"We look up at the same stars, and see such different things."

Networks:
♥


awbrainno:

There is a glitch in the matrix.

So, here’s the thing about Tumblr - it exists in the “real world.” Tumblr is a website populated by real people who live in the real world and have real opinions. The condescending “this wouldn’t happen in the real world” rhetoric isn’t useful or meaningful, because Tumblr really exists, and so does its user base, and this is the real world.

The cool thing about this is that any subject we’re passionate about on this site, chances are we’re just as passionate about them offline. Maybe we’re not as open about it for one reason or another, but the same beliefs and passions exist on and offline. Any argument, discussion, or debate I can have on this website, I can have almost verbatim offline, face-to-face with other people.

Well, almost any argument.

For the first time in my memory, there is something happening on Tumblr that doesn’t seem to be happening anywhere else in the world. There’s an argument, a rhetoric, a debate happening that only exists on this site, and which has never - this isn’t hyperbole, I mean it has literally not once, not ever - popped up in my life offline. Now, I can’t speak for everyone or anything like that, but I do my best to engage in all the social justice conversations and community issues I can get my hands on, so if an issue doesn’t exist in my radar at all, that’s a little weird.

While Tumblr has decided that the Hot New Discourse is, apparently, the two all-important issues of the “q-slur” and whether or not ace/aro people belong in the LGBT+ community, I have never once - not one time, not from anyone, not even in a passing comment - heard anyone offline mention either issue. Almost every LGBT+ community or resource center I’ve ever been to (and I’ve been to a lot, my identity is very important to me) is either called something like Spectrum or Prism or The Center (and trust me, they don’t ask for your identity at the door, they trust people to self-identify within the community), or they’re called things like “The LGBTQQIAA+ Resource Center” and they make a special effort to ensure that everyone knows they are included.

Everyone.

That acronym is a real acronym. It’s a common acronym. It stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer, Questioning, Intersex, Asexual, Allies, Etc. And it’s not meant to be a “blanket term” or encompass literally every identity, it’s just there to sort of provide a sweeping “yes, you belong here” statement to anyone who might doubt whether they belong to The Community.

So while this website goes on and on about the q-slur and the evil cishet aces and insists that these are Very Real Problems facing The Community, offline, The Community has continued to function as though this discourse is not taking place - mostly because offline, this discourse is not taking place. Community centers, university clubs, and pride groups are planning asexual-inclusive programming, and having Queer Proms and Queer-B-Q cookout dinners, and somehow, between the offline community an the online community, there exists a rift like nothing I’ve ever seen before.

Ultimately my point in making this post is just to reassure young queer and/or ace identified tumblr users. I’m sorry this online community isn’t treating you right. I’m sorry, you deserve better from us. I’m sorry this is happening. But offline, away from the hell website, no one is going to try to deny you entry to the community. You’re already in it. You have a home with us. You belong. You matter. An a bunch of angry internet shouting can’t take that away from you.

♔
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