Ah, dammit.
If people had any idea how often being even the least little bit kind to someone in that situation can give them the hope they need, they'd be a lot kinder.
I bounced at a few gay bars. You lose track of how many kids are finding the first moment of acceptance they've ever had. Or the ones that linger as long as they can because they don't have anywhere to go home to. Or the ones that are at the end of their rope, out at a bar because they need something resembling human kindness to make it one more day.
It's better than it used to be, but there's still plenty of people out there afraid, ashamed, or alone with no idea of how to keep going. Not just the kids, but adults, even old farts like me. There's people my age that still haven't come out at all, and more that don't feel safe or ready to come out more publicly. There's people older than me that have stayed in the closet longer than I've been alive.
Your get into this kind of situation, you do what you can. That's all you can do.
You know, I'd never thought about doing something like that. Tbh, that seems more helpful than most things; because you know where the person you're talking to is, and that you can go and see them in person. Like, you really shouldn't do that do a store clerk, that's not what they're being paid for; but at the same time, if I was in that position then I'd absolutely put my job on the line and take the time to talk and comfort them.
I wonder if LGBT-positive stores give people crisis training in case they get calls or emails like that. If not, then it might be worth considering doing that as a community. Then someone who's struggling can find their nearest LGBT-anything and have someone to talk to.
There's a queer anarchist bookstore in Asheville NC that's amazing for community. I'm not sure if they routinely field calls like that, but I know they're a space for community members to gather, to comfort one another, and to be a space when space is what's needed. Called Firestorm. They're really amazing .
Ok that's awesome
Huh. Is this an American thing? Book stores are definitely a thing in my corner of Canada. Like, perpetually busy.
Also yeah that's a great story ❤️
Weird that that bookstore is open at night
Very common. Queer bookstores often had coffee shops in them and would serve something basic like sandwhiches. If you weren't a club goer and didn't want to join a choir or sport steam, that's often where you would meet other queer people before everyone had the internet in their pocket. They would host speakers/seminars, networking events, board game nights, an acoustic act or two, the fact that they sold books was often secondary.
I think a lot of "Pride Centres" started as bookstores.
We have a bookstore (Waterstones) open until 22:00 near me.
I went to Borders and Barnes & Noble in the evening. Even in the olden days Walden Books followed mall hours.
