I've been an active member of the LGBTQ+ community since I was just about to hit puberty, still not sure if I wanted a label for myself because it didn't matter much. Now, I use many labels. "I like everyone" is a label I use often, especially in close-minded places where my actual label may not be welcome or may invite uncomfortable conversations. There are parts of the online LGBTQ+ community that make that list. It's not all sunshine and rainbows in the world of non-cisgender/heterosexuals, and the trouble comes from our fellow members.
The largest issue is with the "original" sexualities not accepting other ones, such as bisexuality and pansexuality. This is due to the idea that one must choose a side, a hypocritical idea if one considers the LGBTQ+ mantra: "Love is Love// Love is Not a Choice", because they believe that a lesbian or a gay man does not have a choice in who they fall in love with, but somehow, multiple-gender-attracted individuals do. A similar group of these people may acknowledge these sexualities, but will not date someone who identifies as such, especially if they have dated their opposite sex because they're not a "purely" queer person, or will shame people in a "straight passing" relationship (a relationship in which two people appear to be heterosexual) because they have the privilege of not facing oppression when it is impossible to gauge this. In a similar population size, there are lesbians and gay men who believe being transgender is not a valid identity, or that a trans individual is not actually their respective identity and will refuse to see them as such, or even date them. Many of these gay men and women will reject a trans person who is also gay or lesbian, because they "aren't a real man/woman". There are also articles that asked viewers whether the T (the trans community) should be removed from the community acronym, despite the first Pride movement at Stonewall being started by a trans black woman, Marsha P. Johnson. Ironically for the community, accepting each other is a hard task.
The most popular debate, and one that is fairly recent, is that of the "Ace/Aro Discourse". This is where the community is polarized. The debate begins with the proposition that Asexuals, people who do not experience any or complete sexual attraction, who are hetero-romantic (interested in the opposite sex), and Aromantics, individuals who do not experience the desire to have a romantic relationship but rather a sexual one, who are heterosexual, should be included in the community. One group is against it, stating that they cannot belong unless they aren't cisgender, in which case they'd belong to the trans or queer community. They see it as a group of individuals who are still hetero, still cisgender, and thus cannot belong in a community but should make their own. Those who support this idea are labeled as "exclusionists" by pro-ace/aro individuals. Inclusionists welcome asexuals and aromantics who are hetero with open arms. Their belief is that they are not like the cis/hets because they only experience one side of heterosexuality. Hundreds of accounts will either state "Aces/Aros are not inherently LGBT+" or "Ace/Aro support!" to display their point of view.
But there are also the silent problems. Racism, transsexism, and ableism run rampant through the community. "I'm an oppressed minority! I CAN'T be racist!" is commonly heard. Trans people who do not dress or act like the traditional gender stereotypes of their identity can face heavy backlash as well as being fetishized by younger people, this happens commonly with trans men who ar pressured to either be a manly man or a "soft feminine boy" without a lot of middle ground. Trans women face a lot of fetishists from the heterosexual male community, men who see them as "dickgirls" or a kink and not a woman who has feelings. Autistics and other individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders or disabilities are often desexualized due to their differences or have their identities scrutinized.
As a community we struggle to unify over our differences despite needing each other. Last year was the highest recorded amount of murdered trans women, almost all of them were women of color. States are still hesitant to ban conversion therapy for minors despite it being psychological torture, but are passing bills that allow people, even medical professionals, the right to discriminate against us using their religion as grounds. We need each other more than ever right now to come together and properly fight these battles. We need to be a family again, so future generations can prosper in places we couldn't yet.
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