Should this forum be gay only?

normaldude

Now i use forum the odd and find it usefull and good for advice, but im a gay man only interested in gay issues which i guess is fair enough, but I see a lot of topics on here are related to transgender and I have absolutely no interest on the topic and find totally unrelated to me, so im wondering why dont you have a gay only forum?

Also can someone answer me why do gays get grouped with transgender, when most of the gay people i know have no interest in the area? Why is it LGBT groups?

What do people think?

Morag

The T has only been on this forum less then a year, it was lgb only for years before that.
If you want to see more threads and discussions which are more about your demographic, then start them.

But if you have your heart set on sub dividing the forum so there is a gay man only forum then I want a Bi woman only forum also.

hare05

Don't forget the asexuals, lesbians, transgender, genderqueer, intersex, and confused subgroups needing their own forums... its not like any of us deal with common problems anyway, whoever heard of a transperson having to come out or dealing with legal issues with regards to marriage?

We need separate subgroups, with secret passwords and validated access only. That won't make things annoying at all xD

And may I point out the irony of a member of one 'minority' questioning the existence of support for another smaller 'minority' under the username of normaldude?

ztoical

normaldude wrote: »

Now i use forum the odd and find it usefull and good for advice, but im a gay man only interested in gay issues which i guess is fair enough, but I see a lot of topics on here are related to transgender and I have absolutely no interest on the topic and find totally unrelated to me, so im wondering why dont you have a gay only forum?

Should straight people be asked not post in this gay only forum as well? And bisexuals also...I know several gay people who hate bisexuals and don't think they should be included in the gay community at all. If you've no interest in a topic then don't read the thread. I'm sure there are plenty of gay men who've no interest in reading threads about were to meet lesbians. Threads are clearly marked so it's pretty easy to avoid any topics you've no interest in.

normaldude wrote: »

Also can someone answer me why do gays get grouped with transgender, when most of the gay people i know have no interest in the area? Why is it LGBT groups?

Because there is a common goal amongest all these different groups to promote and support each other againist discrimination. There are plenty of organizations around the world focused on one group or sub groups [Bears for example] but the over all term LGBT is used as an umbrella to cover all areas.

Meesared

A point is how would you prove it?

Gay membership card?

Beruthiel

normaldude wrote: »

Now i use forum the odd and find it usefull and good for advice, but im a gay man only interested in gay issues which i guess is fair enough, but I see a lot of topics on here are related to transgender and I have absolutely no interest on the topic and find totally unrelated to me, so im wondering why dont you have a gay only forum?

If there are more threads on transgender issues, then that's because this forum is being used more actively by those in that community.

You are very welcome to start threads on gay issues that interest you.

This forum is here to include everyone.

mikemac

I read this place now and again and chip in sometimes like I would in personal issues with some top advice :cool:

Looking at the thread title the OP wants me and other browsers banned.

This comes up in other forums about the way a forum is going. Often the sports ones.
OP, if you don't find discussions you're interested in or you find the forum has topics that are not relevent to you, it's up to you to start the threads!

SugarHigh

Beruthiel wrote: »

If there are more threads on transgender issues, then that's because this forum is being used more actively by those in that community.

You are very welcome to start threads on gay issues that interest you.

This forum is here to include everyone.

You're missing his point that being trans-gender has nothing to do with being gay so why group them together. It would be like having a politics and soccer forum in one.

SugarHigh

feelingstressed wrote: »

I read this place now and again and chip in sometimes like I would in personal issues with some top advice :cool:

Looking at the thread title the OP wants me and other browsers banned.

This comes up in other forums about the way a forum is going. Often the sports ones.
OP, if you don't find discussions you're interested in or you find the forum has topics that are not relevent to you, it's up to you to start the threads!

How about you actually read the thread instead of just the title. He is not suggesting that trans-gender or heterosexual people should be banned or not allowed to post, he is simply suggesting the scope of discussion of topics should be limited to LGB instead of LGBT.

Morag

SugarHigh wrote: »

You're missing his point that being trans-gender has nothing to do with being gay so why group them together. It would be like having a politics and soccer forum in one.

This again?


Culturally and historically those of both groupings have worked together to establish community, fight discrimination and provide support for each other.
Unfortunately with the rise of Homonormativity after being homosexual was decriminalised in this country has started to fragment this.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homonormativity#Homonormativity

Homonormativity is the assimilation of heteronormative ideals and constructs into LGBTQ culture and individual identity. The term was used prominently by Lisa Duggan in 2003,[30] although transgender studies scholar Susan Stryker has noted that it was also used by transgender activists in the 1990s.[31]

According to Penny Griffin, Politics and International Relations lecturer at the University of New South Wales, homonormativity upholds neoliberalism rather than critiquing monogamy, procreation, and binary gender roles as heterosexist and racist.[32]

Duggan asserts that homonormativity fragments LGBTQ communities into hierarchies of worthiness. LGBTQ people that come the closest to mimicking heteronormative standards of gender identity are deemed most worthy of receiving rights.

LGBTQ individuals at the bottom of the hierarchy (transsexuals, transvestites, intersex, bisexuals, non-gender identified) are seen as an impediment to this elite class of homonormative individuals receiving their rights.[30]

TL : DR

We're all Here! We're all Queer! Get used to it!

28064212

SugarHigh wrote: »

You're missing his point that being trans-gender has nothing to do with being gay so why group them together. It would be like having a politics and soccer forum in one.

Comparisons are moot in a case like this. You could argue Soccer and GAA would be more accurate, because they have a large crossover audience based on similar issues, and the only reason they're split up on boards is because of the traffic both receives. Or Gaelic Football and Hurling (and Handball), which are combined on boards, even though there's an awful lot of stuff which falls into one camp or the other.

LGB and T issues have a significant degree of crossover. Boards are far from the only organisation to group them

Beruthiel

SugarHigh wrote: »

You're missing his point that being trans-gender has nothing to do with being gay so why group them together. It would be like having a politics and soccer forum in one.

This discussion has been done and dusted.
Sharrow had covered our thoughts on it.
I don't think it needs to be rehashed again.

mikemac

SugarHigh wrote: »

How about you actually read the thread instead of just the title. He is not suggesting that trans-gender or heterosexual people should be banned or not allowed to post, he is simply suggesting the scope of discussion of topics should be limited to LGB instead of LGBT.

Yes, of course I read the thread, will you relax!
I didn't post a one line reply just on the title

Morag

SugarHigh wrote: »

How about you actually read the thread instead of just the title. He is not suggesting that trans-gender or heterosexual people should be banned or not allowed to post, he is simply suggesting the scope of discussion of topics should be limited to LGB instead of LGBT.

That debate has been had over and over again and if anyone was to suggest removing the B or the L then the thread would be mocked and locked.

The discussions were never limited while the T wasn't there, there were still threads on T issues going back over the last 5 years.

If you don't think the threads are relevant to you don't read them, if you want to see more thread relevant to you then start them.

ztoical

SugarHigh wrote: »

You're missing his point that being trans-gender has nothing to do with being gay so why group them together. It would be like having a politics and soccer forum in one.

Yes there are plenty of gay and transgender people who don't like the fact that they are constently lumped in together but they are alot closer to each other then politics and soccer in that there is a common ground over certain issues relating to discrimination, confusion over idenity, acceptance etc etc and every transgender person I know was involved [and still involved] in their local gay community before starting to transition. Many were confused and thought they were gay as they were attracted to someone of the same gender before they accepted that they were the wrong gender. Just like it can take people time to come out, it can take trans people time to either realize or accept their true gender. There are also trans people who are gay.

It is a wide community with groups not everyone is going to understand nor like but there is that common thread binding everyone together, your different and people will shun you for being different. I know plenty of straight people who spend alot of time in gay clubs and are involved with gay groups because they feel it is more open and accepting of people.

rainbow kirby

This has been done to death before. There is far too much overlap between issues that face both communities to separate them, and many transgender people also identify as L, G or B.

Locking this because I can't see this ending well at all.