Ok, as a gay person myself (if labels help) I have to say something based on my experiences, the literature review I'm doing now in homosexuality and masculinity issues, and everything I've seen, heard and read for the past 10 years.
We've made a lot of progress for LGBT rights and equality in most western nations, but it seems heterosexism is still very much alive and rampant (even on this very forum). I think the core of all issues relating to discrimination, bigotry (I've seen this on here, even from people for profess tolerance), and intolerance is simply the common ignorance associated with sexuality and gender.
One thing I'd like to point out, I've met a lot of people who claim they were tolerant or even accepting of LGBT peers or people in general. A lot of these people generally were very open minded, others not so much.
The latter group were mostly expressing their support for gay and lesbian peers as either a fascade (not wanting to look like jerks to other people), had a hard time due to the cultural values and beliefs drilled into their heads since they were kids, or (the more common reason) had issues and insecurities of their own sexuality,life and what society expected of them.
I've seen a lot of people on here say "Well, as long as they're not gay acting around me" or "as long as they don't cram it down my throat or shove it in my face".
I'm really getting tired of this contradiction, no one tells women to stop acting too feminine or masculine while they're around other girls, so why should effeminite men not act the way they are just because some people might find it uncomfrotable?
Not very many people in most western countries(nowadays) would tell straight couples to "get a room" for holding hands or showing other displays of affection in most public settings, so why should gays, and lesbians have to be ashamed or forbidden to do the same?
Again, it says more about the people on this topic that are uncomfortable or insecure about sexuality , difference in gender roles, or behaviors that are deemed inappropriate by others.
Advice to some on this topic, examine why you believe the things you do and don't make blanketing statments about all LGBT people.
You should know that we're present in every aspect of life;every job, profession, location, buisness, living area, art, race, and culture since the human race began.
And we're here to stay.
