (eg: being out in public without being physically attacked or assaulted). Other people might not agree with transgenderism, but most reasonable people aren't going to disagree that trans people have the same rights as every other American.



ApricitiousRory
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15 Apr 2019, 4:49 pm

I'm old enough to remember when there were very few LGBTQ spaces in most locations, let alone anything considered "mainstream". We were perpetual outsiders who were routinely despised wherever we went. There were some good opportunities to gather but without an internet or access to LGBTQ media they were very hard to find.

I can understand why someone wouldn't feel welcome in a space where people largely hold views that conflict with yours. That's kind of how the world was for most LGBTQ people just 30 years ago, wherever we went.

From what I've witnessed & lived through, it's understandable why many of our spaces are left-leaning. Much of the advancement of our rights is a result of activists and advocates within Democratic or left-leaning circles. This really became the case during the early years of the AIDS pandemic. Right-leaning non-queer folks didn't even want to acknowledge our existence, let alone that many of our brothers were dying all around us. It was largely lefties (but not always) who helped move policies and people towards seeing us as human beings, worthy of being treated. It was largely righties (but not always) who opposed any progress toward treatment or civil rights equality.

The first media mention identifying the pandemic occurred in June of 1981. Ronald Reagan, who became President in January of 1981, refused to even mention AIDS publicly until 1985. By that point, more than 400,000 people in the USA had become infected and between 8,000 and 10,000 people in the USA had died from AIDS. The largest percentage of those deaths were among gay men.

I think for me the most important thing to recognize is that we're not a monolithic community. I've met many gay Republicans (for instance) over the years. Pretty much any political or social viewpoint you can think of is held by some LGBTQ people somewhere.

These days I miss the LGBT coffeehouses of my younger days. They were more quiet, had no alcohol, and were open earlier than most gay bars. Sure, there weren't as many people in coffeehouses than in the bars, but at least you could hear when someone was talking with you. And coffeehouses didn't have all the flashing dance floor lighting, either.


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eilishbillie987
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15 Apr 2019, 5:23 pm

how true is the climate change studies ?

lets say its true and actually somewhat unpredictable.. if within a few years everything acclerates by then florida and louisiana will be all buried in underwater and our demographics moves from .. right now we have seventy-year olds in crutches and wheelchairs at the poll stations wanting to make america great again or seventy-year olds who want to make sure their trust funds go smoothly to their children.. it just takes probably less than a decade to see millennials and gen z taking over the House at least, having that radical GND trying to fix the underwater florida and louisiana , or idk transform it into a underwater city like a functioning modern day atlantis idk.



BlueIris24
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15 Apr 2019, 7:06 pm

ApricitiousRory wrote:
I'm old enough to remember when there were very few LGBTQ spaces in most locations, let alone anything considered "mainstream". We were perpetual outsiders who were routinely despised wherever we went. There were some good opportunities to gather but without an internet or access to LGBTQ media they were very hard to find.

I can understand why someone wouldn't feel welcome in a space where people largely hold views that conflict with yours. That's kind of how the world was for most LGBTQ people just 30 years ago, wherever we went.

From what I've witnessed & lived through, it's understandable why many of our spaces are left-leaning. Much of the advancement of our rights is a result of activists and advocates within Democratic or left-leaning circles. This really became the case during the early years of the AIDS pandemic. Right-leaning non-queer folks didn't even want to acknowledge our existence, let alone that many of our brothers were dying all around us. It was largely lefties (but not always) who helped move policies and people towards seeing us as human beings, worthy of being treated. It was largely righties (but not always) who opposed any progress toward treatment or civil rights equality.

The first media mention identifying the pandemic occurred in June of 1981. Ronald Reagan, who became President in January of 1981, refused to even mention AIDS publicly until 1985. By that point, more than 400,000 people in the USA had become infected and between 8,000 and 10,000 people in the USA had died from AIDS. The largest percentage of those deaths were among gay men.

I think for me the most important thing to recognize is that we're not a monolithic community. I've met many gay Republicans (for instance) over the years. Pretty much any political or social viewpoint you can think of is held by some LGBTQ people somewhere.

These days I miss the LGBT coffeehouses of my younger days. They were more quiet, had no alcohol, and were open earlier than most gay bars. Sure, there weren't as many people in coffeehouses than in the bars, but at least you could hear when someone was talking with you. And coffeehouses didn't have all the flashing dance floor lighting, either.


I am always going to be thankful for the hard work that the activists put in to ensure that we had the rights we have now. I definitely won't take that away from them.

I want to clarify that I am not against left-wing politics entirely. I myself hold some left-wing views, as I'm all for helping the environment and protecting animals. I'm also for LGBT and minority rights. The problem that I feel that the vast majority of LGBT communities have become very far-left, and they don't tolerate any dissenting beliefs or views. They'll try to shut down any form of discussion, or bully you into submission. If you disagree with them, you're basically targeted, and they'll try to force you out.



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15 Apr 2019, 7:16 pm

That is just politics today. Forget trying to change anyone's mind.
Better to just seek out those who think like you. Find friends online and travel to meet up, if you can afford the cost.



JD12345
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16 Apr 2019, 4:06 am

BlueIris24 wrote:
ApricitiousRory wrote:
The problem that I feel that the vast majority of LGBT communities have become very far-left, and they don't tolerate any dissenting beliefs or views.


If they are really 'far-left' (as in actual far-left, not merely the vague sense of the term) then it certainly doesn't show in election results. When was the last time the Socialist Party reached 1% of the national popular vote?



rowan_nichol
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16 Apr 2019, 8:25 am

The behaviour is common to far left, far right and indeed all extremist beliefs.



BlueIris24
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18 Apr 2019, 9:35 am

JD12345 wrote:
BlueIris24 wrote:
ApricitiousRory wrote:
The problem that I feel that the vast majority of LGBT communities have become very far-left, and they don't tolerate any dissenting beliefs or views.


If they are really 'far-left' (as in actual far-left, not merely the vague sense of the term) then it certainly doesn't show in election results. When was the last time the Socialist Party reached 1% of the national popular vote?


Plenty of them do believe in socialism, though.



Way_Haught
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27 Apr 2019, 9:32 pm

Yeah, I feel you. Especially since I don’t dig the club scene, the only thing left is LGBTQ sponsored events or the awkward OKC dates ha.

I agree. I’m somewhat all over the place politically; It tends to make me super popular at said events/places (kidding). I guess the only way to fix this is to try and find a common bond and focus on that? I recently found an LGBTQ Speed Shooting team and am in heaven. We don’t focus on the politics because it’s more about the event (it’s kind of like shooting while moving as fast as possible through an obstacle course. Great workout and fun!)

Point is- find a group (LGBTQ or not) that has a common interest. Perhaps there’s even one for “Unwanted Political Views” :wink:



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19 Jun 2019, 8:29 pm

I feel the same way, not comfortable with LGBT people in 'real life.'
I use to attent university LGBT group activities and I stopped it after three times. Firstly, most participants are gay guys. It is hard to find queer women in public gatherings. Secondly I can not tolerant alcohol while most acticvities are in bars. Thirdly I don't know how to start a conversation with people beside small talks. I run out of words after routines.
Same with politics, people would start accusing Chinese government when I tell them I am from China. The issue of LGBT in China is more cultural and people don't realize how complex this problems is. Accusation is always easy. Sometimes I feel like that they are the ones not reading people's emotions.
Plus I am against recreational drugs and tabacco. I saw enought people with COPD in my hospital placement already. I don't want to judge drug users as they have their own straggles and need help but from a large scale policy point of view, some drugs are classified as illegal for a reason. Drugs kill people. I believe in human rights and everyone have the right to speak for themselves, but no, street drugs should be banned at all cost. Smoking in front of the kids is not your right.
Headscarf of muslim women are like mini skirts, everybody can wear what ever they feel like. But I still think headscarf in general is a crime against women. For example, it that strange to make my boyfriends cover their head as I am the only one with the right to access their hair? I respect the individuals but I don't agree with some of their trandition/behaviours. And most importantly, I am not wearing haedscarfs, unless it is -10 degress in winter. I respect muslim people because they are human beings like everyone else, not because they are muslim.
I just think some LGBT mainstream ideas are a bit childish. I agree 50% of thier statments and disagree with the other 50%. I am always like that. My dad use to say people in between are like traitors of both sides and traitors don't get happy endings hahaha.



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19 Jun 2019, 9:43 pm

JD12345 wrote:
BlueIris24 wrote:
ApricitiousRory wrote:
The problem that I feel that the vast majority of LGBT communities have become very far-left, and they don't tolerate any dissenting beliefs or views.


If they are really 'far-left' (as in actual far-left, not merely the vague sense of the term) then it certainly doesn't show in election results. When was the last time the Socialist Party reached 1% of the national popular vote?



Recently. While it is true that most democrats aren't radicals, a lot of radicals/far lefties do exist. A huge chunck of them are millennials but their are some younger and older ones.



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19 Jun 2019, 10:04 pm

BlueIris24 wrote:
I don't feel welcome in mainstream LGBT spaces because of my political beliefs and values. From what I've seen, a majority of LGBT communities are radical left, and they try to censor/shut down anybody whose opinions don't fall in line. Believe in free speech for all? You're a racist/white supremacist! Voted for Trump? You're a horrible, disgusting POS that deserves to jump off a bridge! Dare to criticize Islam in any shape or form using actual facts and evidence? You're an Islamophobe!

Even though I'm not a big fan of either political party, my beliefs on certain issues tend to fall more in line with Republicans than Democrats. I believe in gun rights, freedom to speak without government-enforced censorship or punishment, and closed borders. I'm all for gay marriage and LGBT rights. Even though I don't agree with Trump on certain issues (eg: the environment and animal rights), I do believe he is doing a good job so far on the issues that I do agree with him on.


Amen! You should check out the "#walk away" movement. It was originally for LGBT, started by a gay man, but is rather far reaching now, to people of all races and orientations. You aren't alone with your frustrations about the hard left swing with LGBT community, it may get better with time. Blair white, a T, talks a lot about this issue and holds events with the guy who started the movement trying to enlighten people of the lies and false accusations about Trump. I have heard her say that often their events get shut down, not by left wing LGBT'S, but by non-LGBT white far left activists.

I'm not really conservative either, more of a centrist. But I must say, civil rights and gay rights is not really a democrat thing, most people believe in civil rights, or better said, equal rights for everyone no matter race, gender or sexual orientation. While true, a lot of conservatives are religious and don't believe in same sex marriage, most of them also state people should be free to do as they wish and the government should not have a say in who you marry. People like to conflate their personal opinion of same sex marriage is wrong with the idea that they are saying government should not allow same sex marriage, that is not what they suggest. Conservative beliefs stay more in tune with government should have limited reach into your life, including taxing you to death for programs that fail and politicians and officials skim money off of. The core thinking behind conservatism is understanding that governments will always be corrupt because people are corrupt and corrupt people seek power. I have some conservative beliefs and some liberal beliefs. So I consider that as centrist. Trump is more of a centrist than a conservative, I am a Trump fan also. It's rare that you will agree with anyone on every issue. Left wing media is so bad now I don't even watch it, while I have liberal views, the democrat party seems to be extremely corrupt . The republican party has its share of corruption also, but there are some good ones in there. From what I see, it seems that almost all of the democrat officials are very corrupt. Check out Blair White on youtube, she is a Trans (mtf) conservative, I agree with most of her opinions.



Cranjis
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21 Jun 2019, 10:25 am

I know both on the far left and far right and they're all mostly obnoxious, but the far right one in my family is absolutely insane. I can't be bothered with none of this anymore. It's a crying shame. When people start treating randoms on youtube as voices to be listened to and electing reality tv/celebrities to office, you know things are awful and won't be getting better any time soon. It's all a s**tshow and a joke.


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