Trying to understand LGBT

[Jon the VGNerd 885]

Even though I'm heterosexual, I'm always willing to stand up for LGBT, but even so, I'm still unable to understand the meaning of it (yes, I know LGBT means Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transsexual). The main reason why is because I have a friend in real life who is a homosexual, which my mom told me about it, and has not told me ever since, which left me completely uncertain. I know that he won't try to muster up and all, but he could've at least told me so, considering as how I'm a good guy and have NOTHING against his sexuality. Even so, I'm still riddled with so many questions about it, with difficult answers for me to find. Even though I'm not comfortable around people with different sexualities, I will defend for them if needed no matter what, as mentioned earlier.

 

Assuming that you guys are one of those... I wonder what LGBT truly means? I did read it on Wikipedia, but I definitely want to hear about your opinions about it so that I'll be able to find those answers about LBGT.

[Addem Up 246]

I'm not exactly sure I understand your question. As for why your friend didn't tell you, there could be a number of reasons. First of all, he could see it as a private thing; in this case, you should respect his privacy. On the other hand, he could see it as something not important enough to tell you. Would you tell a friend you like blondes, for example?

 

What LGBT (and sometimes Q) means, at least to me, is an awareness and acceptance of people's sexual orientations, be it gay, straight, bisexual, pansexual, omnisexual, or any of the many kinds of sexuality.

[Jon the VGNerd 885]

I'm not exactly sure I understand your question. As for why your friend didn't tell you, there could be a number of reasons. First of all, he could see it as a private thing; in this case, you should respect his privacy. On the other hand, he could see it as something not important enough to tell you. Would you tell a friend you like blondes, for example?

 

What LGBT (and sometimes Q) means, at least to me, is an awareness and acceptance of people's sexual orientations, be it gay, straight, bisexual, pansexual, omnisexual, or any of the many kinds of sexuality.

 

Well, both of these are true as you mentioned today. I do respect his privacy and such, while I myself am just swarmed with limitless number of questions about it, to tell you the truth, and attempting to seek answers with no avail.

[Addem Up 246]

Well, both of these are true as you mentioned today. I do respect his privacy and such, while I myself am just swarmed with limitless number of questions about it, to tell you the truth, and attempting to seek answers with no avail.

 

I'd be more than happy to answer any questions you have to the best of my ability. I have quite a few friends from most of the major parts of the LGBT community, including one majoring in human sexuality and gender studies, so I'm fairly sure I can answer most if not all of what you ask.

[MelancholicMemory 2,025]

Well, don't feel offended that your friend didn't tell you. Even to people who are understanding, it's a difficult thing to admit. It implies who you have sex with, so it is kind of embarrassing in the first place. Then there's the fear that they will think differently of you in some way. Plus, our culture isn't too friendly to LGBT people, so he might feel once he tells one of his peers, the cat's out of the bag and everyone will soon know. He could also be shy or uncertain about it. So anyway, it's not anything wrong with you if he doesn't tell you.

 

As for explaining LGBT, well, that's pretty vague. Do you have any specific questions to ask?

[Jon the VGNerd 885]

Well, don't feel offended that your friend didn't tell you. Even to people who are understanding, it's a difficult thing to admit. It implies who you have sex with, so it is kind of embarrassing in the first place. Then there's the fear that they will think differently of you in some way. Plus, our culture isn't too friendly to LGBT people, so he might feel once he tells one of his peers, the cat's out of the bag and everyone will soon know. He could also be shy or uncertain about it. So anyway, it's not anything wrong with you if he doesn't tell you.

 

As for explaining LGBT, well, that's pretty vague. Do you have any specific questions to ask?

 

Hurm.. if there's one thing to ask, is to see what LGBT means for most people. And yes, it IS a difficult thing to admit it, especially how people think differently, but even so, I'm still willing to defend those who are offended by people who are completely against LGBT.

[MelancholicMemory 2,025]

Hurm.. if there's one thing to ask, is to see what LGBT means for most people. And yes, it IS a difficult thing to admit it, especially how people think differently, but even so, I'm still willing to defend those who are offended by people who are completely against LGBT.

Well to me, it doesn't mean much. I feel like there are bigger, more important aspects of people's characters than who they want to have sex with. Some other LGBT people however, do put a lot of importance on it, and these people tend to be the ones fighting for more LGBT rights. I guess I just separate my politics from my personal identity. Anyway, these people seem to stress how they're orientation makes them unique and such. The question is still a little vague, but that's mostly what I have to say about this.

 

Even as a LGBT person (B specifically ) I personally want to understand transgender people more, so maybe this thread will enlighten me too.

 

If you have any other questions, I'd be glad to answer them as best as I can.

 

I just realized I never said anything about my sexuality on the forums before. I just came out to the forum community apparently

[Throwaway19573639385 764]

I think LGBT means the general awareness and acceptance of different sexualities. At least, that's what it means to me.

 

Being a pansexual myself I think I am able to explain why your friend has not yet told you that he is a homosexual. Even though most of my friends will probably have no problem at all me being a pansexual I haven't told anyone except for 1 person.

There's a simple reason for that: even though they're accepting people I don't want the ruin the friendship we have now, me telling I'm a pansexual would just create awkwardness and that's not what I'm after, given the little time I still have before moving. And then there are people who say they accept it but only because it's the social norm to say you're ok with it. The moment they find out someone they know is not hetero, they'll easily abandon him/her. I'm nervous because someone might find out, the more people that know the bigger the chance that it'll spread so not telling anyone at all is the best option and unfortunately here in my town there's little acceptance. Heck, the only reason I told someone was because we were having a personal conversation after drinking and well, I was completely drunk.

There could also be the reason that he doesn't feel like telling you. It's not like everyone has to announce their sexuality if they're not hetero because they think it doesn't matter anyway.

In fact, I would approach him about it because you'll find out whether he finds it necessary to tell others or just because he's too afraid to tell anyone.

[3005 332]

I personally hate titles. I think that if you find somebody you love, you should feel free to be with them. You can become romantically involved with a man and still be "straight." It makes no sense to me to have labels. I'm in love with a guy right now, but it really is ONLY him; I don't look at other guys that way. 

[Fizz. 1,078]

Even as a LGBT person (B specifically ) I personally want to understand transgender people more, so maybe this thread will enlighten me too.

 

Trans are just people who want to be the other gender. It's a chemical imbalance from what my psychiatrist told me, though there are certainly other factors. No, it's not a fetish; certainly there's a handful of people out there who are trans for sexual reasons, but most switch to feel like themselves.

 

Uh, it isn't insecurity, either. Very fit looking people can be trans. It's more...put your personality into another body, and it just doesn't work. You might not be able to tell, but it doesn't. You don't feel yourself.

[MelancholicMemory 2,025]

Trans are just people who want to be the other gender. It's a chemical imbalance from what my psychiatrist told me, though there are certainly other factors. No, it's not a fetish; certainly there's a handful of people out there who are trans for sexual reasons, but most switch to feel like themselves.

 

Uh, it isn't insecurity, either. Very fit looking people can be trans. It's more...put your personality into another body, and it just doesn't work. You might not be able to tell, but it doesn't. You don't feel yourself.

Thanks. I know basically what it is, but really understanding people like that can be a bit difficult. Thanks for your impute, Fizz.