Ask Lemmy

I’m honestly baffled by what just happened after my last post. I shared a story about someone very close to me, and how proud I am of them for finding the courage to embrace their identity. I thought it was important to stand up for people who are often misunderstood or dismissed, especially during Pride Month. But it seems like things quickly took a turn I didn’t expect.

The response to my post was honestly overwhelming mostly in a negative way. I was downvoted into oblivion, and some people seemed to think it was all just bait. Which… I didn’t expect at all. My friend’s story is real, and it’s personal. She’s someone who’s gone through a lot of internal struggles and has found a sense of peace and authenticity that I truly admire. Yet, when I tried to share that, it seems some of you Lemmings didn’t take it well. I’ve been trying to make sense of it. I genuinely don’t understand why people would respond this way when the post was meant to be supportive. The level of hostility and outright rejection was… well, surprising. This isn’t the first time I’ve seen a strong pushback against people embracing their identities, but to this extent? It’s disheartening.

For context: my friend has been a vocal supporter of multiple marginalized communities, and I’ve seen firsthand how hard she’s worked to validate and support others, especially those who are trans and transracial. To see her courage being attacked like this just doesn’t sit right with me. What happened to just supporting people, regardless of how they identify or how their experience manifests? I understand that not everyone may agree with certain perspectives, but the extreme negativity seems out of place. I thought this community was about empathy, openness, and understanding. When did it become acceptable to shut people down for sharing their lived experiences? Anyway, I’m not here to start any fights, I just want to understand. Why is it that when someone stands up for themselves and others, they’re immediately dismissed or vilified? What happened to kindness and mutual respect?