Anyone else feel like they still have something to hide?

[Lilitu]

Yeah I tend to talk in vague terms when discussing my sexuality etc. just because in my experience not everyone is truly comfortable with talking about it, or finding out.

The main thing is that being LGBTQ is still a thing that people don't really know how to react to. Most people genuinely want to accept you but they get nervous because of a very heteronormative culture and society.

My old high school was a prime example of that (as you might expect from a state boys' school who likes to think it's better than everyone and wants to cover up all its gaping flaws with a small minority of superoverachievers, which I'm half-ashamed to have been one of... because we're the type they would use to boost their standing in the community.)

oops rant

[Edward]

I'm only out to my family and friends, so among my job colleagues and other people I sill have to hide. I guess I'll never be fully out.

[Wade]

Funny, I have been thinking about doing the same thing. I just want a shirt that says something like "Yeah I like guys, live with it."

The biggest thing wearing Pride gear has shown me is that people really don't give a fuck if you're gay or not. No a single person has treated me any different. The fear has always been "if people know I'm gay everyone will be uncomfortable and they'll start acting weird around me." Nope, didn't happen (this is only my experience btw, I know others have faced a lot of difficulties).

So when you have the mentality of "Yeah I like guys, live with it" I think you're approaching it wrong. And I know you probably didn't literally mean that that's what you want on a shirt, but still... I think the attitude going forward should be "Yeah I like guys, and I'm okay with it" and leave everyone else to their own devices. The ones most uncomfortable is us. That's what we have to work on.

My apologies if this has come off preachy. I really don't know what I'm talking about. Again, my advice only comes from my own narrow and limited experience.

[East]

For me...being gay is a non issue and I treat it as such. I never really announce that I am gay but I will introduce my boyfriend to everyone as my boyfriend just like straight people do. If that is a problem for them...I don't really care. No one has ever said anything to my face.

[matty7]

your not bat shit m8 - your normal as hell

the only place I don't announce im gay is work - I need my job and I don't trust the dictatorship in charge to find a way to get rid if they had someone gay at work - take into account that when I started their we had 2000 employees , were down to about 500 now but we have never ever even employed a single person of colour ever !!!! let alone an openly gay person -

to others who say - wow, I didn't know u were gay ..I laugh n just say u cant catch it ..good icebreaker

[nullnaught]

I was getting food at the food store and the clerk talks about pretty girls and I say to him, I am too gay for that. Everyone assumes you are straight it seems.

[Mark]

I was getting food at the food store and the clerk talks about pretty girls and I say to him, I am too gay for that. Everyone assumes you are straight it seems.

I work in retail and we are actively told to make general comments like that even if you don't personally believe they are. The biggest memory for me is we had a drag queen come in talking about a holiday and he was very jokey messing about but we still had to pretend he was a woman even though he wasn't and announced that - at times its pointless.

[nullnaught]

I work in retail and we are actively told to make general comments like that even if you don't personally believe they are. The biggest memory for me is we had a drag queen come in talking about a holiday and he was very jokey messing about but we still had to pretend he was a woman even though he wasn't and announced that - at times its pointless.

His comment was not related to anything happening. There was no pretty woman around he was complementing. He was bringing it up as if all us men love girls. i think it was tottaly uncool and unprofessional. That is my opinion.

[Mark]

His comment was not related to anything happening. There was no pretty woman around he was complementing. He was bringing it up as if all us men love girls. i think it was tottaly uncool and unprofessional. That is my opinion.

Thats the thing though general chitchat like that is seen as excellent customer service. Something used to try and relate I agree its pointless but its whats enforced onto workers.

[nullnaught]

Thats the thing though general chitchat like that is seen as excellent customer service. Something used to try and relate I agree its pointless but its whats enforced onto workers.

Makes sense.