it’s really too late to Discourse, but… Although gay and lesbian people obviously can and do face a lot of danger and pain and risk for being who we are, I think a lot of us…. Don’t realise the unique pain of facing gatekeeping in the community? Although it’s not a privilege, our place in this community will always be a given. We won’t be subject to debates about whether we “really inherently belong here”.
When I identified as bi, I had my own experiences with gatekeeping. A lesbian in my family, one who I was willing and ready to look up to and see as an example in this new area of my life, sat me down and told me that she didn’t believe that bi people were real. That they were greedy. Confused. That bi women should commit to women completely, or just go back to men.
I was 14.
I had only been out for a few months.
It was devastating.
So when other people in the community call attention to it? When bi, pan, trans, nb, ace and aro people speak up about how awful it is to still be met with scrutiny, whether viscious or well-meaning? They’re hurting for a reason.
I’ve resolved to never make someone else in the community feel the way I did then, sitting at that kitchen table and feeling so confused and betrayed. I know I can do better.
Post edited bc I forgot to mention trans peeps who are also huge victims of this from too many groups of cis lg people
Published
fair--y backup 