Would a Gay man feel comfortable in PA?

I am a proud Hispanic....but have no issues in the fact that there is no "ongoing thread" about the Hispanic/Latino community on PA.

RayRo wrote: If PA wants to welcome Gays and Lesbians, it has to show more tolerance that simply saying we're welcome.

I think in that one line you assume a few things too many.

This is a site that welcome music fans with a certain affection for music that can be described as progressive rock. It is the taste in music that is the central concept, not who we are in our lives outside of that interest.

We could of course opens subject threads that welcomes gays, transgenders, abuse survivors, the physically challenged, short people, previous addicts, people with diabetes, overweight people, people suffering from various mental conditions etc. etc. etc. etc. - but when you start to define who is welcome, there will always be a group that would then feel they are not welcome. By not defining that any group is especially welcome, that's actually the most fair and tolerant treatment you could give anyone who belong to a category of people that have been or are the subject of various kinds of abuse in the world at large and thus feels or actually are in a vulnerable situation. This is, after all, a music forum, and the focus is on that.

If someone starts being abusive, it should be reported, so that the person or persons who do use the forum for abusive behavior will have to face the consequences of that.

And if anyone wants to start a discussion with the aim to form a group in here based on other matters than music, they are free to do so. With certain limitations of course, I sincerely doubt that any discussion seeking to assemble people aligned with the KKK would live for more than a few minutes before being banned from here to eternity - to put it that way. We're inclusive, but not that inclusive.

Catcher10 wrote: I am a proud Hispanic....but have no issues in the fact that there is no "ongoing thread" about the Hispanic/Latino community on PA. One beauty of an internet forum is that unless specifically stated, we have no clue of what gender, race, religion, sexual preference a member might have..Since I first joined PA in 2009 I have never felt unwelcome here, and I see no reason why you should. But if you feel the need to have an agenda on LGBT, please feel free to start a thread on it. Just so we are clear this site is a music site, first and foremost.......

At last, someone who's proud! Just kidding!

PA - 1
The "Everybody gets a trophy!" failed parenting generation - 0

RayRo wrote: RayRo wrote:   Prog Archives is not some bigoted discussion forum, but I feel that cultural norms and practices of the 20th Century, such welcoming gays but not actually discussing the "who, what, where and why's" is what is still dominant in the 21st Century for this site.   If PA wants to welcome Gays and Lesbians, it has to show more tolerance that simply saying we're welcome. If members can't read and understand a straight forward statement like my closing paragraph then, indeed, what more is there to say?

Believe me I read every word and I got the totality of it, which I think is one of the things that bothered me.   You point out PA is not some bigoted discussion forum ~ presumably like, what, Rednecks&Rifles.com ~ and then complain that isn't enough.   You want more, but then describe in vague, disappointed terms what exactly that means to you.   Those sorts of questions are what you could've posted and stimulated some interesting things rather than just pissed-off and adolescent disillusionment.  

Express yourself, anticipate all, create, progress, live.

RayRo wrote: Catcher10 wrote: I am a proud Hispanic....but have no issues in the fact that there is no "ongoing thread" about the Hispanic/Latino community on PA. One beauty of an internet forum is that unless specifically stated, we have no clue of what gender, race, religion, sexual preference a member might have..Since I first joined PA in 2009 I have never felt unwelcome here, and I see no reason why you should. But if you feel the need to have an agenda on LGBT, please feel free to start a thread on it. Just so we are clear this site is a music site, first and foremost.......  At last, someone who's proud! Just kidding!   I understand your message Catcher10 and will seriously think about what you have said.   That goes for Mr. Windhawk (?) too.

Atavachron wrote: RayRo wrote: RayRo wrote:   Prog Archives is not some bigoted discussion forum, but I feel that cultural norms and practices of the 20th Century, such welcoming gays but not actually discussing the "who, what, where and why's" is what is still dominant in the 21st Century for this site.   If PA wants to welcome Gays and Lesbians, it has to show more tolerance that simply saying we're welcome. If members can't read and understand a straight forward statement like my closing paragraph then, indeed, what more is there to say? Believe me I read every word and I got the totality of it, which I think is one of the things that bothered me.   You point out PA is not some bigoted discussion forum ~ presumably like, what, Rednecks&Rifles.com ~ and then complain that isn't enough.   You want more, but then describe in vague, disappointed terms what exactly that means to you.   Those sorts of questions are what you could've posted and stimulated some interesting things rather than just pissed-off and adolescent disillusionment.   Express yourself, anticipate all, create, progress, live.

I want more for the people here. Do you seriously think that these discussions ever start in a civilized manner or ever end in them as you have just ably demonstrated?

A Person wrote: RayRo wrote: For example, there was not  a single mention of a LGBT discussion group existing in any of the peripheral Prog Archives "non music" forums. There were "threads" that discussed everything from the 2015 NFL season to a non ending "thread" on Libertarianism. But no "thread" discussing Gay and Lesbian rights and their political concerns. Why? I have considered making one before, but I haven't because I haven't wanted one enough I guess. If you'd like one feel free to make one. It won't be private, but you can always ask for mod intervention if you feel it necessary. I've personally never seen any anti-LGBT sentiment anywhere on the site, and as far as LGBT oriented posts it's just not an issue that is explicitly brought up, due to it being a heavily music oriented site. It is occasionally brought up but it's never been negative as far as I can recall. I guess what I'm saying is that I'm not entirely sure what changes you would like to see on the site.

That LGBT persons have a common dialogue with each other and a possible support group setting.

RayRo wrote: Atavachron wrote: RayRo wrote: RayRo wrote:   Prog Archives is not some bigoted discussion forum, but I feel that cultural norms and practices of the 20th Century, such welcoming gays but not actually discussing the "who, what, where and why's" is what is still dominant in the 21st Century for this site.   If PA wants to welcome Gays and Lesbians, it has to show more tolerance that simply saying we're welcome. If members can't read and understand a straight forward statement like my closing paragraph then, indeed, what more is there to say? Believe me I read every word and I got the totality of it, which I think is one of the things that bothered me.   You point out PA is not some bigoted discussion forum ~ presumably like, what, Rednecks&Rifles.com ~ and then complain that isn't enough.   You want more, but then describe in vague, disappointed terms what exactly that means to you.   Those sorts of questions are what you could've posted and stimulated some interesting things rather than just pissed-off and adolescent disillusionment.   Express yourself, anticipate all, create, progress, live. I want more for the people here. Do you seriously think that these discussions ever start in a civilized manner or ever end in them as you have just ably demonstrated?   The important thing to me is to put the truth out there. If people can recognize it and change, then more power to them. If it falls on deaf ears or gets sidetracked, is there any loss?

I will take all that's been said to me and think about it. At least the stuff that wasn't too insulting. LOL.