#MeQueer hashtag goes viral as LGBT+ people share horrific stories of violence and abuse
The #MeQueer hashtag has exploded (Pexels and twitter)
LGBT+ people all the world have shared shocking stories of the abuse and violence they’ve suffered because of their queer identities.
Using the viral hashtag #MeQueer, floods of Twitter users have rushed to highlight the inhumane treatment which they’ve faced from hateful parents, teachers, friends and strangers.
LGBT+ people have come forward before to report sexual abuse as part of the #MeToo movement – most prominently when actor Anthony Rapp accused Kevin Spacey last year, leading to an avalanche of allegations and multiple criminal investigations.
Actor Anthony Rapp instigated a wave of sexual misconduct allegations against Spacey when he came forward last year (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
But this hashtag – which originated in Germany – is different, as it specifically focuses on queer people’s struggles, as well as the devastating experiences which result from intolerance.
Hartmut Schrewe, a writer who lives in Brandenburg in the north-east of the country, started the hashtag, according to Reuters, when he posted it on August 13 with the message: “My husband is my husband and not my pal.
“When will this finally end .”
“My husband is my husband and not my pal” (HartmutSchrewe/twitter)
The tweet didn’t go viral, but the hashtag did, and stories of rejection and abuse started to pour out.
One person recounted being told: “You make our lives so much worse, why can’t you just be normal, why can’t you just be a girl?
“If you buy something like that [mens underwear] again, we’ll kick you out and stop supporting you” (nonbinarypunk/twitter)
“If you buy something like that [mens underwear] again, we’ll kick you out and stop supporting you.”
Another listed different forms of abuse he had suffered, writing: “Being beaten so hard that your nose bleeds like hell for just coming out as trans to your dad.
“Being called He/she/it by your P.E. teacher and being told in front of yr class how you’re an abomination.
“Constantly scared that telling a new friend ur trans will kill u” (homolordt/twitter)
“Constantly scared that telling a new friend ur trans will kill u,” he added.
One person remembered “coming out to my mum as pan and being told to not choose a side yet (bc I’m literally telling you I’m on all sides here but ok), and that I shouldn’t tell anyone bc I’d never find a boyfriend as boys will get insecure if I tell them I’m not straight.”
They were told they would “never find a boyfriend as boys will get insecure if I tell them I’m not straight” (fanpersoningfox/twitter)
Another wrote about being told that “if we would put all the gays or lesbians on one island, they would go extinct, because they cannot procreate.”
“They would go extinct, because they cannot procreate” (GlixxL/twitter)
One person tweeted: “You’re gay? You’re a piece of s**t! Go and kill yourself!” before adding: “My former best friend said this to me after my coming out.”
“My former best friend said this to me after my coming out” (alex_uk_/twitter)
Another #MeQueer participant wrote: “when saying that i’m attracted to both men and women: ‘but have you had sex with a woman before?’ HONEY I HAVEN’T HAD SEX EVER BUT THAT DOESN’T RELATE TO ME BEING ATTRACTED TO PEOPLE.”
They added: “when speaking to my mother about marriage and saying that i could also marry a woman: ‘are you lesbian?’ – ‘no, i might be attracted to both.’
“HAHA that isn’t real, darling” (ibyoonprofen/twitter)
“‘HAHA that isn’t real, darling.’ never felt so uncomfortable being the driver in a car, so close to telling her to leave.”
Some didn’t refer to one particular moment, instead choosing to voice their frustrations with discriminatory, harmful messages which they had heard repeatedly.
“I’m so sick and tired about being told I’m only allowed to exist if I do so quietly and don’t disturb heteronormative society invalidating anyone who doesn’t fit the straight and narrow idea of what a human being should be!” one person said. “For f**k’s sake!”
“I’m so sick and tired” (ConnieWiegand/twitter)
Schrewe explained that he posted the tweet because he “had had enough. I wrote about this on Twitter and then the hashtag went viral.
“It is wonderful that so many queer people have shared their experiences,” he added.
