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!

 

[lionfish-eater]

If you would like a recommendation for a dive shop in twin town, I suggest FantaSea divers in Long Lake. I would stay away from A Divers World(Whirled). PM if you need details.

 

[Bob DBF]

You cannot both isolate and integrate. You have to choose.

Although I agree with the sentiment, having a forum to start from connects members to use the greater ScubaBoard and thereby integrate into the community. My start was Solo divers, without that I might have left the board. Now solo divers forum is used a a lot less because solo is now an accepted topic throughout SB.

I voted that I didn't see the need but don't object, your comment made me remember how useful that forum was to me when I became a member. Now I see how there may be a need. In any event it is now going to happen so the thread will continue further into the beating a dead horse territory.


Bob

 

[RayfromTX]

Being able to let your guard down in a world where you usually have to have your guard up is special. When I hang with my gay friends in a setting where I am the only hetero male or one of a few, the fun level is higher than when I am in a typical group. I suspect that is a result of the relief of a burden that is temporarily not there. Kind of like the feeling of the weekend or a vacation. Things are just more comfortable and enjoyable. It doesn't mean you want to live in a perpetual weekend, just that having one is important sometimes.

 

[diver0008]

If this was any other special interest group asking for a subforum e.g. Schoolteachers, airline pilots, serving military, people who live far from the ocean etc would we even be having this discussion?

Yes, I think so, nothwithstanding the total absence of the hypothetical you suggest.

I would, as I do here, ask why?

As in, how does being a teacher, pilot, soldier, etc. make diving any differerent than for an engineer, plumber, or dentist?

How does what they do for a living make them any different when we all get on a boat to go jump in the water?

And specifically in regards to people's sexual orientation, how does what they do in the bedroom make them likewise different?

I surmise that it does not.

Maybe it's just me, but I don't make any judgements about what people do for a living, or who they sleep with, when I'm diving with my fellow lovers of the seas.

The same goes for what race they are or what religion they practice.

I don't see how it is, or should be relevant to the activity of diving, and my experience is that the vast majority of the most excellent strain of people who love diving don't either.

I do however see the divisive effects of the assertion of immutable identities.

All this having been said, I would of course not oppose in any way any subforum for anyone that wants to group identify.

(not holding out on a subforum for straight white vegetarian electricians with bad eyesight and a sore back)

 

[84CJ7]

I don't see any reason why not to add it, go for it.
I understand that some may see it as divisive but if the people that want the forum don't see it that way I am willing to roll with it. Its not like they are excluding anyone.

Some thoughts on issues like this.

I used to live in the twin cities suburbs in MN myself. Now I live in a one horse hickdom off in rural Wisconsin. I can tell you for a fact that the vast majority of native (as in born and raised here) people out here are exactly one generation behind their city counterparts in every way. In other words think of your parents and that's how everyone your own age is when you move from the cities to here.
Now stop and think about how recent stonewall was (look up a documentary if you don't know) and you can understand why so many people can't keep up with the changing ways of thinking.

It also doesn't help that people only really got any idea there was a big world with other ways of thinking out there when the internet came along which is still in the process of happening out here believe it or not.
The best way I can describe it is the scene from blues brothers where they ask the woman in the country bar what kind of music they play and she replies: "Oh we got 'both' kinds, country 'and' western.
It's not the fact that they like their way of life and thinking, it's that they are unaware there is any other option.

Personally if I were part of the LGB crowd I would let the other letters fend for themselves as you seem to ask mostly for just acceptance whereas some of those other groups are really doing a spectacular job of generating critical backlash by wanting accommodation which really sets people's butt on fire if they didn't approve of the group in the first place.
I find that many people are happy to live and let live and will at worst be cordial if not friendly to you, but balk when you ask them to change or accommodate someone else with a special room, be it for chat, prayer or pissing in a pot.

 

[diver0008]

White privilege

Aw jeez man, now why do you have to go and drop that?

 

[diver0008]

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. ".

Whether you are a diver or not.

It is irrelevant.

 

[diver0008]

I simply requested a safe space

"White privilege", "safe space"....I do hope that my response does not trigger you as a microagression, but do you really feel that Scubaboard is in ANY way unsafe for you?

 

[AdivingBel]

...do you really feel that Scubaboard is in ANY way unsafe for you?

At first blush I would have said no. After reading some of the posts and given we are now 17 pages into a thread about creating a sub-forum...well, maybe, a qualified YES. I know, I know, but, but, but...

 

[diver0008]

At first blush I would have said no. After reading some of the posts and given we are now 17 pages into a thread about creating a sub-forum...well, maybe, a qualified YES. I know, I know, but, but, but...

None of the posts that I have read seem to me to be in any way agressive, insulting, or demeaning. Quite the contrary. Even opposition to the idea has been generally polite and sincere. The request for a "safe space" implies that SB is not one presently. I respectfully disagree with that premise. I see no evidence of it anywhere, even with the risk that the seeping in of identity politics creates.

I suppose a "safe space" is one where there is no dissent, no disagreement, and uniformity of opinion. If that is indeed what it is, then I suppose that SB is not one, and thank Neptune; that sounds exceedingly boring.