From what I have gathered and heard about the anti-LGBTQIA+ things in socialist nations during the Cold War. Is that one of the main rationals for at least the parties was because LGBTQIA+ folks and specifically the "lifestyles" they were thought to live were defaultly bourgeois. Which was even brought up in at least one episode of Behind the Bastards, as possibly being the result of the unfortunate situations where very bad imperialists were likely to be homosexual. They were really only allowed by the other imperialists to be more open about their sexuality or even just really eccentric kinks (which for the cis imperialists would also lump in as being just part of homosexuality in their bigoted headspaces) because they were willing to be more ruthless. They paid their dues to their own masters, and were then more or less able to just do whatever they wanted. They also were able to live much more grandiose lifestyles and flaunt all of it above the oppressed.
Between the massive and open oppression and the very bougie wealthy lifestyles, it isn't shocking that this (along with I am sure plenty of taught bigotry from religion and machismo) would lead to incorrect understanding that LGBTQIA+ folks are bourgeois and/or imperialists. The USSR under Lenin did have some good starting points for breaking with that misconception. But even leftists fail themselves and the masses when we don't remember that liberation means all of us. The creep of conservatism into the struggle is reactionary IMO and holds us back in the same way that liberals have held back on civil rights on so many occasions. The constant lines of "I of course agree and support your right to be treated equal, but I just don't think now is the right time to push as others aren't ready" comes to mind. Always waiting for the push to be a sure thing before standing in solidarity.
It has been very inspiring to see that the existing socialist nations are learning to push past the old understandings. And especially so when openly saying that they were wrong and make efforts to make things as correct as possible. I am just a cis-ally but do have many close friends, family, and comrades that are LGBTQIA+. Seeing how they have gone from hiding from the world to being open and proud in my time so far makes me never want to see them pushed back down or harmed in any way. I am down to stand with them in solidarity and love no matter what. Seeing leaders like Castro outright say how wrong they were in their suppression makes me respect them and hope for a better future under socialism. The liberals can talk all the "hear and see you" shit and put up their pretend support flags, but they are the ones that keep allowing the far-right to keep coming back with their reactionary bigotry. Never pushing for anything unless they are 100% sure that at least 85% of the nation is already onboard. Not there with the ones that need the solidarity or any kind of mutual-aid. Conservatism is what builds and breeds reactionary bigotry and fascism. I hope that we all in the real left are able to keep pushing on and are able to flip more people faster. It will only get harder as the right is gaining their numbers as the global capitalist system breaks the world around us. Along with the mass apathy being spread by those that refuse to bother trying after being let down by liberals time and time again.
From what I have gathered and heard about the anti-LGBTQIA+ things in socialist nations during the Cold War. Is that one of the main rationals for at least the parties was because LGBTQIA+ folks and specifically the "lifestyles" they were thought to live were defaultly bourgeois. Which was even brought up in at least one episode of Behind the Bastards, as possibly being the result of the unfortunate situations where very bad imperialists were likely to be homosexual. They were really only allowed by the other imperialists to be more open about their sexuality or even just really eccentric kinks (which for the cis imperialists would also lump in as being just part of homosexuality in their bigoted headspaces) because they were willing to be more ruthless. They paid their dues to their own masters, and were then more or less able to just do whatever they wanted. They also were able to live much more grandiose lifestyles and flaunt all of it above the oppressed.
Between the massive and open oppression and the very bougie wealthy lifestyles, it isn't shocking that this (along with I am sure plenty of taught bigotry from religion and machismo) would lead to incorrect understanding that LGBTQIA+ folks are bourgeois and/or imperialists. The USSR under Lenin did have some good starting points for breaking with that misconception. But even leftists fail themselves and the masses when we don't remember that liberation means all of us. The creep of conservatism into the struggle is reactionary IMO and holds us back in the same way that liberals have held back on civil rights on so many occasions. The constant lines of "I of course agree and support your right to be treated equal, but I just don't think now is the right time to push as others aren't ready" comes to mind. Always waiting for the push to be a sure thing before standing in solidarity.
It has been very inspiring to see that the existing socialist nations are learning to push past the old understandings. And especially so when openly saying that they were wrong and make efforts to make things as correct as possible. I am just a cis-ally but do have many close friends, family, and comrades that are LGBTQIA+. Seeing how they have gone from hiding from the world to being open and proud in my time so far makes me never want to see them pushed back down or harmed in any way. I am down to stand with them in solidarity and love no matter what. Seeing leaders like Castro outright say how wrong they were in their suppression makes me respect them and hope for a better future under socialism. The liberals can talk all the "hear and see you" shit and put up their pretend support flags, but they are the ones that keep allowing the far-right to keep coming back with their reactionary bigotry. Never pushing for anything unless they are 100% sure that at least 85% of the nation is already onboard. Not there with the ones that need the solidarity or any kind of mutual-aid. Conservatism is what builds and breeds reactionary bigotry and fascism. I hope that we all in the real left are able to keep pushing on and are able to flip more people faster. It will only get harder as the right is gaining their numbers as the global capitalist system breaks the world around us. Along with the mass apathy being spread by those that refuse to bother trying after being let down by liberals time and time again.
very well written.