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[Poltergust]

Nothing says anti-male like a gay gamers convention.

That doesn't even make any sense, anyways. I'd even bet that most of the people who attended this convention were male.

You know what's one of the best things about British TV shows? 90% of the time noone gives a fuck because the character is black or other ethnicity, noone mentions it and the character doesn't have a troubled past related to his/her ethnicity, he's just another character. I mention this because the constant reminder that a person is not a white male is part of the problem imo (not of course when there's discrimination but in everyday life). You're not helping by separating yourself that way, personally I consider homosexuality just another sex, who gives a fuck if you're male, female or gay.

Organize a convention about LGBT rights not about fucking gaming for god's sake. You're not that different you know you just prefer people of the same sex. Big fucking deal.

I'm not sure what this post is trying to convey, but as to the bolded... lots of people do, unfortunately (also, "gay" is not a sex, but that's probably just a grammatical error).

 

[Doctor_Thomas]

It's easy to see both positives and negatives for such an event.

The big positive is that it allows people of a similar gender/race/sexuality/whatever to come together and share in a hobby they enjoy with the fear that comes with it. Considering some of the abuse hurled at people online, I thinks the safety of it makes it appealing.

The big negative, for me, is that this isn't integration and, as a society, we should be inclusive and be taking action against those who aren't. Why are we not tackling the reasons for the need for such an event?

Overall though, I don't care what the nature of the event is, I think people should care more about the games rather than where someone prefers to put their cock or clunge.

 

[SmokyDave]

[edit] Oop.

I'll just give you a knowing nod and a solemn wink

 

[CamHostage]

What I'm wondering is how is a gay gaming convention any different from a fighting game convention or an indie games convention or Quakecon or Blizzcon? I'm not equating sexuality to a hobby or an interest of course, but no one ever calls these specialized conventions "exclusionary." The whole purpose of a convention is to create a sense of "community" within a niche. Gaymer X accomplished this, just as other specialized conventions have.

Why, of course, you silly -- the colors!!!!!

Seriously, though, while a general con may not be designed to be exclusionary, people just feel more comfortable being when they know what they're getting. QuakeCon, you'll get id games, Blizzcon, you'll get Blizzard titles. At fighter con, you'll find people who like to fight, at an arcade expo you'll find games for old-schoolers and pinballers. The more you target the audience, the more comfortable the audience can be knowing they are among people with similar interests. And especially when you're talking about something like homosexuality, which can be very uncomfortable to openly express with in public (especially if you haven't come out,) being with people who identify can be liberating.

The other factor is the guests and events. Look at GDC (which isn't open to the public anyway but I'm not sure I can generalize this same statement for PAX) and you'll maybe see a one or two panels about gender/sexuality subjects in gaming; at this kind of con, those issues are front and center rather than small-room panel subjects, and they can range from angry "why are none of these heroes gay?" to colorful "how gay is Japan?" topics. Also, developers who fit that con's orientation, so to speak, have a good chance of being invited to speak and find an audience in tune with their unique something to say, whereas in a more traditional event they wouldn't be the first chosen or most popular guest to speak about their work.

Look at the GamerConnect schedule and see how far away (or maybe not? it doesn't have to be different, the attendees will make it different by what they take away) that seems from your standard con lineup.

 

[Omnistalgic]

i don't understand what you guys are saying. this WAS a video gamer convention. it just had a theme. it's not like straight people would not be allowed to attend.

but why would anyone straight want to attend when you label an event with for Gay people?

It's nonsense IMO...but whateverz...everyone has to stand up for gay rights today it seems...

I'm black, and I was tired of the media slant with "racial issues" and I'm already tired of this whole gay movement. No one f'n cares what you do in personal life anymore, we're all in our own bubbles anyway. I think having niche events just furthers segregates groups.

 

[Emitan]

The big negative, for me, is that this isn't integration and, as a society, we should be inclusive and be taking action against those who aren't. Why are we not tackling the reasons for the need for such an event?

Who's to say many of the attendees aren't activists? Just because a safe place was created doesn't mean they don't want full unconditional acceptance in mainstream society.

 

[Haly]

The big negative, for me, is that this isn't integration and, as a society, we should be inclusive and be taking action against those who aren't. Why are we not tackling the reasons for the need for such an event?

That is a bigger problem with no easy answers. They just want to have the fun of a con without the more negative aspects.

 

[Massive Duck. C.M.]

You know what's one of the best things about British TV shows? 90% of the time noone gives a fuck because the character is black or other ethnicity, noone mentions it and the character doesn't have a troubled past related to his/her ethnicity, he's just another character. I mention this because the constant reminder that a person is not a white male is part of the problem imo (not of course when there's discrimination but in everyday life). You're not helping by separating yourself that way, personally I consider homosexuality just another sex, who gives a fuck if you're male, female or gay.

Organize a convention about LGBT rights not about fucking gaming for god's sake. You're not that different you know you just prefer people of the same sex. Big fucking deal.

Discrimination happens in everyday life, unfortunately, and everyday life is not television. This is not separation, it's trying to share a common interest with like-minded people.

You have a startling lack of empathy.

but why would anyone straight want to attend when you label an event with for Gay people?

It's nonsense IMO...but whateverz...everyone has to stand up for gay rights today it seems...

I'm black, and I was tired of the media slant with "racial issues" and I'm already tired of this whole gay movement. No one f'n cares what you do in personal life anymore, we're all in our own bubbles anyway. I think having niche events just furthers segregates groups.

As a black man, this post makes me very sad.

 

[bennyc12]

i get the feeling some of the "why was this made?" and "it shouldn't be exclusive!" posters actually want to ask "can you please be invisible again?".

Yet no one here has even asked that.

 

[TurnipFritters]

You're not helping by separating yourself that way, personally I consider homosexuality just another sex, who gives a fuck if you're male, female or gay.

"Male, female, or gay"

 

[fraktur]

Organize a convention about LGBT rights not about fucking gaming for god's sake. You're not that different you know you just prefer people of the same sex. Big fucking deal.

why are you up in arms then?

edit:

Yet no one here has even asked that.

both questions were asked, not literally as i typed them but the core meaning was intact.

 

[jorgeton]

You know what's one of the best things about British TV shows? 90% of the time noone gives a fuck because the character is black or other ethnicity, noone mentions it and the character doesn't have a troubled past related to his/her ethnicity, he's just another character. I mention this because the constant reminder that a person is not a white male is part of the problem imo (not of course when there's discrimination but in everyday life). You're not helping by separating yourself that way, personally I consider homosexuality just another sex, who gives a fuck if you're male, female or gay.

Organize a convention about LGBT rights not about fucking gaming for god's sake. You're not that different you know you just prefer people of the same sex. Big fucking deal.

I get what you're saying, it's nice if we could all just look at each other as people, and not look at race, who we sleep with, etc etc. But we're not there yet.

Up until very recently, LGBT people were ignored by the government (Hey Reagan and AIDS!), hid our true identities from family and friends (the whole "closet" thing) and just generally lived on the fringes of society. Why wouldn't we want to go to a place where folks have had similar life experiences AND love video games? It creates a sense of camraderie. All you need to do is read through this thread (and threads about race, women, gender expression etc etc) to see that society is not at the point where none of that stuff matters.

 

[Holmes]

It seems that heteronormativity is a bit too normative for some people, and any attempt to deviate from it is insulting and confusing.

 

[CamHostage]

but why would anyone straight want to attend when you label an event with for Gay people?

Same reason anybody attends any con: drinking at the after-hours room parties.

But, I don't know... why would anyone who is a librarian want to attend a dentists' convention? Maybe they would, maybe they wouldn't, but isn't that not the point? Dentists would maybe like to attend dentist conventions; gay people might like to attend gay conventions. That's the point of conventions, to give certain sets of people reason to convene. There's no such thing as a "Everybody Come Do Whatever" festival...

 

[Devolution]

The backlash against minority events or what have you is always so precious and ironic. Take the focus off the majority and the insecure ones suddenly feel left out. Welcome to the minority experience.

 

[Emitan]

but why would anyone straight want to attend when you label an event with for Gay people?

Many straight people in this thread have expressed interest in attending such an event.

It's nonsense IMO...but whateverz...everyone has to stand up for gay rights today it seems...

You say this as if equal rights are a bad thing.

I'm black, and I was tired of the media slant with "racial issues" and I'm already tired of this whole gay movement. No one f'n cares what you do in personal life anymore, we're all in our own bubbles anyway. I think having niche events just furthers segregates groups.

Do you not care about issues such as racial discrimination even when it personally affects you?

 

[Stumpokapow]

You know what's one of the best things about British TV shows? 90% of the time noone gives a fuck because the character is black or other ethnicity, noone mentions it and the character doesn't have a troubled past related to his/her ethnicity, he's just another character. I mention this because the constant reminder that a person is not a white male is part of the problem imo (not of course when there's discrimination but in everyday life).

British TV shows do explicitly explore race, class, and sexuality, not just treat it as though it is a blind and invisible element of society.

You're not helping by separating yourself that way, personally I consider homosexuality just another sex, who gives a fuck if you're male, female or gay.

Well besides the fact that homosexuality is an orientation, not a third sex (??) obviously they give a fuck about their orientation. I'm sure they'd rather your approach that open hatred, obviously, but why can't they be who they are instead of having to render their orientation invisible?

Organize a convention about LGBT rights not about fucking gaming for god's sake. You're not that different you know you just prefer people of the same sex. Big fucking deal.

So your stance is:
- You can organize a convention about LGBT rights. You're not that different you know you just prefer people of the same sex. Big fucking deal.
- You can organize a convention about gaming that doesn't have the word gay in the title. You're not that different you know you just prefer people of the same sex. Big fucking deal.
- But if you organize a convention that combines aspects of both? NO. You're not that different you know you just prefer people of the same sex. Big fucking deal.

And even worse, the options seem to be:
- Do the kinds of convensions I think you should do
- Shut up and go away

There's no third option that says "Offer your own point and exist the way you want to exist and plan the type of event you think would bring value to your audience and would make the world a better place."

Do you think the promoters of this even are reaching out across the internet and taunting you about your identity? Do you think they are asking for your attention? I ask because your response seems to be that this is a bad thing because it is people calling undue attention to themselves based on their identity. They don't want your attention. They are peacefully existing. And you seem to be projecting it very personally by using the word you, as if they organized this as a one-on-one conversation with you. I think you'd find that they don't agree with your premises, and they do think they "are that different".

Do you think they need to impress you, or that they need to "deserve" this? They can't just do this. They have to pass your requirements for who gets to do this, who rises to the level of being "different enough"?

 

[FStop7]

This thread's left me speechless and sincerely disappointed in some odd way.

Try to step outside of your own constrained perspective for just one moment, look at this thread from the perspective of someone who's gay, and maybe you'll understand why a convention like Gaymerx makes perfect sense. I couldn't imagine having to put up with this kind of shit on a daily basis.

 

[Doctor_Thomas]

Who's to say many of the attendees aren't activists? Just because a safe place was created doesn't mean they don't want full unconditional acceptance in mainstream society.

No, that's fair enough. I just think it's a shame events like this need to exist to provide that safe place.

 

[Haly]

but why would anyone straight want to attend when you label an event with for Gay people?

Some gay people have straight friends. Some straight people have gay friends. Some people like attending cons. Some people are curious.

The backlash against minority events or what have you is always so precious and ironic. Take the focus off the majority and the insecure ones suddenly feel left out. Welcome to the minority experience.

"I don't like being excluded MAKE IT STOP"

 

[sibarraz]

I think that is great that gay people who also happen to play videogames has a convention to gather

Like some posters said, the more traditional events are not that gay friendly, hell, society per se is is not gay friendly

I hate too that gays has too differentiate themselves, but well, that happens because straight people could be very harmful to them, hell, I'm not homophobic but still use from time to time fagot in a derogative way, even though I separated that term from homosexuality a long time ago, I still know that could harm the feelings o gay people, so I try to not use it

 

[Flatline]

It's a bit different in the US I imagine.

It's the other way around. Most characters must have a fucking sticker on his/her head reminding us that they're black. They focus either on the ghetto backround, on how athletic they are, if the character behaves normally how white he/she is and so on. Which btw also explains why Wayne Brady exploded a few months ago after the millionth person mentioned how white he is. It's fucking sickening.

 

[ZombiePlatypus]

For everyone asking why this event exists, do you also ask the same of all the other niche/specific geeky cons out there? If so, what's wrong with having more cons for varied, specific interests, while the big stuff like E3 covers all grounds?

 

[HawksWinStanley]

Lol, do gay people smell better or something?

Are you kidding? Have you ever met a gay dude? They smell fantastic.

 

[User 73706]

Sounds pretty awesome. I'd love to go if I were able.

tag quote

 

[Pound_lb003]

It seems that heteronormativity is a bit too normative for some people, and any attempt to deviate from it is insulting and confusing.

I think the latter is more often the case and quite unfortunate.

It's just NOT a thing to them. It almost is unreasonable to expect people to empathise with something they're so far removed from.

It's like asking us Westerners to cry over the Ethiopian children that are dying of hunger/dysentery. It's difficult to put ourselves in that position, it's just so alien and until you're exposed to it, it's not an issue.

 

[FStop7]

but why would anyone straight want to attend when you label an event with for Gay people?

Are you that terrified of learning and broadening your understanding of others?

 

[Poltergust]

but why would anyone straight want to attend when you label an event with for Gay people?

It's nonsense IMO...but whateverz...everyone has to stand up for gay rights today it seems...

I'm black, and I was tired of the media slant with "racial issues" and I'm already tired of this whole gay movement. No one f'n cares what you do in personal life anymore, we're all in our own bubbles anyway. I think having niche events just furthers segregates groups.

Straight people can attend for a variety of reasons. They want to support the LGBT community, their gay friends are also going, they want to educate themselves, or perhaps they simply just want to play games with others.

It's also not nonsense. Gay rights are still restricted in the majority of the country. Although black people are also a minority that is discriminated against, there are at least no legal restrictions on being black.

And, as obviously demonstrated by this thread, people do care about what you do in your personal life. This event did absolutely nothing detrimental to the people complaining about it, yet they are complaining anyways.

 

[beril]

Link to the "Still Alive" singalong mentioned by thearticle.

Damn. I can't even remember when last I teared up as bad as when watching that

 

[Crayons]

but why would anyone straight want to attend when you label an event with for Gay people?

For all the same reasons of a white man joining a black culture club or some variety?

 

[Stumpokapow]

but why would anyone straight want to attend when you label an event with for Gay people?

So that the people who don't care about or don't like gay people leave them in peace... hey, wait a minute?!

It's nonsense IMO...but whateverz...everyone has to stand up for gay rights today it seems...

You can do whatever you want to do. They're not saying "everyone has to stand up for gay rights today", they're saying "Live your life, be happy, we are so glad for you Omnistalgic, you're an awesome guy." See, you don't need to stand up for gay rights. The gays told me.

... but in the mean time, they've chosen to stand up for gay rights. Is that ok? They don't want or need your help. You don't need to do anything. Don't worry, you're not being drafted into the gay rights army. You don't need to stand up for them. Keep on keeping on.

Are they impacting you too much? How could they impact you less? Look, they're really sorry about gathering too much of your attention. From now on, instead of trying to crash your gaming conventions and try to make you stand up for gay rights nonsense, they'll have their own convention. You don't need to go. You don't need to click the thread. I personally will make sure that every thread that's about a gay gaming convention will have a title that makes this clear. The original thread title, "A gaming convention for everyone, but there's a catch*" and the original OP "* YOU MUST NOW STAND UP FOR GAY RIGHTS" was very misleading, and for that gays are sorry. But now that it's clear, they can't possibly impact you any less, right?

but why would anyone straight want to attend when you label an event with for Gay people?

So, the thing about a question is that people are more likely to answer you if they think you'd believe them. So if someone said "Because we are interested in LBGT issues", that'd be true. Or if they said "I'm straight, but I love what a good time you can have at a campy drag event", that'd be true. Or if they said "It's important to my loved ones because of who they are", that'd be true. Or if they said "To show support and solidarity", that'd be true. Or if they said "Because even though I'm straight, seeing perspectives from different people helps me understand" that'd be true, or if they said "Because although I identify as straight, I've been the victim of prejudice from people who assumed I was gay", that'd be true, or if they said "Because I go to every convention and this one is no different", that'd be true, or if they said "I'm running for office next year and I need to attend public events", that'd be true, or if they said "because I want to network with others", that'd be true. But if you read those answers and think "Yes, but that answer doesn't make any sense", then chances are it wasn't a real question to begin with... and if you didn't know those answers before I told you, then you didn't read the thread... or any other thread on this subject ever... or ever spoken to a gay person or someone who is interested in LBGT issues...

... and if that's the case, what on earth possessed you to weigh in that you had made a definitively judgment on the value of this kind of event, right?

 

[SovanJedi]

I can't believe the amount of animosity towards people of a certain sexuality organizing a convention that largely features (but isn't exclusive to) their minority. Sometimes gamers really are so averse to change that it's downright sickening. Perhaps I need to be less naive about how far we've progressed as a society.

 

[Hedge]

Are you kidding? Have you ever met a gay dude? They smell fantastic.

Why thank you. When we get home we sleep upside-down in our rose-scented broquade drapes.

Damn. I can't even remember when last I teared up as bad as when watching that

Aye, I want to have a marriage proposal sung to me by Ellen McLain. Also, any marriage proposal that incorporates a banjo is worth remembering per default.

 

[ZombiePlatypus]

I can't believe the amount of animosity towards people of a certain sexuality organizing a convention that largely features (but isn't exclusive to) their minority. Sometimes gamers really are so averse to change that it's downright sickening. Perhaps I need to be less naive about how far we've progressed as a society.

I'd like to think internet+anonymity is amplifying things. (It's what I want to believe at least.)

 

[xelios]

Sure, but let's see what the reaction is if there was a straight only gaming convention.

Let's just make a convention for only straight people then to even things out.

Power to them but this is really not necessary.

Let me guess, you want a white history month as well. I wish people could realize how they sound when speaking ignorantly from a position of privilege. The USA is full of "straight only" things--marriage for one--but I'm sorry you feel there should be even more oppression of gays to even things out.

I'm black, and I was tired of the media slant with "racial issues" and I'm already tired of this whole gay movement. No one f'n cares what you do in personal life anymore, we're all in our own bubbles anyway. I think having niche events just furthers segregates groups.

You're tired of a civil rights movement? We have bans on gay marriage in dozens of states because "no one f'n cares what you do in your personal life anymore", right? Believe me, gay people wish no one cared, but it is far from the case.

 

[Flatline]

Discrimination happens in everyday life, unfortunately, and everyday life is not television. This is not separation, it's trying to share a common interest with like-minded people.

You have a startling lack of empathy.

How on earth do I have a "startling lack of empathy"? Do I care about LGBT rights? OF COURSE I do. I just feel that separating your group like that reinforces the notion that being gay makes you different, or even not normal or something. It's bullshit. I'm honestly sick and tired of a society that when it doesn't condemn it points and looks at anyone that is slightly different.

I get what you're saying, it's nice if we could all just look at each other as people, and not look at race, who we sleep with, etc etc. But we're not there yet.

Up until very recently, LGBT people were ignored by the government (Hey Reagan and AIDS!), hid our true identities from family and friends (the whole "closet" thing) and just generally lived on the fringes of society. Why wouldn't we want to go to a place where folks have had similar life experiences AND love video games? It creates a sense of camraderie. All you need to do is read through this thread (and threads about race, women, gender expression etc etc) to see that society is not at the point where none of that stuff matters.

You make a good point. I guess I want and expect for things to move faster so anything that stands in the way is imo a problem even if it helps some people at the same time. Different POV's I guess, I agree with your post but I still think that separating your group from the rest doesn't help.

 

[Devolution]

Let me guess, you want a white history month as well. I wish people could realize how they sound when speaking ignorantly from a position of privilege. The USA is full of "straight only" things--marriage for one--but I'm sorry you feel there should be even more exclusion of gays to even things out.

There's a reason there is talk of blindness when it comes to privilege. Most people don't realize some of the hetero stuff staring them right in the face. Some of it you have to tell people and they go "oh OH." Something as simple as a wedding band in a specific state, being assumed to be with a male or female at a bar just because you're of the opposite sex, "his and her" sets of stuff, the amount of straight relationships on TV versus gay ones, simple shit that once you recognize it as "straight" it makes you realize how marginalized gay people are.

 

[Poltergust]

How on earth do I have a "startling lack of empathy"? Do I care about LGBT rights? OF COURSE I do. I just feel that separating your group like that reinforces the notion that being gay makes you different, or even not normal or something. It's bullshit. I'm honestly sick and tired of a society that when it doesn't condemn it points and looks at anyone that is slightly different.




You make a good point. I guess I want and expect for things to move faster so anything that stands in the way is imo a problem even if it helps some people at the same time. Different POV's I guess, I agree with your post but I still think that separating your group from the rest doesn't help.

There's no separation going on here, though. Anyone is free to go. It's exactly like specialized clubs or Gay Pride parades in that regard.

 

[Cheddahz]

You know what's one of the best things about British TV shows? 90% of the time noone gives a fuck because the character is black or other ethnicity, noone mentions it and the character doesn't have a troubled past related to his/her ethnicity, he's just another character. I mention this because the constant reminder that a person is not a white male is part of the problem imo (not of course when there's discrimination but in everyday life). You're not helping by separating yourself that way, personally I consider homosexuality just another sex, who gives a fuck if you're male, female or gay.

Organize a convention about LGBT rights not about fucking gaming for god's sake. You're not that different you know you just prefer people of the same sex. Big fucking deal.

So if you're saying that being gay is a gender? LOLWUT

 

[Circle Jerk]

e: actually no this felt like a callout and that wasnt fair to the poster

 

[lenovox1]

How on earth do I have a "startling lack of empathy"? Do I care about LGBT rights? OF COURSE I do. I just feel that separating your group like that reinforces the notion that being gay makes you different, or even not normal or something. It's bullshit. I'm honestly sick and tired of a society that when it doesn't condemn it points and looks at anyone that is slightly different.

I, mean, not considering that someone that grew up gay, closeted or not, likely had a very different experience than you, why wouldn't LGBT people that like video games want to hang out and feel safe around with other LGBT people that like video games? Why does it have to be more than that?

 

[foxuzamaki]

I am confused as to why a large proportion of the ignorant posts are juniors. Is there a new wave?

i really dont know why its always juniors, give us a bad name

 

[jdforge]

Some part of me feels that the organisers of events which cater to a specific demographic do so to ensure it is successful i.e that they profit from exploitation of a minority group by offering them something that I don't believe is entirely necessary or required IF we lived in a more inclusive and accepting society.

I'm not against these events, but further segregation isn't the answer or best way forward to working towards full equality and a society where everyone feels valued, accepted and appreciated.

 

[Syf]

Disappointing to see so many people having a problem with this. I feel like some straight people don't really understand how it must feel to be gay/bi sometimes, and why an event like this is so necessary. It allows them to go somewhere and 'fit in' to the crowd as opposed to most events where they're made to feel like the outsiders. A lot of the time they can't even hold hands in public without feeling uncomfortable doing so. It's not even like they banned straight people from attending; they just gave the event a theme.

 

[Poltergust]

By the way, I noticed a really stark contrast between Gaming and Off-Topic on the general attitude to gay people. I didn't think the two forums would be so different in that regard.

 

[Gustav]

Damnit, gay people! I thought you were supposed to have better taste than straight people. What's with the terrible name?

 

[Haly]

How on earth do I have a "startling lack of empathy"? Do I care about LGBT rights? OF COURSE I do. I just feel that separating your group like that reinforces the notion that being gay makes you different, or even not normal or something. It's bullshit. I'm honestly sick and tired of a society that when it doesn't condemn it points and looks at anyone that is slightly different.

People are different, they recognize this in themselves and in others. It's a natural part of being human. You can't ask people to pretend everyone is the same. Rather, you need to teach them to be accepting and respectful of differences.

Acceptance of difference not the same thing as blindness to difference.

 

[Marty Chinn]

Like some posters said, the more traditional events are not that gay friendly,

I find this comment being expressed a lot and it's interesting to me.

I've been to my fair share of comic conventions from small up to big ones like Comic Con. I've been to my fair share of anime conventions from Fanime to Anime Expo. I've been to a ton of gaming cons from tournaments to GDC, to TGS, and to just about every E3 that has taken place. Not once did it ever occur to me that these events were not gay friendly, or that they were geared toward straight people. I know plenty of gay friends who go to these events too and not once did I ever get the sense that there was some tension going on because of the atmosphere at these events. Everyone was there for either comics, sci-fi, anime, game development, or games. Everyone always seemed to be having a good time.

I'm not saying what you are saying isn't true. I'm just saying from my experience, this is a bit surprising to me and if anything eye opening. I would really like to know what about these shows that make it a non safe or not comfortable environment so I can understand what I've been oblivious to. Not once did it occur to me that sexual orientation was a factor at these types of events.

 

[soundscream]

but why would anyone straight want to attend when you label an event with for Gay people?

It's nonsense IMO...but whateverz...everyone has to stand up for gay rights today it seems...

I'm black, and I was tired of the media slant with "racial issues" and I'm already tired of this whole gay movement. No one f'n cares what you do in personal life anymore, we're all in our own bubbles anyway. I think having niche events just furthers segregates groups.

WTF man, tired of the GAY movement. It upsets you that they can have the freedom to live their life openly.

As a black person you should be able to empathize with many of the issues gay people have to deal with.

 

[TurnipFritters]

Some part of me feels that the organisers of events which cater to a specific demographic do so to ensure it is successful i.e that they profit from exploitation of a minority group by offering them something that I don't believe is entirely necessary or required IF we lived in a more inclusive and accepting society.

I'm not against these events, but further segregation isn't the answer or best way forward to working towards full equality and a society where everyone feels valued, accepted and appreciated.

Conventions aren't necessary. Video games aren't necessary. Message boards aren't necessary. Sometimes people just want to have fun. They aren't trying to fix all the problems that GLTB people face, they just want to have fun.