Gather round! This piece is an essential LGBTQ+ interactive session.
Many members of the LGBTQ+ community often interpret questions directed at them as offensive. While some questions are offensive, there should not be an emphasis on eliminating the questions.
Eliminating questions can have some severe consequences for us.
This piece will explore some of the consequences of eliminating questions and canceling the people who ask them. Eventually, it makes sense to create better ways to intentionally handle people who ask offensive, non-directional questions without damaging anything else.
People are Gonna Stop Asking Questions
We do not want that at all! Imagine that none of the people who existed before we were born asked questions; more than half the innovation we see around us today would not exist either.
Questions are how we learn anything. I don’t just mean anything important; I mean anything at all.
We should rethink canceling people who ask questions because the more people are canceled, the less interested they are to ask questions.
…and truth is, some people have a genuine interest in learning from their questions.
It’s a Terrible, One-Size-Fits-All Solution
No one ever benefited from a one-size-fits-all solution. Even in situations where it seems like a one-size-fits-all or universal solution seems suitable, a unique customized solution can come in and disrupt everything.
It’s a simple part of our lives; the more unique and customized something is, the more effective and appealing. So, why not here too?
While we can agree that some people set out to insult members of the LGBTQ+ community and hide behind weird questions, we can also agree that many people genuinely just wanna know. Often, they’re not even aware that they’re being offensive.
Shouldn’t there be a sort of separation between the two?
I’d vote a yes to that!
Learning stops, then Progress too.
So, we agree that people with genuine questions exist, right?
Great!
Picture that: we cancel them along with all the rude, unprogressive people who would prefer to insult the LGBTQ+ community indirectly.
What happens next is that no new minds are educated about the aspects of the LGBTQ+ community that they do not understand. Information exchange, one of the essential parts of human communication, is affected. Nothing is learned because everyone’s too afraid of asking something to gain some more clarity.
Talk about the Dark Ages.
Unseen Mental Health Consequences
We exist and use the same social platforms, most of the time. The chances are that we’re building a following and social media means different things to us, namely a place to have our voices, views, and opinions heard.
Having your voice canceled can have a negative emotional impact, especially if none of the questions you ask are intended to displease or offend. This reality is true for everyone, members of the LGBTQ+ community included.
If canceling anyone can negatively impact anyone any day, why frame it as necessary just because the people involved are a minority?
That is a great question that I hope we can think about deeply!
We Should Make It Safe to Ask Questions
Progress is something everyone desires, and answers bring progress. You and I are likely focused on moving at least one step forward every new day, and we can apply this same awareness to the questions people have for us.
Why not make it safe to ask questions by not canceling people for it?
Think about it!