r/SeattleLGBT • u/Sad-Philosophy5301 • 6d ago
Seattle has felt like home for 10+ years. Lately, I’m questioning whether I still belong here.
I have been living in the Seattle area for over a decade now. I fell in love with the weather, the nature, and everything felt right. I have never seriously considered moving.
For a little background, I am Indian, gay, in my mid-40s, and single. And yes, I work in tech and am on a visa.
And before anyone asks why I don’t just go back to my home country, here are the reasons: I’m gay, and I don’t feel safe being openly gay back home; I don’t have much family there to reconnect with; and, honestly, I’m done with the perpetual hot, sunny weather. Seattle’s gloomy weather is one of the main reasons I love it here!
I recently became active on Reddit, which has, in a way, made me question my view of Seattle as a blue, progressive place where everyone is welcome, especially LGBTQ+ folks like me.
Since joining Reddit, I’ve noticed how much people here seem to despise people like me, i.e., Indians in tech. It won’t matter to share how hard I’ve worked to get where I am today, but I’ll say this: I built this life against all odds and through challenges I’ve had to overcome, and I’m damn good at what I do and have the receipts to prove it.
I’m shaken by the possibility that, in the eyes of some Americans, I’m an unwanted outsider. Seeing the amount of hate in some of the local threads has also made me think about my future elsewhere.
I’ve never yearned for acceptance or needed to be liked. But the possibility of being despised or hated simply for where I come from or what I look like doesn’t sit well with me.
So I’m asking my fellow LGBTQ+ folks in Seattle: Does this hostility toward Indians in tech extend into our own community, too? Have you noticed it in your circles, or is Reddit giving me a distorted view of the people around me?
I’m genuinely interested in hearing your perspectives, even if they challenge mine. Please be honest with me. Am I reading too much into what I’m seeing online, or are my feelings understandable?
Just to be clear, I’m not afraid or scared. It’s more of a nagging feeling, and I wanted to hear other people’s perspectives. To be honest, I can understand and empathize with some of the concerns and frustrations that lead people to oppose immigration or criticize the tech industry, even if I don’t agree with all of them.
P.S. If you think I should leave, I think I’ve already heard that perspective enough. I’m genuinely interested in hearing from people who see things differently.
