LGBT+ members - got a question - need somewhere to start - here is the place

[MsPurple]

Welcome LGBT+ members and ally to the community.

A few LGBT+ forum users have questions and concerns they can't a find a place to ask it here on the beyond blue forums so I thought starting a place for questions and more serious/heavy conversations 🙂 Here you can ask questions about anything from questioning your sexuality/gender identity, coming out concerns, dating, mental health etc. If you are an ally (an Ally is a person who considers themselves a friend to the LGBTQ+ community) you are also welcome to come here to be a support to our community and ask questions as well. This is a supportive place for people to discuss their questions and concerns, we are not a place of judgement. As Thumper from the movie Bambi said "If you can't say somethin' nice, don't say nothin' at all."

If you are looking for a more social and light hearted conversation might I suggest joining us on the thread under BB social/rainbow cafe. Copy and paste the link: https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/online-forums/bb-social-zone/let's-chat-about-anything

Feel free to introduce yourself below and ask any question/s

I thought I'd answer one common question in the intro post and this is one I have heard a lot. What do the letters mean? When referring to the community it is shortened to LGBT+ as there are more letters than just the 4. I have put some of the common ones here: Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Transsexual Two-spirited Queer Questioning Intersex Asexual Ally Pansexual Agender Gender Queer

Welcome everyone and hope to see you around on this thread and around the BB forums

MP 🙂

[startingnew]

Its very good news. Lets hope it stays like that. If i get any more updates I'll be sure to share them.

Its nearly over now. Not too long to go. Pretty sure its November when it finishes. Is that right?

[MsPurple]

HI everyone

Sorry I was away this weekend to NSW for a family wedding. It was beautiful. I felt bad for myself a little bit because i have been single for a long time, and I am hoping that marriage equality will be a reality soon. I may marry a man or woman so hoping I am able to regardless

I am not gonna lie I was a little dissapointed with some of my friends mental health awareness week posts. Everyone has just done the sentimental posts. I don't even think half of them are affected. No one did a real post. No one really went into the nitty gritty of mental illness. I was kinda tempted to post something, but I had a family wedding and didn't want to put such a serious post just before a wedding (my family would see the post). No one really talked about it and educated people. I feel so frustrated by anxiety and depression. I feel so isolated sometimes and like I am just watching my life go by.

SN I think it is all over in November. I hope it is all completed then. I all honesty I don't know what will happen after that. It is not a legislative vote so not sure if they will allow SSM if most of the votes are yes or not. I hope so. I don't know anyone voting no (ok maybe one person, I think my grandparents are voting yes as they know my cousin is gay and they just want him to be happy).

Love wins

[startingnew]

when do we know about the marriage debate results?

[MsPurple]

I found out it comes out on the 15th November. I'm crossing my fingers and toes

[Just Sara]

Me too...

xo

[Raynor]

All the preliminary results indicate it will be positive. And yes, it's Wednesday morning. The problem now is that those politicians who never wanted it to be passed are pressuring for their to be so many particular exemptions that anybody involved in wedding services is free to discriminate against same-sex couples.

It's so predictable but so tiring. I'm sorry y'all

[Just Sara]

Don't be sorry Rayne;

We all know change is inevitable and there'll always be those who buck the system. The reality of that sucks big time. Supportive people though are in abundance so take some comfort there ok.

I saw a popular UK talk show host make a big deal out of the SSM postal voting process and how much it cost the Australian taxpayers; I'm embarrassed tbh. International headlines like this make us Aussie's look like a bunch of morons; or at least our gutless pollies.

My sis works in a private school and we discussed how kids are being forced to sit thru sex ed classes with subjects like transgender equality, gender identity, masturbation and a plethora of adult concepts at very young ages. I listened and wondered how I'd respond but was left dumbfounded and sad. I have no doubt in my mind she voted no. It blindsided voting.

I did sex ed in high school and had to have a letter from my parents. Yes, it was the 70's, but it was a time of change for women, sexual freedom and focus on limiting pregnancies. There were those who poo-poo'd it, but they fell into the background of religious fundamentalism and old school 'skeletons in the closet' mentality. This however, is very different.

What I want is for gender confused children to have a voice; with resources to support their journey including that of their parents. Why are these 'classes' aimed at children instead of parents???? Little minds need one on one discussions instead of a room full of cruel and snickering peers. I'm scared for us all...I hope it's a huge propaganda campaign.

Sez

[marcus_c]

Checking in, hopeful about tomorrow but also anxious. What if all those people in the phone surveys have lied about voting yes? It's hard to know how much damage has been done by all the smear campaigning in the last few months.

Just Sara, I just shake my head with the whole sex ed issue. We are in a different world now, kids have their own phones and computers and can access hardcore adult stuff with just a few clicks. Do we want that to be how they learn? Because it's what's happening right now, and it's not healthy. The ostrich approach has never worked with sex ed, and it's a dangerous path to go down.

[Just Sara]

Hey Marcus;

Thankyou so much for your response. Firstly, I'm with you on the fear about tomorrow. We all wait with bated breath. No point in 'what if's' anymore.

As for sex ed, I get what you're saying. It's much more complex than the 70's days of learning what a condom looked like. I didn't know what a 'homosexual' was until I read it in a sex Q & A book I stole off a news stand at 16.

In the early 80's when AIDs hit the mainstream, a fear campaign followed because of lack of info and it being life threatening. Even well meaning teachers had no clue due to conflicting stories.

The following couple of decades saw gender/sexuality issues come to the fore because of AIDs, but it was mainly on gay/lesbian identity, addressing gay bashings and equality, especially in the workplace.

Here we are ten yrs on; AIDs sufferers have massive support no matter their gender or causative factor. Condoms are sold in supermarkets to anyone, young single parenthood is a non event, gay and lesbian school kids aren't bullied as much as they used to be and are out and proud in many cases. Equality in the workplace and beyond has protective legislation, and LGBTI+ is a household term.

When my sis told me what the legal curriculum in sex ed contained, it took my breath. I'm liberal; I'm open and honest; I'm an advocate for participation and inclusion, but I wasn't ready for that conversation.

As for policing the internet, I don't know the answer. It's a doorway into the minds of 'Helter Skelter' and that scares the shit out of me. You too I guess huh?

How about we all (functional thinking adults worldwide) send an email a day to Mark Zuckerberg, Apple, Microsoft, etc, etc, etc, and keep them neck deep in cyber crap till they buckle???

My best...

Sez xo

[Just Sara]

PS

That was a really difficult post to write. My guts is churning and I'm sad and scared.

x