Over the Rainbow? Why Queer Beer Is Important

Yeah, but people want to be able to enjoy their activities as themselves, without having to feel the need to change or hide anything. Now, I say that even though in this arena I don't really have any understanding of what that might be like (as a straight white beardo I'm basically the main craft beer demographic). But I can sympathize with the idea that someone who isn't the main demographic for something might find it to be reassuring and welcoming to be specifically invited in.

It's not going to divide beer drinkers, apart from the people that actively dislike homosexuals (or women, or black people, or whatever specific demographic someone is trying to reach/welcome/cater to). Because the stuff that the previous enthusiasts liked? Still there. Gay-themed beer overall is a turnoff to me(and none of the ones I've seen have particularly appealed). I'm definitely not going to a drag queen night at a bar or brewery. But that's fine - I can still drink the beer that I like, and go to places that are having events that are more up my alley. The existence of something that I don't care for doesn't erase the existence of the things that I do, any more than having sour beers available for sale prevents me from buying wheat beers.

Overall, I'd consider it a positive thing that more people can involve themselves with something that I love, can share that love, without having to worry about concealing who they are, or feeling like they don't belong.

I genrally don't want to be kidnapped, and I'd probably choose to go to a different brewery than one that was prominently gay...but still. It's a brewery. I think I'm going to wait and see how this kidnapping plays out.

 

That's very black/white. Say, if I support gay marriage (who does not?), but don't support pre-puberty gender reassignment surgery, to what degree am I homophobic? Because it sure sounds like 100%.

 

Yes, I do.

 

That situation would be transphobic, which is part of the all-encompassing LGBTQ+, so homophobic would also be a safe assumption

 

But am I not? Not self-defined, mind you, defined by those who reduced themselves to the level where they can only operate in litmus tests.

 

But how is that a social agenda? Can you explain a bit?

 

What would be the objective of such a social agenda?

 

In my opinion, the articles and general direction of the site have been very left leaning of late.

To me, it’s a very different direction than when then BA was still publishing the magazine (which I very much enjoyed)...content is noticeably shifted.

Todd is a big boy and it’s his company (at least I think it still is), so he’s welcome to set the direction for the site as he sees fit. It’s a business after all.

But I prefer to use this as an escape, to leave the real world behind and relax. I just don’t like politics and social agendas injected (no matter what your views are).

I’m here for the beer. Or at least I used to be. With the recent direction, I’m not around much anymore.

cheers.

 

Sounds to me like LGBTQ+ related topics make you uncomfortable

 

I love threads like this for exposing the bigots I don’t want to interact with here.

 

You don’t know my views one way or another. But they don’t mix with beer.

 

This is a very shortsighted view of craft beer. Just because you don't PERCEIVE there is a problem with inequities in beer doesn't mean they don't exist. They do.

 

Hence why I have NEVER purchased Clown Shoes.

 

If you go out of your way to shit talk stuff like this then you are a problem. Let people do what they want. It’s like getting mad at the person in line in front of u ordering food you don’t like so u get upset. If it doesn’t effect you then mind your business let the people live.

 

This whole discussion (and original article) makes about as much sense as throwing a parade for Bill (he is a little queer) who baked up an awesome stack of pancakes at the local Waffle House for me the other day. In fact, the assumption is that we should throw a parade for Bill EVERY time he bakes up an awesome full stack of flapjacks......

 

And you know all the entire LGBTQ community is "left leaning."

 

Thanks for the response. Such conversations matter to me and I appreciate you engaging. The oppression of the LGBTQ community and communities of color are well documented throughout the historic and scientific literature. This, of course, isn't to say that people who are white or straight do not face any kind of systemic struggles. They do. Plenty of them. But, in general, they face less. Again, this isn't a political issue, this is a matter of historical and scientific record. My question is, if Todd, or whomever at BA, bringing issues up in the forums makes you want to use the site less, doesn't that suggest that you do want websites to be political and have an agenda after all? In other words, if it sends you running to a site that doesn't highlight these stories, aren't you just admitting that you want things to be political, just about other topics?

My point is, everything is political. If there is a website that has a moderator who runs a story about a brewery run by former military members that included an interview where people were discussing the struggles former military members face, that would be political. It might not seem political to you, it may seem normal to you, but it's political to someone (me, for example). Discussing issues that are important to the LGBTQ community and communities of color is normal to me, but it's political to you. Long story short, everything is political, even instituting rules to dissuade political conversations is political.

And, for whatever it's worth, I hope you don't leave the site because of the highlighting of such stories.

 

Edit - it was a personal attack

I will just say this, I am not sure how you could think your views wouldn’t mix with something that is such a large personal part of who you are. If you don’t understand this, then I do not think you are understanding the message here. It’s about being comfortable to represent who you are.

 

When you and people with similar views make such a statement, I and people like me understand that you are "disappointed" with the "social agenda".

So, to be clear, the social agenda is recognition of LGBTQ+ issues. The social agenda is moving to solve societies failures. The social agenda is to make our world a better place for everyone.

You are disappointed with this agenda, which is your right. Be prepared to defend your social agenda of years gone by. I and people like me will call you out, as is our right. Get used to being uncomfortable in defense of your opinions. Offended.

And it's not too difficult to see through your agenda when you explain yourself by saying "How do you know I'm not gay?"

 

But its their AGENDA and they are pushing it on you and the kidddddddsssss.