phoenixlink said:
I cant imagine the pressure young people feel to " identify " what and who they are so they can label themselves instead of just living as who they are.
Try imagining being part of a group that has been demonised for years and years. Try imagining still being demonised by a large portion of the world. That's reality for a load of people you appear to be dismissing for wishing to be validated.
Hell, the fact that there was such a recent and loud controversy about a football (US) player kissing his boyfriend on TV should be an indication of how much of an issue still exists. Same-sex marriage is still controversial, and not just in the US. Apparently, Thorpe can't get married, and he's your example. Religious groups argue that bullying gays is a religious freedom, and gender identity is not always protected.
Imagine that pressure for a while.
Because it really, really sucks.
I wish people would stop telling us that things like coming out are dated. It's like telling black people racism is over. LGBT folks have a significantly higher than normal suicide rate because of the realities that surround sexuality and gender identity. I've buried people for that exact reason and I've even been on that side of the coin. I still sometimes find myself thinking I'd rather be dead that deal with all the crap that goes along with being a member of certain minorities.
It's been over twenty years since Brian Grillo wrote "Every morning before I hop the bus I say to myself 'who can I trust?'" and for a lot of people, that hasn't changed.
Really, this just comes off as dismissive.
Vault101 said:
I especially love the "I don't have a problem with gays as long as hey don't shove it down our throats...[sub/]like existing..seriously why do they have to do that? why can't they just not exist like normal people?[/sub]
This is indeed a problem.
I think half the disdain for those who identify as "bi" is people don't like it when they cant be put in a box...
I think it's more a basic lack of empathy. For whatever reason. People have trouble with anything they can't personally relate to. This is where a lot of the basic stigma around gays comes from in the first place. Unfortunately, a lot of gays can't imagine being interested in both sexes, either, and fall into the same trap.
I don't think it's about labels as much as "being like us."
I don't get it, personally, but it is a thing.
Colour Scientist said:
You mean today's culture where a vast majority of countries still haven't legalized gay marriage and prohibit gay couples from adopting. Where most gay couples aren't able to hold hands in public without getting funny looks or snide comments.
To be honest, I don't see why some people get their knickers in a bunch over the different classifications. I'll admit that I've rolled my eyes at a few of the more obscure or abstract ones but they don't personally affect me or bother me so people can identify in whatever way they choose.
In the states, we still have large portions of the country that have issues with "mixed" couples holding hands. From my seat, I don't see gays being normalised for quite some time.
Also, conservative talking heads pitched a fit when the state of Vermont added gender identity to the discrimination laws. This is one of the few states that explicitly prohibits discrimination, and people flipped their lids over it. Hell, Bill O'Riley moaned about it. National news because we had the audacity to treat transfolk like...*gasp*...People.
I don't feel the need to belittle them by making "LGBTQBBQWTFOMG special snowflake" jokes. I'm not directing this at OP specifically, just in general.
I've never got this anyway. I was still seeing people complaining about the Facebook gender options like a month ago. And it's like, how the hell does this affect you?
Lieju said:
Yeah, It would be nice if no-one cared about this stuff.
When we are talking about 'power-fantasies', or maybe rather just fantasies, well...
Skyrim had lot of issues and the marriage system wasn't implemented well, but it was a really appealing fantasy for me to play a female character who is married to another woman and no-one cares.
Because I don't get that in real life.
Kind of weird this is coming up right as there's another Gaymer con story and there's a bunch of people starting in on the "I don't see why this is necessary/desirable/whatever" and "why do you want to segregate yourselves?" But perhaps fitting.
MarsAtlas said:
There's also when personal documents get changed and such.
And it's very hard to live in society and not have some sort of impact related to sexuality and gender identity. I mean, it's great (I guess) for you if you have no romantic ties (in the case of either) or no strong feelings with regard to gender, but...for the most part, these are going to have to be dealt with. Even if you don't label yourself, really.
And now that this thread has stressed me out, I think I'll go scream along to some Extra Fancy.