Is it difficult being gay?

Question

I mean this in the nicest way. Does it pose any challenges/hardships?

Answer 1

Being gay is definitely difficult. From the moment we come out to the moment we die we face constant hardships and challenges. Not only do we risk being teased, harassed, and assaulted, but we are unable to get even the most basic rights. We are discriminated against at every turn, but the hardships that we face as a gay community will only make us stronger in the end.

Answer 2

We get abused and discriminated against, that much is true.
If I was straight, I'm sure people could still find something to persecute me for, so I don't look at being gay as difficult.
I feel it is a privilege to be gay because I challenge the ability to accept of others. I know I am grateful to people who have taught me to be more tolerant and understanding of people I didn't understand along the way. It is a growth experience.

Answer 3

I heard a gay guy say that sometimes it is a pain in the ***. HAHAHAHA. Sorry about that. I just couldn't help myself. OF course it poses challenges and hardships of all kinds. You have to deal with your family and with friends and then co-workers and the public in general. Then you have to question yourself sometimes of the why and hows of your choices. Just like everyone else that lives in this world. You choose and learn.

Answer 4

Is it difficult being incredibly naive? I suspect its actually less difficult. ::sigh::

Institutional oppression on every level (federal government, state government, local government, employment, living situations, availability of services), and sometimes you don't even know if something's available to you or not. There's the daily hatred of individuals; the verbal stuff you need to learn to laugh at because it's SO common you'd cry otherwise, there's the general fear of straight men (particularly when they're drunk), there's generic minority stress, there's the intense panic when one frat boy calls "FAG!" (is he talking about his buddy, or me?), there's the personal issues of trying to feel good about yourself when an entire world is telling you you're nothing, you're immoral, you're sick, you're deficient, you're disgusting, you're unloveable. There's issues of representation for EVERY action you do, you ask yourself "Who's going to think I'm doing this just because I'm gay?". There's watching young het couples exploring each others' lungs on the street, whereas you'd get ridiculous amounts of harassment if you were just holding your boyfriend's hand on the same street. Just read through some of the other questions and answers in this section and you get the smallest taste of what people have to put up with.

And there's less of us when looking for people to date.

Answer 5

The hardest part for me is the feeling I have let my parents down. I think all parents dream of the day when their children go off and get married and start a family. They have never given me any grief about being gay but i know deep down their heart is broken because I will never be able to give them grand kids to spoil and love. t tears me up sometimes.
All the rest like the stares, discrimination, and hate i have learned to live with. We can't let it get us down or we would all end up killing ourselves.

Answer 6

Yes, especially if u haven't come out of the closet yet. Definitely hard coz u have to hide your true self from family and friends.

Answer 7

it can be difficult being gay bc of judgemental people. they point, laugh, say things just because of someones choice. it almost sounds like when color was an issue just not as bad. if they can get past that or ignore those ppl that are judgemental then things will be fine.

Answer 8

oh my gosh YES! I have a gay daughter and people are so verbally abusive to her b/c of it. She has also been physically beaten up by two men b/c they didn't want to see her with her girlfriend. There is so much negative thinking about homosexuals and people are terribly closed minded.

Answer 9

Obviously there is a lot of discrimination and homophobia out there but for the most part, I dont find it too difficult. If you are open and out, it is pretty damn easy.

Answer 10

Yes and no. Yes because my best friend is gay and people make fun of him. I think that they aren't getting to know him. No because there are others out there like you. I hope that answered your question.