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The post about stirring up some activity here got me to thinking of something to talk about.

Do you look for other LGBTQ+ people in your area, or is it not important to you? And if you do, what are you looking for (chat? friendship? more?), and how do you go about finding them?

I never did, myself, so I can't really speak to this.

I don't typically go looking for LGBTQ+ places or people, I don't really see it as a large part of my identity, plus I go to art school lol. I've got a good number of gay or not straight friends outside of Wintreath. I have stumbled across a few places like Buddies in Bad Times which is an LGBTQ theatre right in the heart of downtown which is pretty cool. They do a bunch of stuff related to LGBTQ related issues like plays and fundraisers. I was randomly exploring the city with a friend and ran into it, haven't had a chance to attend but it seems nice. They have a good sized community surrounding them so I'd imagine getting involved with their scene would be a good way to meet other people.

I don't typically go looking for LGBTQ+ places or people, I don't really see it as a large part of my identity, plus I go to art school lol. I've got a good number of gay or not straight friends outside of Wintreath. I have stumbled across a few places like Buddies in Bad Times which is an LGBTQ theatre right in the heart of downtown which is pretty cool. They do a bunch of stuff related to LGBTQ related issues like plays and fundraisers. I was randomly exploring the city with a friend and ran into it, haven't had a chance to attend but it seems nice. They have a good sized community surrounding them so I'd imagine getting involved with their scene would be a good way to meet other people.

It sounds like since you already have LGBTQ+ friends you never felt the need to go out and find others for friendship, which is an interesting contrast to some others who don't have local LGBTQ+ friends and either seek them out or can't because it would involve coming out...perhaps what area you're in makes a big difference there.

I'm curious about where you say you don't see being LGBTQ+ as a large part of your identity...I'll probably start a new topic on that matter tonight if I have the energy, lol.

Well, it's not that I have more LGBTQ friends (well maybe I do, though I can't tell) I think it's more so that the culture of the people I've been around has been very accepting and tolerant. It's not a big deal to be out, and well my friends aren't my gay friends, they're just friends.

As for how I see myself; I know a lot of people see being gay as playing a huge role in their lives, outside of just the romantic/sexual relationships they can have (granted, it can be and is a massive part of our lives). As for me, well, it isn't something that plays a super significant role for me. I don't find myself at home with the LGBTQ community, and I don't think being Bi/Pan plays a substantial role in who I am as a person. It doesn't affect the way I express myself both outwardly and inwardly, particularly significantly. Neither does sexuality, not in the orientation sense, but more so as a sexual being.

Like, take the way you describe yourself in x amount of words or sentences. For me, being Bi wouldn't show up within the first paragraph, although there was a time when I was figuring this stuff out where it would have been front and centre lol. I know an increasing amount of people who feel that way amongst my peers.

I mean like you could write a whole essay about identity, sexuality, and what drove a lot of people to the LGBTQ community, and how the culture that surrounded it shaped the identities of people. For me, I didn't have to go through a lot of that because I was mostly accepted without anyone being like "oh, you're gay". I mean, you did say something to that line Moot, but that was more along the lines of helping me figure out the whole weirdness which comes with discovering a whole side of my sexuality which I was in denial of.

It's also 1am and I've had a long day, not all of this is coherent or well worded.

@trader: Acceptance and tolerance is awesome, but I guess what I'm getting at is that people need friends who can relate to them. It might not be a big deal where you are, but I would wager you still take comfort in having other LGBTQ friends who can relate to your feelings and experiences and that you can turn to for support when you need it in that area. And I think that people who don't have that are more likely to feel the need to specifically get involved in the gay community and seek other LGBTQ friends. It's just my theory on the matter.

Not to mention seek out others for LGBTQ sex, but that's a whole other topic.

I guess I fall into that category...I don't particularly see being pan as a big part of who I am, except for the fact that it's hard to ignore when sexual topics are a legit hobby for me. I love talking about them, engaging in them, actually doing them, and there it's front and center, which means to some extent it's a central part of who I am. And I think that's what I love so much about our own NSFW section...it's a safe area of friends who can indulge in that as a mutual hobby. I find now that I have that I don't look for it elsewhere online as much.

I'm a drag queen so I end up meeting a lot of folks at gigs and shows. Though most bbn of them are more familiar with Trisha than they are me. I use grindr a lot to be honeat though. Ive met a lotnof good friends on it and could probably say ive met more friends than hookups.

I just joined a discord server of lgbt people that attend my college.