Happy Pride Month FAN! 🏳️‍🌈

[Venti]

I didn't see a thread created, so I thought what the heck I'll make one.

Happy pride to all the LGBTQ homies

[Zaq "That Guy" Buzzkill]

This thread is gay.

[y4j1981]

[Jumpin' Jesse Walsh]

I’m so frickin’ gay. Like painfully gay. I took a Tylenol this morning because I’m so gay that it’s giving me headaches.

[y4j1981]

[Cyno]

This thread's probably as good a place as any to talk about this.

So, when I was talking to some friends about characters' sexual and romantic orientations in the video game "Hades," we talked about the different kinds of loves out there in the classical Greek sense. Concepts like Agape, Eros, Storge, and Philia. And I talked about how much the concept of Philia (which has a lot to do with the concept of friendship love) means to me as a kind of love, even more than romantic love.

Then it hit me and it made me re-examine my romantic history. I've had two serious girlfriends in my life. Both of my romantic relationships have come from women I had considered really close friends and had years of friendship with. I've always been on a handful of dates outside of those relationships and I found them really taxing and unenjoyable. If it's going out with a friend or friends, it's great. I have a fun time. But if it's with someone I barely know, I'm miserable. Combined with the pressure from my parents to eventually get married and have children (and I'm not sure I ever want to do the latter even if I'm able to get the former), and it's been a big source of long-term stress in my life.

So I went to go research things on the romantic spectrum. I've fallen in romantic love with people before, so I'm not aromantic. But like there's a spectrum between sexuality and asexuality, it isn't just a binary between romantic and aromatic orientations. So I looked into that grey area. I found a term that stuck out to me: demiromanticism. A demiromantic person can be romantically attracted to someone, but only if they already have a strong emotional bond with said person. It felt like the fog had been lifted and I learned something about myself that was hidden away for over 30 years. With it came a new sense of self.

And to think it all came from talking about relationships between characters from a roguelike loosely based on Greek mythology. And they say video games don't have a positive influence on people.

I've told some friends and while I've had to answer some awkward questions, I knew they came from a place of curiosity and ignorance and not with any ill intent. Hell, it's not something I knew much about until late last year so yeah. I still haven't told my parents yet. I'm a little scared with how they react. They told me they'd accept me if I was gay or trans because that's something more out in the public consciousness (pun not intended) and easier to learn about and understand. But identities from the ace-aro spectrum don't seem to be as understood amongst the mainstream. I've seen aromantic and grey romantic people stereotyped as heartless or unable to care about others when that's the furthest thing from the truth. I have a lot of platonic love and empathy for others. Just because it isn't romantic doesn't make it any less valid or strong. But I do think they'll come around eventually.

So yeah. This is my coming out on this corner of the internet. My name is Matt, and I'm demiromantic.

[Muskrat]

Jun 1, 2021 16:37:40 GMT -5 Zaq "That Guy" Buzzkill said:

This thread is gay.

F***, wasn’t expecting this and it made me laugh. Happy Pride month to people on here, someday I’ll figure out where I fit into things, but for now I’ll just be well wisher!

[FinalGwen]

Happy Pride, all. <3

It's a weird one this year, between pride marches not being an option until later in the year, and things being started off with a media attack on Stonewall and trans people, doesn't feel like there's as much to celebrate in the UK atm. But Pride began as a protest/riot, so I guess just gotta keep up that energy. And in the meantime, we can do all we can to be visible, fight exclusion/bigotry, and stand shoulder to shoulder supporting each other.

[Muskrat]

Jun 1, 2021 19:10:58 GMT -5 Cyno said:

This thread's probably as good a place as any to talk about this.

So, when I was talking to some friends about characters' sexual and romantic orientations in the video game "Hades," we talked about the different kinds of loves out there in the classical Greek sense. Concepts like Agape, Eros, Storge, and Philia. And I talked about how much the concept of Philia (which has a lot to do with the concept of friendship love) means to me as a kind of love, even more than romantic love.

Then it hit me and it made me re-examine my romantic history. I've had two serious girlfriends in my life. Both of my romantic relationships have come from women I had considered really close friends and had years of friendship with. I've always been on a handful of dates outside of those relationships and I found them really taxing and unenjoyable. If it's going out with a friend or friends, it's great. I have a fun time. But if it's with someone I barely know, I'm miserable. Combined with the pressure from my parents to eventually get married and have children (and I'm not sure I ever want to do the latter even if I'm able to get the former), and it's been a big source of long-term stress in my life.

So I went to go research things on the romantic spectrum. I've fallen in romantic love with people before, so I'm not aromantic. But like there's a spectrum between sexuality and asexuality, it isn't just a binary between romantic and aromatic orientations. So I looked into that grey area. I found a term that stuck out to me: demiromanticism. A demiromantic person can be romantically attracted to someone, but only if they already have a strong emotional bond with said person. It felt like the fog had been lifted and I learned something about myself that was hidden away for over 30 years. With it came a new sense of self.

And to think it all came from talking about relationships between characters from a roguelike loosely based on Greek mythology. And they say video games don't have a positive influence on people.

I've told some friends and while I've had to answer some awkward questions, I knew they came from a place of curiosity and ignorance and not with any ill intent. Hell, it's not something I knew much about until late last year so yeah. I still haven't told my parents yet. I'm a little scared with how they react. They told me they'd accept me if I was gay or trans because that's something more out in the public consciousness (pun not intended) and easier to learn about and understand. But identities from the ace-aro spectrum don't seem to be as understood amongst the mainstream. I've seen aromantic and grey romantic people stereotyped as heartless or unable to care about others when that's the furthest thing from the truth. I have a lot of platonic love and empathy for others. Just because it isn't romantic doesn't make it any less valid or strong. But I do think they'll come around eventually.

So yeah. This is my coming out on this corner of the internet. My name is Matt, and I'm demiromantic.

f*** me, wish I had read this before I made my post. This feels ALOT like how I’ve been feeling about life lately. Definitely some things I still haven’t quite figured out even at 35, but what you posted…. Makes a lot sense to me.

[Mozenrath]

Nonbinary and bi. These are not contradictory, even if the names sorta make it sound like they'd be.

Jun 1, 2021 19:21:28 GMT -5 FinalGwen said:

Happy Pride, all. <3

It's a weird one this year, between pride marches not being an option until later in the year, and things being started off with a media attack on Stonewall and trans people, doesn't feel like there's as much to celebrate in the UK atm. But Pride began as a protest/riot, so I guess just gotta keep up that energy. And in the meantime, we can do all we can to be visible, fight exclusion/bigotry, and stand shoulder to shoulder supporting each other.

Yeah, sometimes with pride comes wrath, as it has to be until things are put right.

[Venti]

Jun 1, 2021 19:32:40 GMT -5 Mozenrath said:

Nonbinary and bi. These are not contradictory, even if the names sorta make it sound like they'd be.

Jun 1, 2021 19:21:28 GMT -5 FinalGwen said:

Happy Pride, all. <3

It's a weird one this year, between pride marches not being an option until later in the year, and things being started off with a media attack on Stonewall and trans people, doesn't feel like there's as much to celebrate in the UK atm. But Pride began as a protest/riot, so I guess just gotta keep up that energy. And in the meantime, we can do all we can to be visible, fight exclusion/bigotry, and stand shoulder to shoulder supporting each other.

Yeah, sometimes with pride comes wrath, as it has to be until things are put right.

Also nonbinary and bi! It's true, it's pretty common for people to get confused by that. I didn't even understand until not that long ago

[Phosphor Glow]

Jun 1, 2021 16:23:44 GMT -5 gurryman said:

Hell yeah! Appreciate you making this thread. Now let's see how corporate America tries to market themselves towards us! f***ers!

Raytheon has already done it, so I think we've peaked, can't really get a lot worse than that.

[ayumidah]

Happy Pride! I'm 34, and this feels like the first year where I have any sort of an idea where I stand re: orientation/gender. But it's a process and I'm still figuring stuff out too. Still, further than I have been.

[thechase]

The follow up to Mr. Burns book

"There Forever Is A Rainbow", entirely written by Smithers

[Glitch]

I commend the bravery of those coming out.

[Muskrat]

You’re all good people. Not just the ones in this thread, not just those who had the bravery to choose this thread to come out. All of you, every single person on F.A.N who is loving this thread, loving all you for who you are. Divorce, miscarriage, god only knows how many friends gone before 40, and me sitting here not entirely sure who I am or who I want to be but you guys have been here. I f***ing love this place so much because you have no idea how many times I’ve figuratively pulled the shotgun out of my mouth from talking to you folk. Thank you, love you. Everyone be good to each other.


EDIT: Yikes, that could be misconstrued. Nobody needs to worry about me, I love you all. I’m definitely a little drunk, but I’m safe and happy. Hope that post didn’t imply any different

[Push R Truth]

I'm just a big fan of anything that allows people to be themselves and find happiness.


Unless it involves Arby's

[Sephiroth]

Jun 1, 2021 16:37:40 GMT -5 Zaq "That Guy" Buzzkill said:

This thread is gay.

Of course it is! And if you follow the board rules, don't cross the mods, and live clean you can be happy and gay too!
See you next time on-THE AMBIGUOUSLY GAY FAN THREAD!!!

[Allison Reynolds]

Yes-sir! Happy Pride Month my LGBTQIA+ Babes/Allies/Family/Community. Love ya.

[mc74]

Happy pride month to the members of the LGBTQ community, and much respect to the people who open up about this sort of thing.