This is a transcription of an Instagram post from @justsaysk.
I know this is an unpopular opinion in the queer community but I’ll always welcome igorance on my page.
Let me explain—
I see a lot of messages from fellow queer folks along the lines of “if you don’t embrace and accept the queer community and everyone in it you’re not safe here”
Which I agree with the sentiment of.
However there’s a big difference between simply not being exposed to the nuances of a community — leading to not understanding its inner workings vs being exposed to it and then choosing to be close-minded / queerphobic
This is hate vs ignorance
Hate is understandably intolerable. Ignorance, when put in the same category as hate, causes divides in our communities.
Everyone is born ignorant
You either are exposed to things and learn about them, lessening your ignorance, or you stay ignorant.
In the LGBTQ+ community we often talk about how lack of representation causes so many folks to remain unaware of the possibilities, delaying the formation of their queer identity
What we talk about less is the idea that if non queer folks aren’t exposed to proper education and resources about the queer community they will also remain unaware of queer culture — including appropriate terminology and treatment and how active allyship works.
I am not saying it is the queer community’s responsibility to “fix” ignorance, but what I am saying is that why wouldn’t we want to?
Ignorance is not equivalent to hate
I’ve aided in many cases of curious ignorance turning to teaching moments, ‘aha!’ moments, and even moments of self discovery on this page. Simply allowing folks to ask questions they were otherwise afraid to has opened their hearts and eyes to our community.
Next time you envounter something tha t you find to be ignorant, ask yourself if it feels as though it’s rooted in hate or just lack of knowledge.
If there’s no hate, there is room for love and understanding to grow — if only you’re willing to try.
How can you learn if you’re not safely welcomed to do so? 💭
In your best learning moments, I bet you felt safe. I bet you felt like you could ask anything, and your teacher wouldn’t come down on you for not knowing the information before it was taught to you. After all, how can you know what you don’t know?
This is the approach I take to queer education on this page and in my life. No, it is not your responsibility as a queer person to put up with hatred or educate others for free. But what if you took the time to try to find middle ground every now and then? What if it helped a parent accept their child? A teacher use more inclusive language? A neighbor learn how to better be an ally?
To me, that’s worth it. I invite you to try it sometime.
#acceptance #education #queer #queereducation #bethechange #teachablemoments #spreadjoy #spreadlove #middleground #findteachablemoments #gendereducation #queereducator #lgbt #inclusivity