As a part of the LGBTQ2S+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning and two spirited) community, I know first hand that it can be a welcoming place. It can also exclude a lot of people. I am part of the community, but a lot of the time it doesn’t feel like it. I am non binary, pan-romantic and asexual. Too often, non binary individuals are excluded from the community, as well as pan and ace people. Also, I see my sexual orientation and romantic orientation as two separate things. People often disagree with this.
Despite all this, there is a community. I am comfortable saying that I am part of this community. I have identified as such for many years. I have not experienced much hate, but I do have one story though.
A friend of mine likes to make up movie storylines and add our friends in as characters. My personality is very dull, according to many people that I know. I never really have a proper place in any of his storylines. Excited to finally be in one of them, I asked him to do an LGBT movie. He is a white, gay, cis-male and he is the main character. He makes up a storyline about one questioning boy, a bisexual guy and a bisexual girl. I was the only one he didn’t add in yet. I ask where I fit in. He says “You don’t. To fit in, you’d have to be a pretty girl to be the lesbian BFF.” I was shocked. Not only did he say that I am ugly, but he excluded me.
Nobody had ever done so to my face. I was upset and I am still holding the grudge. This is making it more evident to me how often the LGBTQ2S+ community excludes people.
Here’s an idea, LGBT+ doesn’t mean lesbian, gay, bi, trans, plus whoever you see fit. LGBTQ2S+ represents whoever feels like they find community and sees themselves fit.
Disclaimer: I know that pedophiles have tried to use the LGBTQ2S+ community as a way to make them seem better. By no means do I include people that are using the LGBTQ2S+ community in a negative way. I have seen people on social media lately saying that pedophilia is a sexuality. I do not agree. Pedophilia is a paraphilia and is NOT a sexuality.
