Solved: LGBTQIA people. Is there a need for a sub-forum?

[El Hefe 612]

Okay… First, I know I'm new here. Second, I'm genuinely curious. And third, I read the entire 18-page thread of the "LGBTQ Divers?" question. As a openly gay, married man I would love to have a place to connect with other gay men, women, and like-minded individuals to discuss dive travel opportunities, to find dive buddies without having to worry about whether or not they might have a problem with me, and to feel comfortable talking about things that might impact us.


If possible, I'd like to have a board created under Non-Geographic Clubs called:


LGBTQIA Divers and Their Friends


I have spent the past week-and-a-half searching the internet (and this board) for such clubs, and I was surprised how lacking they were. It's been six years since the original question was posted in the thread referenced above. I know if I'm interested, that there are probably many others who would be too, but they may just be afraid to ask. Many of the responses in the thread above were not very understanding of what it is like living as an LGBTQIA individual in a predominantly heteronormative global society. Having such a space is not about excluding anyone, it's about having space where we don't have to worry about being who we are and can focus on what we love - diving (among many other things).


Thanks!

 

[RainPilot]

Out of curiosity, if the poll question read "Would it be ok to create a group", how many No voters would still vote the same way?

The major groupings seem to be "Yes we should have a group " and "I don't think we need one but I don't mind if we have one "

There seem to be very few actual objections to the existence of such a group.

 

[MichaelMc]

Truthfully, the forum isn't about Captain Jim, or Doby, or Cameron, or Austin, or me. So whether we feel that such a forum is needed is kind of moot.

Which is why I read the poll's setup as A) Do you want and will participate, v.s. B) do you object.

That may not be the right read, but it is why I did not vote at all. And why voting no because you do not see the need seems not a clear vote.

 

[RainPilot]

Ok I have reset the poll and recalibrated the options to get a more nuanced take on the general feeling of the members.

 

[txgoose]

To me it can be a bit of an open market issue. Create the forum. If it fills a niche, it will get used. If it doesn't, it will slowly grow dormant. If the mods don't mind, and people can behave by keeping politics out of it, I say make it. With the caveat that I am desperately fighting the urge to make Seinfeld pool jokes in the new "Turtling" thread so I may not be the most mature person to ask.

 

[doctormike]

Someones' sexual orientation, whether they be gay or not has zero impact on ... how they experience diving as a diver.

What if they want to dive in Indonesia, Antigua, Barbuda, Belize, Dominica, Egypt, Grenada, Jamaica, Malaysia, the Maldives, Myanmar, Palau, Paupa New Guinea, Samoa, the Seychelles, the Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Trinidad, Tobago orTuvalu?

Homosexuality is illegal in all of those countries. Yeah, maybe they would be fine. Or maybe some local hotshot wants to make a point by arresting "criminals", or worse? It's actually a capital crime in Mauritania, but I hear that they have nice reefs.

So just because you personally don't see any problem, doesn't mean that anyone who does is making "much ado about nothing".

 

[El Hefe 612]

What if they want to dive in Indonesia, Antigua, Barbuda, Belize, Dominica, Egypt, Grenada, Jamaica, Malaysia, the Maldives, Myanmar, Palau, Paupa New Guinea, Samoa, the Seychelles, the Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Trinidad, Tobago orTuvalu?

Homosexuality is illegal in all of those countries. Yeah, maybe they would be fine. Or maybe some local hotshot wants to make a point by arresting "criminals", or worse? It's actually a capital crime in Mauritania, but I hear that they have nice reefs.

So just because you personally don't see any problem, doesn't mean that anyone who does is making "much ado about nothing".

Thank you! You touch on a main point that has a direct impact on my ability to dive safely. I appreciate it.

 

[The Chairman]

We are moving ahead with the creation of the forum, but are not creating a group. Once we have a great description and a great welcome post, you'll see the forum appear and we'll post a link here. First rule of Scuba applies: Don't hold your breath! I'm travelling to N Florida and I'm the one to create the forum.

Paging @Dr. Buzzetta ... please check your personal messages!

 

[Storker]

if you and your boyfriend are on a dive boat with me and you give each other a little kissy kissy, I could not possibly care less.

Well, there's the difference. Too many people would care - and take offense - if two of the same gender showed affection. Even now, in the 21st century. Deplorable, but true

 

[Lorenzoid]

Ok I have reset the poll and recalibrated the options to get a more nuanced take on the general feeling of the members.

Since the poll is anonymous, why isn't the obvious (well, to me) option included: "This would be useful to me." Isn't that the bottom line? Whether such a forum is going to see any use? Are the people who answered "yes" doing it because they are SB members who think they might participate or at least learn something from reading it, or are some people answering "yes" because they feel like it's the right answer? I suppose it doesn't really matter, as there is no harm in creating it, and seeing how much use it gets. As I said earlier, if there is enough demand for a new forum of any kind, it seems reasonable to me to create it.

I voted "I have no problem either way," though I wasn't sure how that's different from "abstain."

 

[CptTightPants21]

You know what really annoys me. This OP has 7 posts and they are all in this thread, he hasn't posted any scuba specific question. In fact, his profile says he isnt' even certified yet. He joins and immediately asks for a safe space, like this entire website isn't safe.

PS- great job on diluting the poll and making it worthless.