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Pages: 1

Gay & Lesbian Russian Western relationships-- a new forum section? (feedback wanted)

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Posted by: Khashyar

Hi Everyone,

It's good to be back from my San Francisco business trip this weekend so that I can see what is new on the RMP since I was gone.

Over the past week, I received one private message from a Gay member, and another from a Lesbian forum member, asking my thoughts and feedback about gay and lesbian Russian-Western relationships.

I wanted everyone's feedback as to whether it would serve another group of people if we opened one forum section in the R-W relationship section dedicated to "Gay and Lesbian Russian Western relationships"?

I know that there are some people who feel uncomfortable with discussions about gay relationships, and I don't want to offend a large number of people and turn them off from the RMP forums.

On the otherhand, I think that reading discussions about Gay and Lesbian Westerners in relationships with Russians, traveling to Russia, etc., might give us some additional insight into Russia and Russian culture. For example, perhaps a Lesbian Russian woman might be able to share a different perspective about being a woman in Russia, the life of a Russian family, etc.

Since I received two PMs in the past week from Gay Westerners asking me about Russian culture and who both were involved with Russians, I am led to believe that there are more Russian-Western gay and Lesbian relationships out there than we know.

But, at the same time, I would not want to offend visitors and members of the forum en masse.

I tend to want to serve people and provide useful information for them, but I want our RMP Forums members' feedback about this so that I could gain a better understanding of whether it is best to open or not open a new forum section about this.

Thanks for your thoughts,

Khashyar



Posted by: Khashyar

Hi Everyone,

I think that this might be necessary to say, but...

Obviously, if we do open a seperate Gay and Lesbian R-W relationship section, the discussions would be of a same non-explicit sexual nature as in the other relationship discussion sections.

I feel that I shouldn't need to say that, but I wanted to say this in case anyone had a question about that.

Khashyar



Posted by: searcher

Any feedback from anyone? yea, nay, suggestions????

Your opinions are being solicited.



Posted by: Jutman

Khash, you are the manager. If you fell you will loose any members, you should create a seperate section, but again, if nobody send feedback !!! its seems nobody are offended. And for me! I see no reason to sepearte. Better to love than hate.



Posted by: novotul

I hope you proceed. This question of being offended can cut both ways -- and many good people are very offended with increasing antigay trends in the USA.

I'm not gay, but my son is and he's been with me in Russia, visiting my fiance. The gay culture seems to be quite different there than here in the States. In the parts of Siberia I visit, at least, people I know are rather tolerant of gay people, but often genuinely puzzled. There is no open gay culture that I've seen, but I also am unaware of hate crimes against gay people like happen in my part of the USA. I'd like the opportunity to learn more about the gay/lesbian scene in Russia.



Posted by: rnmedix

i'm straight, but i don't see why this or any other forum has to be strictly for straight people. i believe people are born with sexual orientation to a large degree, and i see no reason why there couldn't be a section here for their specific concerns.

i certainly wouldn't offend me.



Posted by: bg reed

Ok I'm going to step on toes here. Proven fact homosexuality is not normal.
It does not follow the basics of anything to do with marriage. If you follow evolution and survival of the fittest there would be no homosexuals because they all would have died out. I know its not PC but the gay lifestyle is a choice.



Posted by: rnmedix

i can't for the life of me fathom why someone should just choose to be gay. all the social stigma, etc? i don't see any reason to bash these folks, and label them as being sick.

my cousin is gay, and it was apparent since he was a small child. he grew up, got married, had two children and finally announced that he had always been gay. i don't see how he made a "choice" to be gay. on the contrary, he went through hell because of it. he tried to be something else all his life because of social pressures, and it ultimately didn't work. he is just who he is.

homosexuality has been around as long as recorded history, and i don't see it as a threat to me in any way. i don't run in circles with many openly gay people, but i respect that they've got rights to be themselves and live their lives openly.

i think khashyar is making a grand attempt to be fair and inclusive to everyone. it's a noble gesture and i'm in support of it.



Posted by: Khashyar

Thanks for all of your opinions and thoughts...

I do want to serve and help as many people as possible through the RMP...

I realize that there are some strong opinions about homosexuality, and I don't think that this is the right place for those kinds of discussions.

One of the moderators mentioned to me that if someone feels uncomfortable or has no interest in a Gay/Lesbian Russian-Western relationship section, then they can choose not to read or post in that section.

I think that if we create that new section, that we could receive a new perspective about Russia and Russian culture (one that we would not normally receive).

Thank you all for your feedback,

Khashyar



Posted by: novotul

I'm glad you are proceeding.

And, for the record, my church (The Religious Society of Friends -- Quakers) has been marrying gay and lesbian couples in many of our Meetings for upward of 20 years. We even do so here in the deep south, where it is possible that some zealous, theocratic prosecutor might bring legal charges against us.



Posted by: Spakoyna

I'm old fashioned and do not knock people who are gay as everyone sins. But God would not have created a man and a woman if God wanted man to be with man or woman to be with woman. If everyone was gay man would not exist! THINK ABOUT IT!



Posted by: Mr.Humble

Cannot say that I am bothered by this topic at all (for the most part this should be my only real post in this section).

Not to knock what you said Spakoyna, but if everyone liked chicken and hated seafood where would that put us? I don't like people telling me how to run my household or what I should be eating....so I would do them the same honor and keep my nose out of their business. Ignorance is bliss sometimes...must be why i'm so happy



Posted by: Spakoyna

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr.Humble
Cannot say that I am bothered by this topic at all (for the most part this should be my only real post in this section).

Not to knock what you said Spakoyna, but if everyone liked chicken and hated seafood where would that put us? I don't like people telling me how to run my household or what I should be eating....so I would do them the same honor and keep my nose out of their business. Ignorance is bliss sometimes...must be why i'm so happy


I will knock your post! If you read what I said I do not knock people who are gay.I simply voiced my opinion!Yes I am very much against gay and lesbian attitudes.But I know people who are and even have some in the family. Yes, I tolerate but does not mean I have to agree or believe.Maybe you did not understand my statement....where would the babies come from if everyone was gay or lesbian? Ah! I could see it...a major sperm and egg auction! But what if the woman was so lesbian she hated men...maybe she would axe her boy if she had a boy?????



Posted by: Mr.Humble

Haha...ok ok....perhaps I did read your post wrong....my apologies!....also seems we view the topic the same way....just different ways of looking at it I suppose....

Anyways...my 2nd and last post in this section.....



Posted by: Khashyar

Thanks for the input...

I believe that I am going to create the new section now.

Khashyar



Posted by: Samurai_Bob

Many people in my family are different than me, and I see everyone of them in this thread. I love everyone of you.

We have so much to share and learn from each other.





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