Is being Gay and open more dangerous now?

[showme]

Not where I live. I recently moved from Washington DC to Lexington, Kentucky. While I have been out for many years, I have always been a bit circumspect depending on the circumstances. Since moving, I decided that (1) I'm married, (2) I'm old, (3) I expect people not to treat me any differently than they would a similarly situated straight person, and (4) while the place is more behind the times, I personally don't want to go backwards. So I have been much more straightforward - no more unspecific "partner" or coy "spouse" in conversation, I say "husband/he." Which really, isn't any different than now straight people present. I have had a few occasional um/ur/hurp/durp initial responses, but everyone has recovered quickly. I expect to be treated a certain way, and for the most part by just acting normal I am getting it.

So no, in this part of the American south, it is not more difficult to be gay and open.

[Melody]

I think it depends on where you live

[ChadCoxRox]

Leto says:

"What I would tell people who are a little bit different is that, eventually you will inherit the Earth. Believe in yourself and be patient. Be as different as you wish to be. It's your right. Even if it's difficult sometimes, there is no greater privilege than being your own master."



L'Optimum Magazine

[princealbertofb]

For me..being gay is a complete non issue and always has been. I had a five minute window from the moment it occurred to me I was gay and telling my family...I was done with it. I never come out to anyone else except for a few women who would not leave me alone...eeek! I know it is a big thing for a lot of people but it would be an unnatural thing for me to "come out" to anyone...I just introduce them to my boyfriend and casually mention how much I like this or that guy and let them figure it out.

I don't care or even want to know if they have an issue...and I don't care if they like it or not.
....

Ideally, that's what it should be like, but so much of being able to do this depends on the social background you grew up in, your own personality and readiness to believe (or not believe) bullshit, the amount of pressure exerted by family surrounding and school surroundings, religious surroundings and beliefs, etc... Great if people know and can 'not come out' at the age of 5 because everyone, including oneself, is so aware of it being the case and it even being possible. I think back to why my partner didn't know he was gay until he was well into his forties... the Mormon church did not believe homosexuality existed as an orientation (and even though they'd come up against same sex attractions, they'd just call it a perversion to quash, so...).
What the world really needs in this matter is education, education of our youth, education of our leaders and elite, not ramming it down anyone's throat, as we are so often accused of, but the recognition of the many facets of human sexuality and psyche.

[artyboy]

Is the term sexuality just a term?

[ceez]

For me..being gay is a complete non issue and always has been. I had a five minute window from the moment it occurred to me I was gay and telling my family...I was done with it. I never come out to anyone else except for a few women who would not leave me alone...eeek! I know it is a big thing for a lot of people but it would be an unnatural thing for me to "come out" to anyone...I just introduce them to my boyfriend and casually mention how much I like this or that guy and let them figure it out.

I don't care or even want to know if they have an issue...and I don't care if they like it or not. There are probably a lot of things I don't like about them and so it could be a real pissing match....and I don't want anyone's approval or even acceptance because I don't like to ask for something from others I am not sure I am willing to give in return...so tacky really to demand something from someone else you aren't willing to do yourself...

...and so I settle for basic respect from other people...I got it in the 70s...I get it today....so not much has changed for me

As for dangerous...I beat the crap out of the HS Bully in front of all his friends back in the 70s.....

.... so it seems it is a lot less dangerous for the bullies now than it was back then

will you marry me