Are LGBT people happier now than they were a hundred years ago?

[lewisnotmiller]

Not being killed would probably be a major improvement of one's quality of life, but your mileage may vary.

This is where travel is pretty interesting.
Going to countries where LGBT folk are suppressed, having some awareness of the underground communities and movements in those countries, etc...

The narrative pushed by some (like the OP) that homosexuality is now a disease spreading through society due to permissive laws is pretty ignorant.
It reminds me of when a Malaysian colleague tried convincing me there were no gay people in Malaysia because 'it's illegal'. Nevermind I'm almost certain 2 other people sitting in the room nodding along were gay.

 

[Rival]

When there was communism, they hid their private parts. Putting on clothes was still in.

Not true,

"Nudism was particularly popular in East Germany, or German Democratic Republic as it was known. It was secretly considered a form of escape from the uniforms, marches and conformity of the communist state.
East Germans were free to practice nudism and did so wherever possible: at lakes, sea beaches and large FKK camping grounds. There was also, of course, an official socialist institution with a long, uninspiring name.
The "Proletarische Freikoerperkulturbewegung" or Proletarian Free Body Movement had 60,000 members.
Nude scenes in GDR movies appeared long before the first naked people appeared in Hollywood films. The fondness for getting naked on both sides of the Iron Curtain also led to some curious incidents."

Nudity in Germany: Here's the naked truth

 

[Piculet]

Well for one they are not killed as often by religious bigots

The dead don't affect the levels of happiness.

what do you mean by corruption and immorality for their sake?

LGBT stuff; homosexual acts, dressing up as a man when you're a woman, trying to physically change your gender, advertising all such behaviour, applauding it, teaching to kids in school that it's OK - maybe even good, etc.

 

[Piculet]

By that he means he or she might have some repressed homosexual feelings that hurt his or her sense of self-estime and "purity" for lack of better terms.

Grow up.

Does anyone want to answer the question seriously? I don't suppose I need to say that I'm looking for reasoning. If you had it, you would probably have given it, but just in case — I'm waiting.

 

[Tambourine]

It certainly isn't that simple. How many gays today are actually under the threat of being killed as opposed to those who are not under such a threat?

What exactly do you think is complicated about no longer being persecuted (and potentially killed) as a criminal?

The dead don't affect the levels of happiness.

You don't think the prospect of being persecuted or murdered would affect somebody's happiness?

 

[Piculet]

I'd imagine less fearful.

I'm not LGBTQ so I can't talk for them but I'd imagine being less fearful allows a freer pursuit of happiness.

From a purely psychological pov, and with my limited knowledge regarding psychology, I don't think fear does much to happiness. I'm not saying it doesn't do anything, i just think it doesn't do as much as one might think. A person can live in fear and be pretty happy, while one can live in safety and be utterly miserable.

 

[Piculet]

I think we can all agree that this thread is a bit crap.

Then why are you all here?

 

[Rival]

Grow up.

Does anyone want to answer the question seriously? I don't suppose I need to say that I'm looking for reasoning. If you had it, you would probably have given it, but just in case — I'm waiting.

Imagine if you weren't legally allowed to have sex with women (I'm assuming you are male). Or show your love for them in public. Not even allowed to tell anyone.

 

[Piculet]

What exactly do you think is complicated about no longer being persecuted (and potentially killed) as a criminal?

Are my questions difficult? It seems like people are dodging them constantly. Your question here misrepresents my previous reply. I clearly didn't say there's something complicated about no longer being persecuted.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

From a purely psychological pov, and with my limited knowledge regarding psychology, I don't think fear does much to happiness. I'm not saying it doesn't do anything, i just think it doesn't do as much as one might think. A person can live in fear and be pretty happy, while one can live in safety and be utterly miserable.

If you're living in fear, it stands to reason that you're not "pretty happy". You don't make sense.

 

[Tambourine]

Are my questions difficult? It seems like people are dodging them constantly. Your question here misrepresents my previous reply. I clearly didn't say there's something complicated about no longer being persecuted.

You responded to my post with the statement "It isn't that simple."

 

[Tambourine]

If you're living in fear, it stands to reason that you're not "pretty happy". You don't make sense.

Perhaps they long for the privilege of being persecuted and put to death, a kind of Holocaust envy but for LGBT people.

 

[epronovost]

Grow up.

Does anyone want to answer the question seriously? I don't suppose I need to say that I'm looking for reasoning. If you had it, you would probably have given it, but just in case — I'm waiting.

We already did on multiple occasion. The world is better and they are happier because members of the LBGTQ+ community can now live openly without fear for their lives from an oppressive State and mobs of religious zealots. Our community grew wider and more harmonious, we benefit from a brand new vision of the human experience and, of course, from the always valuable work of tens of thousand of people.

PS: You might want to google a psycho-sociological phenomenon and internet joke dubbed the "Haggard's Law". You will love it. While it's absolutely not scientific there are some evidence that would suggest that there is a certain link between homophobia and repressed homosexual feelings.

Homophobes Might Be Hidden Homosexuals

 

[Piculet]

Imagine if you weren't legally allowed to have sex with women (I'm assuming you are male). Or show your love for them in public. Not even allowed to tell anyone.

That's like a haram relationship. For a Muslim it's like that when they're not married. But when a Muslim is married, public acts such as kissing, hugging or otherwise being on an intimate manner in public, is frowned upon.

Kissing one’s wife’s hand in front of other people in the street - Islam Question & Answer

On the other hand, marriage must be publicised in the sense that it cannot be a secret.

I don't know why you want me to imagine that. I can, but nothing is more important to me than obeying Allah, so I won't be, if Allah wills, brought to give up on obeying Allah due to a longing for another human being in the way you seem to suggest.

 

[Piculet]

We already did on multiple occasion.

Sorry, I haven't read all the responses yet. The first ten or so failed at that.

 

[Piculet]

they are happier because members of the LBGTQ+ community can now live openly without fear

How do you know they're happier? Do you just assume?

 

[Left Coast]

It certainly isn't that simple. How many gays today are actually under the threat of being killed as opposed to those who are not under such a threat?

That's the point. So few gays today being under threat of being executed is the major improvement.

 

[Rival]

I don't know why you want me to imagine that.

Because that's how gay people felt prior to gay liberation.

Seriously how are you this ignorant of things?

 

[Piculet]

I'm pretty sure the OP will not take the bait and avoid having his or her ego further bruised unless he or she also has some repressed masochistic tendency, but who am I to kink shame. If that's what they want that's what they will get and I can only hope they will enjoy it.

Can I have a part in this discussion and inquire what you're talking about?

 

[Piculet]

That's the point. So few gays today being under threat of being executed is the major improvement.

But does that contribute to their happiness?