**Rainbow Flops: The GLBTQ Discussion Thread**

[COCOCHANEL]

Originally Posted by Toocuteforthis

I seriously doubt you will find any gay poker groups or organizations. I understand u want to find poker players who are gay because of simalir interests, but that isn't only who/where you should be looking for wether it b dating or friends. Meeting new friends or dating ppl you actually care about can b so ****ing hard at times. You just gotta get out there, online, clubs, gyms, and the casino as well of course. Just don't limit yourself to finding gay players, look everywhere for connections because you will never know when you find someone special, friend or partner. Gl

Thanks for the response. I have been with the same guy for over 10 years, and we live together, etc., so I'm not looking for dates or new friends, I guess, as much as I am looking for other serious poker players to discuss hand play, game, selection, etc. (I'm always looking for people to help me improve my game!), and I was just curious, more specifically, if that gay poker league is still around because I thought that was a good thing for a lot of reasons:

1. To bring in new GLBT's who might not otherwise "identify" with who they see when they look around their local card room (i.e., to make card rooms more welcoming to novice players who are GLBT);

2. To provide a forum for strategy discussion in a friendly environment (most of the grinders I know in AC who are really interested in talking about serious poker are not, frankly, all that welcoming--although several notable exceptions come to mind, and I find that straight women who are good LHE players are generally attracted to me at the tables because they sense that I am sensitive to a lot of the sht they put up with at the tables and therefore will discuss poker topics, too, away from the games); and

3. The very existence of the league, I thought, legitimized to the greater poker world the fact that there are, indeed, many of us GLBT's playing poker, and in many cases playing at the highest levels (wouldn't it be nice if the next time you saw Vanessa win a huge title she gave a shout-out to the Gay Poker League or whatever?).

Again, thank you for responding. I suspect that you're right: there is no such league anymore. But I just thought I'd make the inquiry here because I always thought it was a really good idea and--for all I know--the guy who started it may read this forum?

P.S.: I am glad that you have found so much happiness lately. That is really great. Take good care of yourself.

[Protential]

For any1 who wants to chat more with fellow glbt poker players send me a pm on here and i'll add you to the group chat i've made on skype for twss.

It may not be a live gay poker league, but it gets the job done (or would if it had more people )

Actually i cant find it on my skype, if some1 who is still in it could add me back in....

[Toocuteforthis]

Yah good post man, gl with getting something going!! 10 years is great congrats hope it keeps going so well <3

[COCOCHANEL]

Originally Posted by Toocuteforthis

Yah good post man, gl with getting something going!! 10 years is great congrats hope it keeps going so well <3

Well, I don't know if it's "great," because he's a total pain in the ass but thanks! I'm just kiddin--it's great, he's great, it's all good.

[LirvA]

Gay rights activists are planning to hold on Friday a "national same-sex kiss day at Chick-fil-A," the restaurant chain whose president's opposition to same-sex marriage sparked a media frenzy.

"Let's show Chick-fil-A thanks for their support of Love, Equality, and the Real Definition of Marriage!" organizers posted on their Facebook page.

Same-sex couples are expected to arrive at restaurants across the country and kiss in protest, then post video or photos of the event on social media.
(continued)

http://www.cnn.com/2012/08/02/us/us-...html?hpt=hp_t1

[Mystical Panda]

Ben Grundy, according to past blog posts, had a girlfriend (he may still be with her)

[LirvA]

On facebook where it says interested in: (sexual orienation) if you make it "both" does that count as coming out?

[ITT666]

On facebook where it says interested in: (sexual orienation) if you make it "both" does that count as coming out?

ER... that's a tough one. In theory, yes it does. But I did this just recently myself, changed my 'interested in' to include both men and women, and I haven't lost any friends because of it.

In a perfect world that wouldn't really mean anything, but this isn't a perfect world, and my opinion is that if everyone on my friends list had actually seen that I changed my interested in to include both men and women, the unfortunate reality is, I would have lost some friends, therefor I'd have to say this technically counts, but doesn't really count.

[COCOCHANEL]

Was saddened to read in The Washington Post that Chick-fil-A booked record profits the day-before-yesterday (or was it the day before that?), as many Americans bought food there on that day to show support for the company president's discriminatory stance on marriage. It's almost enough to make me wonder whether the public statements by the corp pres were calculated to attract a specific customer base? I've lived in 3 places: New Orleans, NYC, and Washington, DC. I cannot recall ever seeing a Chick-fil-A restaurant anywhere in any of these cities, so (pardon my ignorance) I'm wondering if the restaurant chain has franchises primarily in places where residents are more likely to be anti-gay marriage, anyway? IDK. Was just wondering... Maybe the pres of Chick-fil-A knows how to turn a buck...

On the other hand, I am very pleased by the recent "kiss-in," and I suspect that this made plenty of folks who live where there are Chick-fil-A restaurants wonderfully uncomfortable!

Am going to be playing in New Orleans and Biloxi for the next couple of weeks. If anyone's gonna be playing in that region, hit me up

[COCOCHANEL]

Originally Posted by LirvA

On facebook where it says interested in: (sexual orienation) if you make it "both" does that count as coming out?

Do you feel like you've come out? I'm sorry to tell you that--despite the common misconception to the contrary--we do not pass out "gay cards" upon the completion of one's successful coming out procedure, nor is there any committee to determine whether you've done so successfully "Coming out" is such a personal thing--only you can really say whether you're there or not. For some, they do not consider themselves to be "out" until they've told their parents/siblings/family. Others consider themselves "out" once the words have passed their lips just once--in any context (for those people, just the act of engaging this forum would render them "out"). However you ultimately decide to define it for yourself, coming out takes time and is a process. Cut yourself a break, baby, and know that--clearly--you're taking steps to get to where you're trying to go It's all good...

My own view of the matter is that no one gets to tell you when you're actually out--only you can decide when that time has come. In other words, it's not relative based on how others perceive you. Rather, it depends solely on how you perceive the manner in which you're portraying yourself to others in the various facets of your own life. I.e., are you "out" at work? At the tables? At Christmas with the family? To friends? For me, it was pretty f'ing obvious at a young age that I was gay, so I just "came out" to everyone at 14. Once I had told my mom and once everyone at my high school knew I was gay, I was "out" in my own mind. I told a close friend that I was gay when I was 13, but it wasn't until I had told many more people that I considered myself truly "out." Telling Mom... that was the biggie for me (Hard to believe that was 20 years ago now! Yikes. I am getting old, I guess...) Stay cool. I PROMISE it gets easier! And better!! Oftentimes, most of the pressure and anxiety associated with coming out is self-induced, though this is less true when people live in less accepting cultures and communities, I suppose. But my point is: cut yourself a break! You're doing great.

[tringlomane]

Originally Posted by COCOCHANEL

Was saddened to read in The Washington Post that Chick-fil-A booked record profits the day-before-yesterday (or was it the day before that?), as many Americans bought food there on that day to show support for the company president's discriminatory stance on marriage. It's almost enough to make me wonder whether the public statements by the corp pres were calculated to attract a specific customer base? I've lived in 3 places: New Orleans, NYC, and Washington, DC. I cannot recall ever seeing a Chick-fil-A restaurant anywhere in any of these cities, so (pardon my ignorance) I'm wondering if the restaurant chain has franchises primarily in places where residents are more likely to be anti-gay marriage, anyway? IDK. Was just wondering... Maybe the pres of Chick-fil-A knows how to turn a buck...

On the other hand, I am very pleased by the recent "kiss-in," and I suspect that this made plenty of folks who live where there are Chick-fil-A restaurants wonderfully uncomfortable!

Am going to be playing in New Orleans and Biloxi for the next couple of weeks. If anyone's gonna be playing in that region, hit me up

Generally, yes. Chick Fil-A is more prominent in places where anti-gay marriage sentiment is stronger. The chain started in the Atlanta metro area and expansion outside of the Southeast is mostly a recent phenomenon. And the most recent wave of expansion is focusing on the Midwest, which also tends to be more conservative and more likely to be anti-gay marriage. Here is a recent map of location density by county (its a little dated though because St. Louis isn't included): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ch...stribution.svg I currently live in the St. Louis suburbs, and all Chick Fil-A locations are less than ~2 years old. But the midwest expansion isn't all suburbia, however, I have also ate at the Chick-Fil-A near Michigan Ave. in Chicago. Also keep in mind, all Chick Fil-A locations close on Sunday (the day I crave their food the most...lol), so their opinion on gay marriage should not be surprising in the least. As for their "record" day, that is disappointing, but in many areas where they are located, ~50% of people agree with the owner in principle. I debated about going to Chick-Fil-A on Friday and see what was going on with the "kiss-in", but laziness/Olympic watching got the better of me, and I probably would have felt a little guilty because I would have also bought food there.

Also Chick-Fil-A "fandom" was probably a secondary factor in that shaping the record profit day. Every new location that opens, ~100 people camp out for 24 hours before the grand opening, so they can get free Chick Fil-A for a year. Many people think Chick Fil-A is awesome for their food and service, not necessarily their political stance. The service at Chick Fil-A is the best I have ever seen for any fast food chain; they are generally the nicest fast food employees you will meet.


And another random thought, US Women's soccer player Megan Rapinoe, who publicly stated she was a lesbian before the games, scored two goals vs. Canada, yesterday! USA! USA! (Sorry, Canada. )

[LirvA]

Originally Posted by COCOCHANEL

Do you feel like you've come out? I'm sorry to tell you that--despite the common misconception to the contrary--we do not pass out "gay cards" upon the completion of one's successful coming out procedure, nor is there any committee to determine whether you've done so successfully "Coming out" is such a personal thing--only you can really say whether you're there or not. For some, they do not consider themselves to be "out" until they've told their parents/siblings/family. Others consider themselves "out" once the words have passed their lips just once--in any context (for those people, just the act of engaging this forum would render them "out"). However you ultimately decide to define it for yourself, coming out takes time and is a process. Cut yourself a break, baby, and know that--clearly--you're taking steps to get to where you're trying to go It's all good...

My own view of the matter is that no one gets to tell you when you're actually out--only you can decide when that time has come. In other words, it's not relative based on how others perceive you. Rather, it depends solely on how you perceive the manner in which you're portraying yourself to others in the various facets of your own life. I.e., are you "out" at work? At the tables? At Christmas with the family? To friends? For me, it was pretty f'ing obvious at a young age that I was gay, so I just "came out" to everyone at 14. Once I had told my mom and once everyone at my high school knew I was gay, I was "out" in my own mind. I told a close friend that I was gay when I was 13, but it wasn't until I had told many more people that I considered myself truly "out." Telling Mom... that was the biggie for me (Hard to believe that was 20 years ago now! Yikes. I am getting old, I guess...) Stay cool. I PROMISE it gets easier! And better!! Oftentimes, most of the pressure and anxiety associated with coming out is self-induced, though this is less true when people live in less accepting cultures and communities, I suppose. But my point is: cut yourself a break! You're doing great.

Thx

[Bigoldnit]

Originally Posted by LirvA

On facebook where it says interested in: (sexual orienation) if you make it "both" does that count as coming out?

It's definitely a big step, but, IMO, "coming out" isn't a thing you do, it's a process... Usually you tell certain people before you tell others. If you move to a new town, or start a new job, or just make a new friend, you'll probably "come out" again.

Some of these moments will feel more important than others. For me, the biggest step was telling my parents. That's when it really sunk in and became real. For others, maybe changing a FB status was a huge deal because they knew that so many people would see it (or perhaps because having to consciously change a setting was such a big affirmation of who they were)... Someone like Sally Ride had a partner for decades and was open with all of her close friends and family, yet some people might say that she never "came out" while she was alive simply because she never made a public speech about her relationship...

So, I'd be less worried about defining what "counts," and more focused on the process. Just be a little more open about and accepting of who you are each day and everything will be fine.

[tringlomane]

Originally Posted by Bigoldnit

Someone like Sally Ride had a partner for decades and was open with all of her close friends and family, yet some people might say that she never "came out" while she was alive simply because she never made a public speech about her relationship...

This is the first news to me that:

1) Sally Ride died. RIP (guess I missed the news that day...oops)
2) Sally Ride was in an LTR with a woman

And I would say that she didn't "publicly" come out. But I'm sure she came out to whoever she felt like coming out to. And as long as she was happy with that, that's the biggest thing.

[Lottery Larry]

Originally Posted by LirvA

On facebook where it says interested in: (sexual orienation) if you make it "both" does that count as coming out?

No, it just makes you greedy