Why The Internet Is So Special For LGBT People
The internet occupies a particularly prominent place in the hearts of queer people worldwide.
Ah, the internet. Home to the best, the worst, and the funniest things humanity has to offer. Heated political debates, information of all kinds and cat video compilations are plentiful in this wild digital world. For many people, the internet is also synonymous with entertainment in the form of social media and viral content or with tools that make life easier — such as email, which allows us to send messages and files to people anywhere in the world in seconds. For LGBTQ+ people, on the other hand, the internet often represents much more than just a place to find funny memes and chat with friends. The internet is a space where we find queer representation, much-needed advice and even life-long friendships and relationships. For young LGBTQ+ people growing up, the internet is one of the first places that tells them their identities are valid and that everything will be okay. It’s a place where they can be themselves free from judgment and danger. It’s worth it to take a moment and appreciate that such a space exists — all while remembering that we also need to keep working to improve the quality of life of LGBTQ+ people outside of the digital world.
Many LGBTQ+ people become aware of the value of the internet first when they question their identities in their teen years. A quick search on the internet could be the beginning of this awareness that one is gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender. Websites like Wikipedia, Quora and Tumblr, filled with user-contributed information about queer people, allow young people to learn about themselves and the LGBTQ+ community. Soon after reading and getting to know themselves, queer people will discover in the web that they are represented everywhere. Thanks to the internet, many young people discover that there are trans and queer people everywhere — as politicians, entertainers, athletes, journalists and any occupation one can think of, trans and queer people are thriving. This is a powerful message for someone who is just discovering oneself and feels isolated from their straight peers. Additionally, seeing queer people positively is imperative for young queer people who all their lives have seen the community depicted in a negative light.
Although much has been said about the ever-present dangers of cyber-bullying and the overwhelming negativity one can find online, there are also active spaces in the internet fighting against these issues. One such example is a forum dedicated to advising queer people who want to come out but don’t feel safe or confident enough to do it yet. More experienced queer people frequently advice queer people who haven’t come out and watch for their safety and well-being during this process. They also listen to their concerns regarding relationships and sex. Furthermore, plenty of kind people in social media are also willing to hear the concerns of other queer people and help as much as they can. There are organizations with an active presence online supporting trans and queer people in need of support. If you think of any issue affecting LGBTQ+ people, you are sure to have someone discussing it online. It may be hard to find allies in the real world sometimes, but in the web you’ll never run out of them.
I couldn’t end an article about why the internet is so special for the LGBTQ+ community without talking about dating, relationships, and sex. The fact that we are a minority makes dating harder. Getting to know other queer people, especially for people who live far from major urban centers, can be difficult. Luckily, dating apps and websites allow LGBTQ+ people to get other people in the community who live near them. From these interactions, anything from a hookup to a friendship or relationship may develop. Furthermore, it’s often through adult sites in the web that many LGBTQ+ people get to discover their sexuality. Seeing our sexual orientations represented in the erotic is also reassuring and helps us feel valid.
There are of course many spaces in the non-digital world where members of the LGBTQ+ can feel safe and appreciated and also interact with each other. Pride parades, LGBTQ+ clubs and organizations, gay neighborhoods, and LGBTQ+ bars and businesses are some settings where queer people can get to know each other and have fun safely. It’s definitely worth it to frequent these spaces and get to know our community. But for people who are barely exploring their sense of belonging to the community, the internet will hopefully remain a space that welcomes them and teaches them about themselves.
