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24 Microaggressions Endured by LGBT Folks

By Neal Broverman
The giggles heard during a cinematic same-sex love scene.
The giggles heard during a cinematic same-sex love scene.
Holding your partner's hand and people staring like they just saw Lady Godiva ride down the street naked.
Holding your partner's hand and people staring like they just saw Lady Godiva ride down the street naked.
Straight people telling a story involving the F bomb and feeling free to just drop the word themselves.
Straight people telling a story involving the F bomb and feeling free to just drop the word themselves.
Being forced to get a hotel room for a family wedding because your partner's nana isn't comfortable with two men sharing a bed in her home.
Being forced to get a hotel room for a family wedding because your partner's nana isn't comfortable with two men sharing a bed in her home.
Daring to ever read YouTube comments.
Daring to ever read YouTube comments.
Being told you don't
Being told you don't "act gay" or "look trans" as if it's an accomplishment.
Parents/relatives/strangers telling you you're only bisexual because you
Parents/relatives/strangers telling you you're only bisexual because you "haven't met the right man yet."
Kissing your partner or spouse and people rolling their eyes, while straight couples slobber over each other and no one reacts.
Kissing your partner or spouse and people rolling their eyes, while straight couples slobber over each other and no one reacts.
Hearing,
Hearing, "Oh, you're gay? Do you know John Smith? He's gay too!"
As a gay or bi man, being asked for shopping advice. Some of us would rather be playing football than cruising Nordstrom Rack.
As a gay or bi man, being asked for shopping advice. Some of us would rather be playing football than cruising Nordstrom Rack.
Family members always assuming you'll be the ones to travel for holidays —
Family members always assuming you'll be the ones to travel for holidays — "All you gays have a lot of money, right? You don't have any kids, it's no big deal, right?"
Hearing
Hearing "If you weren't gay, I'd totally hook up with you."
As a virgin, being asked,
As a virgin, being asked, "How do you know if you're queer if you've never had sex?" We're sure.
Being asked why a
Being asked why a "pretty girl like you" is a lesbian.
People snickering when they hear you're LGBT and attend a church, synagogue, or mosque.
People snickering when they hear you're LGBT and attend a church, synagogue, or mosque.
Being informed as a gay parent that
Being informed as a gay parent that "You're so brave!" when it actually means "You're so unusual."
Hearing your outfit is
Hearing your outfit is "so gay." Is that a negative?
Talking about politics with your drunk uncle and he says,
Talking about politics with your drunk uncle and he says, "You people have marriage, what else do you want?"
Seeing every billboard and advertisement depict straight couples as the only option.
Seeing every billboard and advertisement depict straight couples as the only option.
Being told it's so cliche that you like Lady Gaga or Beyonce. Hey, the whole world likes these women.
Being told it's so cliche that you like Lady Gaga or Beyonce. Hey, the whole world likes these women.
Snuggling with your female partner and straight men looking at you like you're filming
Snuggling with your female partner and straight men looking at you like you're filming "Blue Is the Warmest Color."
Feeling pressured to wear skirts and heels, since that's the narrow view of femininity.
Feeling pressured to wear skirts and heels, since that's the narrow view of femininity.
Having your life being used as a cheap political ploy by a cynical right-wing politician.
Having your life being used as a cheap political ploy by a cynical right-wing politician.
Straight bros assuming you're checking them out if you look their way at the gym.
Straight bros assuming you're checking them out if you look their way at the gym.
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Tags: Commentary, Slideshow, Health
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