I'm in favor of the original post for a number of reasons:
It is relevant to a large section of this and other fandom demographics whose fan/affinity interest in something like anthropomorphic lit/art coincided within a short distance of time with the exploration of their sexual orientation or gender identity, particularly in formative years of their lives.
The first furry convention, Confurence, was established by a gay California couple after they hosted a furry meetup at their home for a number of years in the 1980's.
If anything, driving a cross-section of this fandom into debt, prison, harassment by professional fascists, torture or suicide because of their sexual orientation, gender identity, or other aspects which have no impact upon the content of their individual character is a problem that can at least compel some of us who live in less-troubled areas to 1) consider the advancements made for freedom, justice and compassion - the type that allows the freedom of expression inherent in the fandom's existence to persist - and 2) consider how much better our freedoms and equalities should be, for the future.
And it's affecting multiple walks of life. Right now, the position of gay athletes and tourists at the Sochi Olympics is in question because Russia contradicts the IOC on protections from the anti-LGBT laws. It's affecting businesses, politics, health, criminal and international justice, and so on, but it somehow can't - nay, shouldn't - affect a fandom that is touched at its literary and artistic roots by LGBT expression?
I'm in favor of the original post for a number of reasons:
If anything, driving a cross-section of this fandom into debt, prison, harassment by professional fascists, torture or suicide because of their sexual orientation, gender identity, or other aspects which have no impact upon the content of their individual character is a problem that can at least compel some of us who live in less-troubled areas to 1) consider the advancements made for freedom, justice and compassion - the type that allows the freedom of expression inherent in the fandom's existence to persist - and 2) consider how much better our freedoms and equalities should be, for the future.
And it's affecting multiple walks of life. Right now, the position of gay athletes and tourists at the Sochi Olympics is in question because Russia contradicts the IOC on protections from the anti-LGBT laws. It's affecting businesses, politics, health, criminal and international justice, and so on, but it somehow can't - nay, shouldn't - affect a fandom that is touched at its literary and artistic roots by LGBT expression?