Comments
-
Hey, everyone and anyone. In case you haven't heard it and need to: I'm proud of you just for surviving. Soon you will live. The world can be cruel and sometimes crying is a necessity. It's not a weakness. The world can be awesome and full of love and hope. Please stick around a while and be a part of it. Stay safe and possibly be creeped out by the fact a random stranger holds love in their heart just for you.
-
@Medic135, it’s more lucrative in some communities than others for obvious reasons. As griffin pointed out it often also hosts events and acts as a safe space as well as a place where the ‘questioning’ can try to figure themselves out. Also, if you’re super into supporting members of the community, knowing the author is (probably) also a member might suggest you buy more.
-
@Canis Arktos, fair, i just feel like in this day and age we hold the worlds accumulated knowledge at our fingertips. If you want a gay author yoh can find one and go get their book at a regular book store or library neither of which will be unsafe spaces. And if you are seeking counsel, i feel like a "bookstore" isnt the first business model I'd look at
-
@Medic135, I’m assuming you’re not queer, but as a gay person, it’s nice having casual spaces that cater to your community and specific needs, free from judgment. Also, you don’t always know what book you want even on the internet. It’s nice to just browse shelves, whether for casual or academic reading.
-
@griffinstorme, I'm not gonna lie, i have absolutely no comprehension of the gay "community" idea. I don't feel attached to other people for being straight, bi, or any other interpretation. Common interests are what binds me to other people, not what kind of genitals we want in our faces later on. So the book store still doesn't make sense to me and i cant imagine how one could survive as a business. That being said, youre more than welcome in the local barnes and noble or public library right? You'll find me in either a historical section or a comic shelf, not being concerned with how gay or straight the books are
-
@Medic135, but as a community, we do share similar interests and experiences. Even if it’s not like sports or history, it’s a sense of cameraderie built from being the outsiders of society and needing to have those safe spaces. And now we have a culture built around that community. Or maybe it is sports. I want to talk about sports and not be afraid of mentioning my boyfriend in passing. Because I don’t know at best if some straight macho sports bro’s will take that poorly and at worst if they’ll get violent. And it’s not just about sex either. I want to talk to other guys about dating guys. Or girls about dating girls. Being queer isn’t about sex all the time. Sometimes it’s safe in a Barnes and noble. Sometimes it’s not. I’m pretty sure every gay person can tell you stories about getting sneered at for going in the lgbt books aisle. Or straight up made fun of (with the threat or reality of physical harassment) if they’re seen with a queer themed book in public.
-
@Medic135, I have literally been bullied and beaten up for being gay. Last year, my friend was holding hands with another man in a store and out of nowhere, someone clocked him in the face and broke his jaw. Trans people are murdered incredibly frequently. Queer people don’t feel safe. The government routinely tried to legislate away our rights. Casual homophobia is the norm. I don’t think it’s that hard to see, even from the outside.
-
@griffinstorme, we disagree here, i dont actually know how old you are but i do realize that as children bullying hits hard and gay kids got alot of that. Do i think you are in danger? Absolutely not, and hopefully youll feel that way too soon. I dont see you any different and i cant think of anyone i know who would, and im not from a progressive town
-
@griffinstorme, no it definitely exists, but its not what it was. If we start digging into personal examples we are likely to start disbelieving one another, not to try and discredit you im just pointing out neither of us know whats true from the others life experience ya know? We can however focus on a positive point, which is that I hope your feelings will change on this subject in thw near future. Theres no good reason you should have to think this way about being in public and I'm sorry youve been made to
-
@Medic135, there are literally sociological studies about homophobia. There’s crime data about transphobic murders. You’re welcome to look it up. I hope my feelings change too. But the only way that will happen is if society changes. Because danger is our reality. We’ve all experienced it. It’s not as bad as it used to be, no. But it’s still ever present. You’re in a state of denial, and I’m sorry that you think homophobia is gone. I pray you don’t have queer relatives or children one day that try and come to you for comfort.
Hope is a powerful tool, don’t let it go to waste