Community Interaction 3

There have been a lot of great events on campus, but I am restricted by a lack of transportation. After searching for events near my house and failing to find any (results were about “finding a therapist” and AA--disheartening), I considered other options. I thought, “There must be a community space online somewhere.” Message boards failed to offer what I was looking for, but eventually I stumbled upon a tinychat room called Gay Pride 17. With 1,034 followers and over 20 (average 40) people live at any one time, it seemed like a good place to start. Most of the respondents were aged 15-17, with some in their 20’s. 

LGBT spaces seem to do different things for different people. Gay Pride 17 seems to give Sandro more confidence, perhaps enough to come out himself, someday. 

sandro: here you can be yourself and [talk] about anything you need

sandro: like am not out yet but i really like coming here cause i see how people are so happy and . . . they are out

Sandro really sees the room as evidence that “it gets better,” that people can be happy and out even in unsupportive families or communities. For Georgie, who found the room after coming out, “LGBT space makes me more comfortable talking to my parents about it [being gay].” Jordan sees LGBT spaces as an escape, as an outlet for self-expression that is restricted in “straight spaces.” His favorite place is a gay bar. “I go every weekend, and it helps me so much...” Jordan said. “It feels awkward for me. In a gay club, hanging out with my friends, I can be myself. I’m comfortable around them because I can be myself.” When asked why they liked the space, why they were there instead of somewhere else, they replied:

ari: because i can be myself . . . and not be judged

georgie: I was introduced by a friend. There are a lot of cute boys here and a lot of cute girls here. It’s loving...you feel welcomed. I like being with people that are like me, and everyone’s understanding.

chip: i hate being 16 i gotta hide that i am gay

emily: Well I’m in a strict catholic school and my parents don’t like the idea of me being gay... I’m quite shy and i’m more confident with talking to people on here.

For a lot of them, being out and accepted was a problem. Chip, Ari, Sandro, Jordan, and others felt that they could not “be themselves” outside of what they considered a safe space.

All respondents felt that LGBT space was important. Georgie said, “I definitely feel like you need it. Even straight people need it. You learn--you see it from a different point of view, you know what i’m saying?” Indeed, a high school girl who identified herself as straight also saw the importance of LGBT spaces for non-LGBT folk. Like Georgie, she believes that these spaces allow more acceptance of LGBT individuals because they allow straight people to see LGBT individuals as people instead of others. She said that she found the group by accident and felt drawn in by the supportive, helpful atmosphere. Now she frequents the group because, even though she sees herself as different from them, she feels like she’s been welcomed into a family.