Is Gayspeak Really A Safe Place?

[Emiliano]

[MENTION=21558]Emiliano[/MENTION] Because
Im a Republican, Im very conservative and I have a different mindset than most. Ive admitted to being a violent man and I despise weakness. Im an outsider and the only thing I have in common with the others on this forum is my sexual orientation. I make a good bogeyman, rather than try to understand me, folks would rather demonize me. If I had feelings Im sure they would be hurt right now.

I dont doubt that how you identify politically and socially are at odds with how others identify politically and socially here. But its important to keep in mind that its not you vs EveryGayEverBecauseAllGayMenWhoArentYouAreExactlyTheSame. We are all complex, made up of many different identities.

You are not the only conservative on here. You are not the only guy on here who has served in the military. You are not the only one who grew up in a tough neighborhood, who comes from a place that is unaccepting of homosexuality, who has had it hammered into their head by their families, their friends, their society that being gay is bad or weak.

But yes, those different identities we all have are often at odds with each other. I've certainly got into it with people on this site over clashing non sexual identities. But more than how we are different from each other, it is how we express those difference that I think leads to conflict, or more specifically to being demonized, to being seen as the bad guy.

How do you express your differences from the other guys on here? How do you assert those other identities? Is it in a respectful way? Is it a neutral way? Is it an aggressive way?