Solved: LGBTQIA people. Is there a need for a sub-forum?

[El Hefe 612]

Okay… First, I know I'm new here. Second, I'm genuinely curious. And third, I read the entire 18-page thread of the "LGBTQ Divers?" question. As a openly gay, married man I would love to have a place to connect with other gay men, women, and like-minded individuals to discuss dive travel opportunities, to find dive buddies without having to worry about whether or not they might have a problem with me, and to feel comfortable talking about things that might impact us.


If possible, I'd like to have a board created under Non-Geographic Clubs called:


LGBTQIA Divers and Their Friends


I have spent the past week-and-a-half searching the internet (and this board) for such clubs, and I was surprised how lacking they were. It's been six years since the original question was posted in the thread referenced above. I know if I'm interested, that there are probably many others who would be too, but they may just be afraid to ask. Many of the responses in the thread above were not very understanding of what it is like living as an LGBTQIA individual in a predominantly heteronormative global society. Having such a space is not about excluding anyone, it's about having space where we don't have to worry about being who we are and can focus on what we love - diving (among many other things).


Thanks!

 

[RainPilot]

When you're aromatic like the wook, then aromantic definitely springs to mind.

Post of the day

 

[El Hefe 612]

As the OP did not mention he was a diver/getting certified until a later post, my first impression is that he had come to SB to push an agenda. I've come across enough of that sort who don't let you forget they are [insert group/ethnicity/whatever of your choice] that I'm extrmemely suspiciois of motives. First post on SB is pushing for an LBTQ sub-scoring with no mention of being a diver? You can see where some of us thought this was going.

Can someone direct me to the correct forum to ask about a local dive club that might fit with aspects of who I am? I'm looking for:

Minneapolis LGBTQIA Diving Club
Minneapolis Gay Diver Bears
Minneapolis Pagan Diving Club
Minneapolis Dork Divers
Minneapolis Grumpy Old Divers
Minneapolis Divers With Disabilities

That's what I was originally browsing for. I thought it might be a comfortable way to meet like-minded divers. Sorry for that hidden agenda of wanting to meet people and find a local mentor with whom I might be comfortable. I had spent many hours browsing before I decided to suggest an LGBTQIA Divers forum since I didn't find any local clubs showing in Minneapolis. The closest was the Great Lakes Dives Clubs and Groups page, but I didn't know if that would be the best place to ask for a new local forum or if I should focus on asking for an LGBTQIA Divers forum in the non-regional area. I don't see anything obviously listed for Minneapolis.

 

[KeithG]

Can someone direct me to the correct forum to ask about a local dive club that might fit with aspects of who I am? I'm looking for:

Minneapolis LGBTQIA Diving Club
Minneapolis Gay Diver Bears
Minneapolis Pagan Diving Club
Minneapolis Dork Divers
Minneapolis Grumpy Old Divers
Minneapolis Divers With Disabilities

That's what I was originally browsing for. I thought it might be a comfortable way to meet like-minded divers. Sorry for that hidden agenda of wanting to meet people and find a local mentor with whom I might be comfortable. I had spent many hours browsing before I decided to suggest an LGBTQIA Divers forum since I didn't find any local clubs showing in Minneapolis. The closest was the Great Lakes Dives Clubs and Groups page, but I didn't know if that would be the best place to ask for a new local forum or if I should focus on asking for an LGBTQIA Divers forum in the non-regional area. I don't see anything obviously listed for Minneapolis.

Try posting in the "New Divers and Those Considering Diving".

 

[tridacna]

Can someone direct me to the correct forum to ask about a local dive club that might fit with aspects of who I am? I'm looking for:

Minneapolis LGBTQIA Diving Club
Minneapolis Gay Diver Bears
Minneapolis Pagan Diving Club
Minneapolis Dork Divers
Minneapolis Grumpy Old Divers
Minneapolis Divers With Disabilities

That's what I was originally browsing for. I thought it might be a comfortable way to meet like-minded divers. Sorry for that hidden agenda of wanting to meet people and find a local mentor with whom I might be comfortable. I had spent many hours browsing before I decided to suggest an LGBTQIA Divers forum since I didn't find any local clubs showing in Minneapolis. The closest was the Great Lakes Dives Clubs and Groups page, but I didn't know if that would be the best place to ask for a new local forum or if I should focus on asking for an LGBTQIA Divers forum in the non-regional area. I don't see anything obviously listed for Minneapolis.

You're getting the forum section you wanted. Focus on that. Stop feeding the trolls.

 

[bowlofpetunias]

I have been participating in the back room discussion on this but not online long enough to keep up on the public forums lately.

@Dr. Buzzetta I would personally like thank you for stepping forward to show us the gap in our forum list. At this point I do not have time to read the entire thread before posting as is my usual practice.

IMHO there is clearly a need. It can only be a positive thing for SB allowing us to meet the needs of more of our community better. We expect members to find and post in Forums that are appropriate for them as long as it fits ToS. If the topic of a thread or forum is not relative to them they have many other options. In this case this option didn't exist but should.

 

[BDSC]

And I don't know the best way to find a safe mentor with whom I can trust my life considering the fact that I am gay.

I guess I know maybe 15 to 20 different instructors. Some I know very well and are close friends and some are more casual acquaintances. I don't know a single one that you couldn't trust your life with if you took lessons from them. They won't care that you are gay. As a matter of fact, I doubt it will ever come up unless you bring it up.

 

[Stoo]

I have no issue with a sub forum, but I believe your community would be better served having your own forum of its own....why don't you start a dedicated V Bulletin?

The obvious reason is that SB is already the definitive diving forum. The OP is only asking for a small section dedicated to his specific community. To create a whole new forum seems like a dramatic solution to a tiny problem.

I think it's a great idea to create a subforum. If it's not popular, it will wither and die.

To the OP: would you want this subforum to be closed? If it was, would "closeted" members be more or less likely to participate. I'm asking for a friend. Honest. ;-)

 

[joe10540]

@Dr. Buzzetta why narrow your search down to just Minneapolis? Diving is a great excuse to travel and almost any diver on SB will tell you it's more about the instructor than the course. I understand having some anxiety about finding an instructor that you feel comfortable with. If you ask for recommendations for an instructor and seeing as an OW class can be had in a long weekend I think you'll find almost more options for instructors than you'd want to have to call and interview.

Welcome to diving and remember it's supposed to be fun!

 

[El Hefe 612]

@Dr. Buzzetta why narrow your search down to just Minneapolis? Diving is a great excuse to travel and almost any diver on SB will tell you it's more about the instructor than the course. I understand having some anxiety about finding an instructor that you feel comfortable with. If you ask for recommendations for an instructor and seeing as an OW class can be had in a long weekend I think you'll find almost more options for instructors than you'd want to have to call and interview.

Welcome to diving and remember it's supposed to be fun!

Thanks! I get together with various groups here in the Twin Cities (Minneapolis/St. Paul) for different things:

Minneapolis Movie Bears
Men's Knit Night
Stitch 'n Bitch (Sewing) with my gal pals
Twin Cities Pagans
(and many more)

I just thought a Twin Cities Gay Bears or Divers With Needles diving group might be fun and combine some of my various passions, and having a local group will make it easier to go diving frequently in our 10,000+ lakes. I also hope to do more dive-specific travel to many destinations and meet fun new friends across the globe. My husband and I travel frequently to the US Virgin Islands, and I have done extensive snorkeling there. Being able to see the coral reefs from afar make me crave diving so much more. I finally decided I had to act and move forward (and I can finally afford to do so). Being that diving is fairly social, it would be fun to have a few groups centered on some of my other interests - knitters and divers group maybe

Can't wait to meet some of you face-to-face. I'm super excited.

 

[TheCoolBeans]

Lesbian here.... I initially voted that i 'don't mind either way', but then i got thinking and thought, 'huh i don't really care if there was a specific LGBT forum, however i think i would mind if it were decided specifically that there shouldn't be one'.

I don't think gender or sexuality really comes into most hobbies or past-times, apart from the social aspect side of things.

So i changed my vote to 'Don't see a need but won't object'.