There’s a good reason why there’s pride month. This is an unprivileged group of people who face a lot of struggle for being different in this heteronormative society. Despite popular myth, it’s not a “trend” and nobody actually “wants” to be different because nobody wants that kind of negative attention. It actually takes a lot of courage and strength to be proud of going against the norm despite being unprivileged because of it.
Lesbians
No, most of them don’t hate men. No, they don’t experience less homophobia than gay men do. They just experience homophobia in a different way than gay men do due to intersectionality of their gender and sexual orientation. They also are subject to stereotyping. Even if it’s more socially acceptable for lesbians to kiss in public, they are still likely to get inappropriate, perverted (sometimes hostile) comments out of people (especially a lot of straight guys). For example, many straight men fetishize them. Compared to gay men, lesbians are more likely to experience corrective rape and sexual assault. Ignorant people, especially straight guys, gaslight lesbians by telling them it’s a phase, a bad experience turned them lesbian, or that they ‘chose’ to be gay because they can’t find a man. Although none of this is true, gaslighting is emotional abuse. Lesbians are just as likely as gay men to be disowned by their conservative families and experience intolerance from their conservative families. They’re also vulnerable to abuse from family and their partners. The courts also don’t usually work in their favor because the judges may be conservative and their problems aren’t taken seriously when it comes to domestic violence.
Gays
Although gender identity and sexual orientation are two different things, gays are denied of their masculinity because they don’t conform to heteronormative masculinity. They experience a lot of stereotyping because of their sexual orientation. There are still some people who think being gay is a choice and that these men are not real men, which is quite offensive to suggest. There are people out there who perceive them as potential pedophiles even though being gay and being a pedophile are two different things, and two aren’t related in any way, which is why many gays avoid children. People, especially straight guys, also view gay men as a threat to their safety even though gay men are more afraid of straight guys than straight guys are afraid of them. Some straight guys delude themselves into thinking that gay men always flirt with them even though it’s not true, which makes their interactions more awkward. Gays experience a lot of hostility and violence due to their sexual orientation. They experience violence from people outside the gay community, and statistics show that many of them do/did experience domestic violence from their partners. The courts also don’t usually work in their favor either unfortunately.
Bisexuals
No, not all of them are promiscuous and unfaithful. No, they aren’t bicurious or confused. No, it doesn’t mean they want to be with both genders at the same time. No, they aren’t denying their true sexual orientation. No, it’s not always a phase for all of them. No, their sexual orientation doesn’t change between partners. Well, both bi men and women experience biphobia but in different ways (intersectionality). They are also subject to demeaning stereotypes as well regarding their sexual orientation. Bi men are assumed to be gay and feminine. Bi women are assumed to be straight and promiscuous. They are rejected by many people from both the gay community and outside the LGBT community due to the general misunderstanding about them. Even bisexuals discriminate against each other as well (internalized biphobia).
Transgenders
Compared to the rest of the acronym, the general public is more likely to be less supportive of transgenders and think transgenders are mentally ill. No, transgenders didn’t choose to be transgender. No, transgenders are not out there to harass people in bathrooms. Transgenders get misgendered and mocked. They experience so much emotional problems due to having the wrong genitals because society does treat you differently due to the sex you look like. People also place too much importance on what their genitals are even though it is none of anyone else’s business what their genitalia is.
As an asexual guy
I don’t identify as LGBT because the acronym doesn’t include asexual. I’m pretty much invisible to larger society and I’m also subject to a different set of ignorance and stereotypes about my sexual orientation. Before I identified as asexual, I never knew I would be able to come to this point to be able to understand and support the lgbt community this much. Despite that some of LGBT doesn’t support me or asexuality as a valid orientation and that there are issues within the LGBT community itself, I will continue to support LGBT.
I can say that being asexual has helped me to emphasize more with them and to weed out those who support LGBT vs. those who don’t because I’ve noticed that a lot of people like to say that they support LGBT, but they actually don’t. This isn’t to say that I think people shouldn’t be allowed to have different opinions and you should force your opinions on them. You’re allowed to voice your opinions as much as other people. I just think there is a line between having an opinion and being violent/rude to someone because of their identity. If you’re part of LGBT, ignore people who gaslight or stereotype you because you know yourself better than anyone else does. It’s a great way to weed out those who support you and those won’t. If you come out to someone, show that you have nothing to hide. Don’t be reluctant to explain things that people don’t understand. Just be more focused on promoting and advertising the truth in general, so more people will be able to understand in the future.
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