[RH30168]

I know that often when issues that directly or tangentially focus on race come up, many minorities feel some degree of discomfort or sensitivity, to the point that even mentioning colors like yellow, red or black can make people of respective racial categories perk up or pay special attention. Do gay, lesbian or transgender people feel discomfort or pay particular attention when people mention gender or sexuality issues? Does this have an affect on you in class, the workplace or in social situations?

User Detail :  

Name : RH30168, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Religion : Agnostic, Age : 27, City : Syracuse, State : NY, Country : United States, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[GL Beck]

I know when I hear anything mentioned regarding sexual orientation, my ears perk up. I wouldn’t say that I have a level of discomfort unless per chance the comments are negative. I choose carefully whether or not I want to offer a comment. If there are derogatory comments being made, I typically will comment especially if it is at the office. I feel responsible to offer my opinion and experiences on the issues affecting me, particularly if someone is espousing misinformation.

User Detail :  

Name : GL Beck, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Gay, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Wiccan, Age : 34, City : Omaha, State : NE, Country : United States, Occupation : Education Administrator, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Ben S.]

I notice it, and tend to have some stock-standard replies handy, as the questions or comments are often similar. I’ve always to some extent been a bit of an outcast anyway, so I tend to feel stronger when this happens and definitely get bold enough to engage in these discussions if they are going on around me. And if you do, you often learn interesting perspectives and find out things that you might not have noticed as a member of a minority. It’s a two-way street.

User Detail :  

Name : Ben S., Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Gay, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Catholic, Age : 31, City : sydney, State : NA, Country : Australia, Occupation : Public servant, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Lower middle class, 

[Keren26474]

Absolutely. I used to think I paid special attention when gender or sexuality issues were mentioned not just because I’m gay, but because I’m young; I hadn’t been exposed to any ‘alternate’ sexuality or gender variations on a day-to-day basis, so it was important to me to hear what people have to say about that kind of thing. I felt isolated and just needed to know that other gay people existed. Now I think that I have a vested personal and political interest in this stuff and I’ll probably pay attention to it all my life. I’ve noticed this same habit in other people. In my chem class last year, I heard a group of students mention something about ‘lesbians,’ and the girl next to me snapped her head up and leaned forward to hear what they were talking about. I found out later that she’s bisexual.

User Detail :  

Name : Keren26474, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Gay, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Jewish, Age : 17, City : Miami, State : FL, Country : United States, Education level : Less than High School Diploma, Social class : Middle class, 

[Kakri]

I feel some discomfort if it is either openly or tacitly assumed that everyone is heterosexual, or that everyone is comfortable in the gender they have been assigned and with the activities considered suitable for that gender. To some extent this has affected me in all the situations you mentioned. It feels as if I had to be prepared to counter an attack all the time. I have met several people who, when asked, are pro gay rights (and I have no reason to suppose they are lying), but who, in casual everyday chatter, seem to suppose everyone is heterosexual, even though they know I’m not. This makes me feel as if I were non-existent to them. I cannot feel really close to those people.

User Detail :  

Name : Kakri, Sexual Orientation : non-categorizable sexual orientation, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Lutheran, Age : 38, City : Helsinki, State : NA, Country : Finland, Occupation : Software engineer, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, 

[Jessica]

In simple response to your question, I would have to say that I can be listening to music while reading a book and keeping half of an ear on the television and if someone in the room says ‘gay’ whether I mean to or not, all of my senses immediately focus on the speaker. Just saying ‘gay’ or using it as a means of classification is not offensive to me.

User Detail :  

Name : Jessica, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Gay, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Protestant, Age : 18, City : Chicago, State : IL, Country : United States, Occupation : Student, Education level : High School Diploma, Social class : Upper middle class, 

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