I am facinated by what you call subdivison i see as recognition. Thats a very interesting coin were looking at.
I was active in politicking for gay rights back in the 00’s, and back then the word “gay” was synonymous with “queer”. It meant everyone. The rainbow flag was the same way. Now the average person has no way of understanding the terminology or symbolism various factions use within the broader queer community, and it’s made it easier to alienate certain populations (trans people being the very visible example right now). There’s simply no unity because the various communities have willfully subdivided.
I’m not an activist anymore (mental illness makes it too hard) but the queer community really, really needs to unite and recognize the greater threat of resurgent fascism, in my opinion. That’s harder to do when people have subdivided themselves and the various factions can’t come together to fight the real enemy.
I’ll take “Tell me you were never actually an ally without telling me you were never an ally” for $100 Alex.
The flag was updated to include more folks who are oppressed as a minority. Anyone who is a target due to things like their sexuality, gender, disabilities, skin color, or other inherent traits belongs in it. The whole point is to band together because the groups in it are small and vulnerable. The fact that the updated flag bothers you and you’re willing to complain about it really speaks volumes to how much and why it matters to you.
They said they supported gays and are saying the new flag is divisive, despite it being more inclusive. The rainbow flag was not really representative for everyone, as it was predominately associated with gay men and lesbians, and was updated to try and include others in the LGBTQIA+ community that weren’t getting enough (or any!) representation. I’m calling out their signalling that they are an ally while they also claim that one of the problems with the community is that it is somehow more divisive, despite being more accepting and broader than ever before.
I find that being gatekept would mean that I don’t allow someone to be part of the community, and in a way I did do that. I’ll admit that part of my response was rude and probably uncalled for. This whole comment section is full of apologists for the confederate flag, and in my first reading I might have taken their intent more harshly than they meant. I’m sorry about that. I did not mean to gatekeep and in the future I’ll be more careful to not rebuke those who seem to mean well, even if I am hurt or concerned by what they said.
I still feel that focusing on the updated flag and how it may be seen as divisive is not very productive or helpful to the overall community, and overall the LGBTQIA+ community fights fascism at every turn. Having these tough conversations about marginalized groups and how they can be better represented is what helped spur the community to adopt the updated flags, regardless of opinions on it. Because, at the end of the day, it is a bunch of smaller groups banding together to protect one another. Flying the rainbow flag, progress, or updated progress w/ intersex are all valid ways to show support and raise awareness. I feel that way even in regards to flags representing smaller subsets, such as the lesbian, trans, or asexual flags.
Things change. Part of being progressive is accepting that. When politicking for said rights in the 00s, people weren’t trying to take away anyone’s rights, we were trying to grant them, such as letting LGBT people be in the military and get married to those of the same gender. The fight now is to keep those and other rights. And if that includes recognition and inclusion to help normalize things, good. It should. Stop being a dinosaur.
I was active in politicking for gay rights back in the 00’s, and back then the word “gay” was synonymous with “queer”. It meant everyone. The rainbow flag was the same way. Now the average person has no way of understanding the terminology or symbolism various factions use within the broader queer community, and it’s made it easier to alienate certain populations (trans people being the very visible example right now). There’s simply no unity because the various communities have willfully subdivided.
I’m not an activist anymore (mental illness makes it too hard) but the queer community really, really needs to unite and recognize the greater threat of resurgent fascism, in my opinion. That’s harder to do when people have subdivided themselves and the various factions can’t come together to fight the real enemy.
I’ll take “Tell me you were never actually an ally without telling me you were never an ally” for $100 Alex.
The flag was updated to include more folks who are oppressed as a minority. Anyone who is a target due to things like their sexuality, gender, disabilities, skin color, or other inherent traits belongs in it. The whole point is to band together because the groups in it are small and vulnerable. The fact that the updated flag bothers you and you’re willing to complain about it really speaks volumes to how much and why it matters to you.
Removed by mod
They said they supported gays and are saying the new flag is divisive, despite it being more inclusive. The rainbow flag was not really representative for everyone, as it was predominately associated with gay men and lesbians, and was updated to try and include others in the LGBTQIA+ community that weren’t getting enough (or any!) representation. I’m calling out their signalling that they are an ally while they also claim that one of the problems with the community is that it is somehow more divisive, despite being more accepting and broader than ever before.
I find that being gatekept would mean that I don’t allow someone to be part of the community, and in a way I did do that. I’ll admit that part of my response was rude and probably uncalled for. This whole comment section is full of apologists for the confederate flag, and in my first reading I might have taken their intent more harshly than they meant. I’m sorry about that. I did not mean to gatekeep and in the future I’ll be more careful to not rebuke those who seem to mean well, even if I am hurt or concerned by what they said.
I still feel that focusing on the updated flag and how it may be seen as divisive is not very productive or helpful to the overall community, and overall the LGBTQIA+ community fights fascism at every turn. Having these tough conversations about marginalized groups and how they can be better represented is what helped spur the community to adopt the updated flags, regardless of opinions on it. Because, at the end of the day, it is a bunch of smaller groups banding together to protect one another. Flying the rainbow flag, progress, or updated progress w/ intersex are all valid ways to show support and raise awareness. I feel that way even in regards to flags representing smaller subsets, such as the lesbian, trans, or asexual flags.
100% agree with you on this.
Things change. Part of being progressive is accepting that. When politicking for said rights in the 00s, people weren’t trying to take away anyone’s rights, we were trying to grant them, such as letting LGBT people be in the military and get married to those of the same gender. The fight now is to keep those and other rights. And if that includes recognition and inclusion to help normalize things, good. It should. Stop being a dinosaur.