The World Used To Be Black & White

I was recently in a group with a few friends, and when I said, “This is an LGBTQ+ safe space.” little did I know it would spark an entire discussion. During the discussion, one of the participants stated that the world used to be simpler before the queer communities created so many different identities. Is this the right narrative to take?

As a member of the queer community, I never questioned whether or not these identities were excessive; I simply accepted them. However, as the conversation progressed, I realised why I had never questioned the narrative, and why others in the queer community may never understand why they are required. As we mature as a society and gain a better understanding of certain issues, the way we discuss them will evolve. The more queer identities that are discovered are simply a reflection of us as a society evolving to become more inclusive. I understand that it can be difficult to keep up with; I, too, am often surprised by the various genders and sexualities that exist, but in the same breath, these identities provide safe spaces for people. I recall discovering the word queer and how at ease it felt in comparison to the identities I had previously. It is natural for a cisgender heterosexual man who is the norm in society to question why it is necessary to create spaces that they do not understand. However, I believe that the notion that the queer community is responsible for making the world more difficult is incorrect. The world was never black and white, and the notion that it ever was is simply not one I believe in. Our world has never been one thing or the other all of the time. Additionally, creating these spaces does not detract from what it was or will be in the future. As I write this, I recall a quote from my ethics lecturer: "the world isn't black or white, but a shade of grey."