When Safe Spaces Become Competitive Spaces

For many in the LGBT community, safe spaces are like home. They are places where we can finally be ourselves without fear, judgment, or pretending. These are the corners where we laugh, share stories, and heal from a world that isn’t always kind.

But lately, some of these spaces don’t feel as peaceful as they used to. Instead of lifting each other up, people sometimes start to compete for attention, praise, or recognition. It’s no longer just about helping one another, but about who’s “more active,” “more visible,” or “more valid.”

What used to be a family starts feeling like a contest. Maybe it happens because all of us have been hurt or ignored before. After so many years of hiding or fighting to be seen, we just want to feel important.

But when we start comparing our journeys, we forget that we are supposed to be fighting together, not against each other. A safe space should be a place where everyone feels equal, whether loud or quiet, bold or gentle. No one’s story is less important, and no one’s identity is more “real” than another’s. The beauty of our community is in our differences. And when we respect that, we grow stronger.

Let’s bring back what safe spaces truly mean: kindness, respect, and understanding. Let’s cheer for one another, instead of competing. Because every time one of us succeeds, it’s a win for all of us.

At the end of the day, Pride isn’t about being better than someone else but about reminding each other that we all belong.

Safe spaces stay safe when we choose love over competition.

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When Safe Spaces Become Competitive Spaces

An Editorial by: Jerry Shangyin

(FTS LOBO-Chairman of the Board of Directors)

Note: This article reflects the author’s own thoughts and interpretations, shaped by personal perspective and experience. It is written with the intention of offering insight, inviting reflection, and opening space for meaningful conversation with readers. While it carries the author’s voice, it also welcomes diverse viewpoints that enrich the dialogue.

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