What are some of the unexpected or profound insights that you've discovered through these forums? Maybe things that have made you less ignorant of those that are different to you. Here's a couple that stick out in my mind. The number of girls/women that are struggling with their sexuality and coming out. For some reason - prior to this forum - I thought it was a lot easier for gay women than for gay men. I also never realised before that bisexuality was so common and so "real" and that people struggled with it. Now your turn
What has hit me is how queer people can be very backward (racist, sexist, biphobic, transphobic, even homophobic), and how some (even open) queer people have an open dislike of people who defy gender roles. That's not my lasting impression from EC, but it is something important I won't ever forget about the LGBT community. EC gave me a good perspective into how much intersectionality matters, especially reading through support forums. We can't expect to be treated well as gay if we throw bi and trans people under the bus, fat queers, poor queers, disabled queers etc., which happens so much here, and there are plenty of other issues EC has taught me on that sort of problem.
That hit me so hard when I realize those things about LGBT community as well. Not in here but on some other place consisting gay people. What unexpected things I see in EC are: - Number of people who struggle very hard to accept who they are. - Number of people who got married then accepted who they are later in their life (that mostly makes me glad I gave my everything to prevent get married) - Stories and problems of transmembers. Their stories makes me understand them better - Probably most of all family members, mothers especially seeking help in here. - Lastly, patience of EC staff. Guys you are all amazing.
That I could possibly be accepted somewhere as a woman. Never held out hope for such a thing in my lifetime. (&&&)
That no community is perfect; I face homophobia in my community and sometimes I face racism here. EC' members helped me a lot with my problems not mentioning how nice/wise/smart some members are , also I practice English here :lol:. ^ x2 (*hug*)
I was surprised at the seeming large number of people my age or a couple of decades younger who also got married without understanding that they were homosexual, and how similar their behavioral patterns were to my own at their age, not even knowing that they were in the closet, or that there even was such a thing as a closet. It has been interesting to see what their responses to their situations have been and how they have worked out their solution paths in so many different ways, while trying to warn others who are confused not to go down the paths they experienced.
It's not really profound, but seeing the number of people going through the same issues as me and realizing that I'm not alone.
I've been amazed by some of the superb insights on this forum. There are some young members in particular who astound me with their wisdom.