The Energon Pub

*throws toasted sandwich at Burn and flees into the night*

Oh, and as for recommended reading in IDW, my personal recommendation that I tell people to read if they're not Transformers readers but want a taste is the Last Stand of the Wreckers. Great stand-alone tale within the wider IDW continuity.

Burn wrote:ARGH! THE RPG CREW HAVE ESCAPED!

QUICK WHAT DO WE DO?!?

Insidious wrote:*throws toasted sandwich at Burn and flees into the night*

*catches the sandwich and nibbles it* Yum, philly steak, my favourite.

There hasn't really been a lot of LGBT-hinted media, has there?

Not a ton. But thats been true of just about any comic series. I can still remember Northstar being pretty much the only representation that I could find in any comics growing up.

The fact that they address it at all, even as a hint, in Transformers comics is impressive to me. Chromedome and Rewind's evolving love for each other has been handled very well. Clearly the "sex" part of sexuality is not an issue with sentient robots, but that's kind of good in these stories also because the relationship is focused on what one individual will do for another when they truly love them. And in the case of these comics, it can make you smile in one issue and cry in another. Just like real life hah.

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:There hasn't really been a lot of LGBT-hinted media, has there?

If you're talking comics ...
Earth 2 Green Lantern (New 52) Allan Scott - Though they killed his boyfriend (still pops up from time to time as a ghost/memory)
Batwoman - Was set to be married ... but DC overlords really came down hard on that one.
Hulkling and Wiccan
Anole (X-Men)
Shatterstar
Rictor
Karma
Daken
Ultimate universe Colossus
alternate universe James Howlett and Hercules
Iceman

And then if "fans" have their way, Captain America and Winter Soldier
(Though to me, if they were "fans", they'd be pushing for characters that were already established as gay rather than just pushing for the more popular characters)

This is a good thread, and and important one, I think. Let me explain, but bare with me, its a bit of a long story. Also, I'm doing this on a plug in keyboard on my tablet, so no spell check. I need that.

See, I'm not the type who would typicially be cool with or in a thread like this. I'm a white, straight, conservative, christian (not a good practicer, but a strong believer ), male. In fact, 13 years ago, I would have probally stormed into a thread like this, capslock guns blazing, throwing my views around like Call of Duty hand gernades, and think I was actually doing you all a favor. **** changes. Sometimes, maybe even often, so do people.

See, 13 years ago was when I first started to interact online. It was the first time I had my own internet (crappy dial up), my own computer, and my own place. It was also the first time I really began to incounter ( as much as you can online) people out side of my cookie cutter beliefs of how the world should be. Sure, I had always said, and maybe even believed, that everyone is entitled to thier own opinions and beliefs, but this was the first time in my life that I actually started to understand that. I was slowly starting to become, I thought, a more open minded and understanding individual. In actuallity, I had only learned to keep my big fat mouth shut. An important skill to be sure, but not quite good enough. Two events would happen later in life to really break down that wall.

Years pass. About 7 of them to be exact. I'm older, married, far more responsible in life, still a nerd, and starting to volunteer with the youth program at church. When I was a teen, I really could have used a adult friend (not family) to talk to and seek advice/guidence from, and never really had that. It was something I wanted to offer to the teens at our church, and it was a great time in my life. I met some great young people, and like to think I was a positive influence in thier lives. I still keep in touch with quite a few of them, and get to see the wedding of two of them this weekend. Any way, that is beside the point. During my time (I no longer serve there, as the demands of my own family don't allow the free time currently) with the program, I met one young man. We'll call him John. He is gay. He knew it, but hid it, and it was not going great for him. This is the first event.

While I didn't know at first that he was gay, I did know from almost the first day that he was struggling with some stuff. Since that was what I felt I was there for, I took an interest in hime and went out of my way to befriend and get to know John. He was a good kid, and is now an even better man (yes, the story has a happy ending, don't worry). We played a lot of Call of Duty together, and during these gaming/conversation sessions, he started to come out to me. Now, most of the kids liked to talk to me, as I tried not to get preachy at them. Yes, we were in a church setting, but when I was a kid, I hated getting nothing but Bible verses as answeres from the adults, so I left that **** to others, and just talked to them. Gave them real world advice, and my own experiences. Sure, God played into it, but as a side dish, not the main course. This is probally why John opened up to me.

Anyway, the pain I would see in this young man, as he struggled with working up the courage to stop hiding, and be who he truely is had quite the effect on me. Also, was the fact that other than liking dudes, he was no different than any other young man I've ever met, or even me. This was huge to me. See, I'm not proud of it, but in my mind, I always felt that gay people were different. That there was something wrong with them, and being gay was just an effect of that. Learning how wrong that was put a huge hole in my closed mind. I'm obviosly leaving out huge chunks of this story, but I'm trying not to be too long winded. Suffice to say, John did come out to his family. He asked me to be there that night, and it was terrifying for me, so I can't imagine how his family felt. He was one of the lucky ones. His family embraced him, though it took a few weeks for his father to get over it, he did. The church never really approved, and John and his family no longer go there. I still do every now and then, but don't really support it with my money. I'm having my own issues with organized religion. John is doing well, has had a couple of learning experience relationships, and is now with another man who makes him quiet happy. He is doing good in life, and I miss the time we had together.

The second event was me becoming a father. If you haven't done it yourself, Ican't really explain it. Everything changes, and nothing more so than how you look at and think about the world. The second big chunk to be blasted on my mind's wall, was realizing that my son could be gay. It really is somethign you think about, and in doing so, I realized I didn't care. He is my son, and I love him, I always want to be a part of his life, and nothing will ever change that. Especially not who he chooses to give his love to. In realizing I wouldn't care if my son was gay, I realized I shouldn't care if anyone else was either. Thats acutally a bigger thing than it sounds.

So whats the point of all of this? Simple, keep this thread going. No celebrity, or politicain, or parade, or court decision would ever have changed my mind, opened it up, so to speak. Seeing people as people, no different than me, other than orientation, that did wonders. That changed everything. That is what society needs, to realize that we are all more similat than different, and that those differences aren't a bad thing. Threads like this will show that. Just a bunch of us geeks, coming together, and being geeks. That other stuff is important too, don't get me wrong, and I know I have many hills to climb in really becoming an accepting individual, but at the very least, here is one less person giving you crap you don't deserve.

Unless you like Alpha Bravo, cause that **** is wack.

That was a good read

Ironhidensh wrote:Stuff

This post is awesome. Two things I liked the most though.

Ironhidensh wrote:In realizing I wouldn't care if my son was gay, I realized I shouldn't care if anyone else was either. Thats acutally a bigger thing than it sounds.

This ... very much this. If one person loves another, be they of the same or opposite sex, it's no business of anyone else (unless they're already involved in a relationship with one of those people).

Ironhidensh wrote:Unless you like Alpha Bravo, cause that SHIZZLESNIT is wack.

And I couldn't go past liking this either.

I should have started collecting Transformers figures like I do Star Wars. I could dig so much deeper into this site and all its goodies

Burn wrote:

Ironhidensh wrote:Stuff

This post is awesome.

Agreed.

Ironhidensh wrote:Unless you like Alpha Bravo, cause that SHIZZLESNIT is wack.

And I couldn't go past liking this either. [/quote]

Happy Pride month everyone!

That picture is just amazing!!! I love it!

Dr Va'al wrote:Hey Mark! There are a few users on the boards that identify as part of the LGBT+ community, including myself (bisexual male) - so welcome!

And on LGBT+ themes - are you a More Than Meets the Eye reader at all?



(PS - Do you have a link to the previous thread, so I can see whether to merge or lock? )

Your bi? We could of totally made out in April. Your a fox!

joevill wrote:

Dr Va'al wrote:Hey Mark! There are a few users on the boards that identify as part of the LGBT+ community, including myself (bisexual male) - so welcome!

And on LGBT+ themes - are you a More Than Meets the Eye reader at all?



(PS - Do you have a link to the previous thread, so I can see whether to merge or lock? )

Your bi? We could of totally made out in April. Your a fox!

Making out is always fun! ;D

joevill wrote:

Dr Va'al wrote:Hey Mark! There are a few users on the boards that identify as part of the LGBT+ community, including myself (bisexual male) - so welcome!

And on LGBT+ themes - are you a More Than Meets the Eye reader at all?



(PS - Do you have a link to the previous thread, so I can see whether to merge or lock? )

Your bi? We could of totally made out in April. Your a fox!

I had my suspicions about you...

Dr Va'al wrote:

joevill wrote:

Dr Va'al wrote:Hey Mark! There are a few users on the boards that identify as part of the LGBT+ community, including myself (bisexual male) - so welcome!

And on LGBT+ themes - are you a More Than Meets the Eye reader at all?



(PS - Do you have a link to the previous thread, so I can see whether to merge or lock? )

Your bi? We could of totally made out in April. Your a fox!

I had my suspicions about you...

It was the leather pants I wore on Friday wasn't it?

joevill wrote:

Dr Va'al wrote:

joevill wrote:

Dr Va'al wrote:Hey Mark! There are a few users on the boards that identify as part of the LGBT+ community, including myself (bisexual male) - so welcome!

And on LGBT+ themes - are you a More Than Meets the Eye reader at all?



(PS - Do you have a link to the previous thread, so I can see whether to merge or lock? )

Your bi? We could of totally made out in April. Your a fox!

I had my suspicions about you...

It was the leather pants I wore on Friday wasn't it?

More of a general vibe.

You throw that beating heart at anyone you hussy ...

Straight son of a gay father. Dad died of AIDS when I was 13. I thank him most for the gift of an open mind. Best gift a father can give a son parent can give a child. The one heirloom I hope to pass to my daughters.

Great thread y'all. Talking breeds hope.
I hope for a world where all the different kinds of people are just people. Or, Earthlings as I like to think of us.

I'm really glad that you posted this thread. You have ZERO idea how many LGBT Transformers fans there are. I've been into Transformers since G1 began but I really only got to meet and know other TF fans around 2007/2008. Both through BotCon and some local meetups, I have developed many friendships in the community and gotten to know other fans on a really personal level.

TF fans are a really diverse group in so many ways, but I will admit that I would have never guessed how many of them were LGBT. I am personally a straight, married man and up until the time period mentioned never even had any gay friends. It wasn't that I was anti-gay but I will admit it was hard for me to understand at the time. I am actually glad that I met all the gay TF fans that I did because it helped me be a lot more accepting. I will tell you that at these meet-ups and conventions that gay/straight doesn't matter in the slightest, it's all about just having fun and sharing our mutual love of Transformers.

One of my best friends ever in the fandom (and a sometimes poster here) was a guy named Landon who I met at BotCon 2008. We have hung out together at many conventions and shared a room in 2012. Landon was away from the con scene for a few years and in 2015 Landon became Lisa. Lisa was nervous about going back to a BotCon because she was not sure how her transition would be accepted. Despite some obvious physical changes and a little difficulty choosing pronouns, I quickly realized that Lisa was the same great friend that I always had. I was proud to see others treat her well and accept her in the same way. While Lisa is my only transgender friend (as of now) I have about a half dozen close gay friends within the TF community and a few gay acquaintances as well.

I guess what I'm saying is that there is room for everyone both here on Seibertron.com and in the TF fandom in general. You should NEVER feel alone or different.

TIL' ALL ARE ONE!

Delicon wrote:I'm really glad that you posted this thread. You have ZERO idea how many LGBT Transformers fans there are. I've been into Transformers since G1 began but I really only got to meet and know other TF fans around 2007/2008. Both through BotCon and some local meetups, I have developed many friendships in the community and gotten to know other fans on a really personal level.

TF fans are a really diverse group in so many ways, but I will admit that I would have never guessed how many of them were LGBT. I am personally a straight, married man and up until the time period mentioned never even had any gay friends. It wasn't that I was anti-gay but I will admit it was hard for me to understand at the time. I am actually glad that I met all the gay TF fans that I did because it helped me be a lot more accepting. I will tell you that at these meet-ups and conventions that gay/straight doesn't matter in the slightest, it's all about just having fun and sharing our mutual love of Transformers.

One of my best friends ever in the fandom (and a sometimes poster here) was a guy named Landon who I met at BotCon 2008. We have hung out together at many conventions and shared a room in 2012. Landon was away from the con scene for a few years and in 2015 Landon became Lisa. Lisa was nervous about going back to a BotCon because she was not sure how her transition would be accepted. Despite some obvious physical changes and a little difficulty choosing pronouns, I quickly realized that Lisa was the same great friend that I always had. I was proud to see others treat her well and accept her in the same way. While Lisa is my only transgender friend (as of now) I have about a half dozen close gay friends within the TF community and a few gay acquaintances as well.

I guess what I'm saying is that there is room for everyone both here on Seibertron.com and in the TF fandom in general. You should NEVER feel alone or different.

TIL' ALL ARE ONE!

That was a great post! You for sharing that wonderful story!

I am the transgender TF fan that Delicon mentioned above. I'm really happy to see this thread. It's truly inspiring how welcoming and accepting our fandom is!

Also.... WreckerJack, OMG an FtM Transformers fan?! I'm MtF! You rock! Yay for not being the only transperson on Seibertron! Yay for cute FtMs! *pantydrop*
Uhm...i mean... Nice to meet you, Mister!

Hey guys! So I made a group on Facebook, for anyone that would like to join it. For now I have set it to closed because i dont want anybody just coming in and posting something that is just hate and spam. feel free to share it around with anyone who you think would like to join. let's make this something great and show the support!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/LGBTQTransformers/

Savage wrote:I am the transgender TF fan that Delicon mentioned above. I'm really happy to see this thread. It's truly inspiring how welcoming and accepting our fandom is!

Also.... WreckerJack, OMG an FtM Transformers fan?! I'm MtF! You rock! Yay for not being the only transperson on Seibertron! Yay for cute FtMs! *pantydrop*
Uhm...i mean... Nice to meet you, Mister!

Haha thanks. I like to joke around in accepting company that I am a transformer. Because by definition I have 'transformed'. I had a box of transformers bandaids for my T shots

I'm sure there are more of us we don't know about. A lot of Transfolks blend in very well.

I was going to post a funny gif of Oolong from Dragon Ball but I'll mind my manners