Socialism: Love vs Understanding
- I Am Me Inc
- Jul 13
- 2 min read
Being Loved is not the same as being Understood
In a world that loves to slap rainbows on everything from Vodka bottles to toothpaste, it's easy to mistake being tolerated ( and marketed to) for being truly understood. For us LGBTQIA+ folk - especially for those of us who dream of a world where profit doesn't decide our worth - the difference is everything.
Yes, we are often loved. Or at least, tolerated enough for someone to shout, "Yassss Queen", at us when we're just trying to buy lactose free milk at Redner's. But does that mean society understands us? Not really.
45% of LGBTQIA+ youth seriously considered suicide in the past year. 1 in 5 trans people in the U.S. have experienced homelessness. Meanwhile, Pride merchandise sales hit over $1 billion every June.
In other words: We're being loved (or at least sold to) - but not understood nor protected.
But real understanding means recognizing that queer people don't just need to be celebrated once a year - we need housing, jobs, healthcare, and dignity every day. That's what socialism demands: a system where no one's identity is a profit margin.
To be understood means that when a queer Black trans woman says, "I can't pay rent," we don't say "But love is love!" - we organize rent control, fight for a living wage, and make sure she's safe.
As Audrey Lorde, a Black lesbian poet and warrior put it:
"Without Community, there's no Liberation."
Being Loved is great. Being understood is revolutionary. And a socialist vision gives us the tools to make that revolution happen.
So next time someone shouts "Love wins" - smile, raise your reusable coffee cup, and whisper back: "Solidarity wins harder."
Stay queer. Stay loud. Stay understood. And never settle for a rainbow sticker when you deserve a seat at the table.
Feel free to share your thoughts on Socialism: Love vs Understanding. Every 2nd Monday of the month we will blog about Socialism/Safe Space concerns and examples. If you have an experience that you would like highlighted in our Socialism blog or want to create an I Am Me Socialism blog please reach out to Angel Brown @Angel.iammecorp.org.
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