I feel that LGBTQ+ “culture” (if you can call it that) was very different about half a generation ago, in that it was extremely white-washed. I totally relate to not feeling comfortable with it. The flamboyance (which I now understand as a celebration of identity) can be difficult to embrace when you grow up in a culture where sexual stuff of any kind is seen as hush-hush. Walking into a room full of white queers is also somewhat intimidating as a person of colour. No wonder I’ve heard many elders in my Asian community make claims like “there are no Asian gay people” because they see it as a white-people-thing.

Fortunately, there have been big strides in recent years of QPOC representation, and intersection has gotten sexy. Thanks for sharing your story!