Not really.
I want to talk about a few things about modern queer culture I’ve learned in my experience. Modern queer acceptance is an interesting yet complicated subject that some people believe we have “figured out”. Let me explain.
I was having a conversation with a family member then they said that I’m accepted in society right now. When they first said that, I didn’t have a great response because, in a lot of ways, they’re right. The gay rights movement has made so much progress and I can’t even imagine what it was like to live in the US when there was no chance of being openly in a couple in public or getting married. But I kept thinking, “then why doesn’t it feel like it?” I think I found a few reasons why.
First, I had to answer the question, what does it mean to be accepted in society? After all, society is filled with a lot of people we will never meet and have no influence on our lives. To me, being accepted in society means I’m accepted by my family, my friends, and my coworkers. Essentially, all of my social circles’ acceptance of me is what makes me feel welcome in society. These people are the closest to me and those I may have to come out to.
Another less influential group of people to me personally would be politicians and political media. We are surrounded by news that can influence how we perceive the public opinion on queer rights and even sway the public opinion. Politicians also write the legislation that determine how we get to live and our place in society.
All of these factors tend to raise anxiety levels when there are so many people that can hurt you just by being yourself. This alone means that there is a lot more nuance about acceptance in modern society than a blanket statement that likely comes from my family member’s perception of mainstream media. With all these factors, for me personally, do I feel accepted?
For my friends, I absolutely feel accepted by most. It’s pretty easy in my experience to have this, living in a decently large city with queer presence. Friends are also chosen which means, though hard, are not impossible to let go of if they are not accepting. I understand that depending on where you live, you may not have the luxury of choice where everyone seems to think the same, and I’m sorry that you experience that. I hope for those of you in that situation, you will find a source of relief by places like this website where you are truly cared for and can someday find that group for you, too. My experience with my friends doesn’t translate the same for family, however.
My family is not very accepting. I would consider most of my family members as tolerating my sexuality, and it definitely takes a toll on you. I don’t feel welcome to share my personal life with them when it comes to relationships because when I do, there are awkward reactions that I feel would be very different if I were dating a girl. As I’ve also shared before, there is a bias towards who I date. Check that article out here. They simply have no choice in who I date, which leaves them with being tolerant yet praying and wishing for me to “follow a different path” in life.
There is not much to say yet about my coworkers because they are not aware of my sexuality. However, I don’t see that as an issue as many are around my age and seem to be accepting without any clear evidence to speak either way.
If it wasn’t already abundantly clear in the news, there are a number of politicians who think very differently about us, or at least their platform runs on this. I believe it has to do with the recent harmful speech about trans rights that has caused the most uproar and a feeling of moving backwards in society. I do not feel supported or represented by US politicians or in recent elections, though I believe there is enough we see on the news that I don’t need to further explain. It hurts me that many people overlook social issues in the name of their wallets, despite moral concern for safety and wellbeing of other people in your same country.
Being accepted is a complicated idea to express. It is a feeling we experience from a combination of the people around us treating us as humans, not differently based on who we are. Whether you have accepting friends, family, coworkers, or other social circles or not, know that there are resources available to you. Even though this website can’t give you new friends or family, I hope that it brings you some peace knowing that you are not alone. There are other people out here that feel like you do, understand and validate your feelings and who you are, and truly care about you as a human. Those people are who deserve the closest place to your heart and will make this life just a little more fulfilling. Stay well and keep fighting for your place in society, you deserve it.
G
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