"Because some people have sex with people of the same sex, an entire culture has been created, broadly speaking, out of oppression. Which in a rational world would not be an issue"

Neil Tennant’s observation reflects on how the existence of same-sex attraction, a naturally occurring aspect of human sexuality, has provided the foundation for the emergence of an entire cultural identity, what is typically known as LGBT+ culture. He points out the paradox that a basic element of human diversity, which should ideally be inconsequential in a rational and accepting society, has instead been the impetus for a distinct collective experience, history, and cultural sphere. The driving force behind this collective formation is, as Tennant notes, oppression. When people face exclusion, discrimination, violence or legal persecution for their identities or relationships, they inevitably begin to find solace and strength amongst one another, forging connections out of necessity and resistance.

The culture to which Tennant refers encompasses everything from activism, literature, music, and fashion to chosen families and specially curated safe spaces. Its rich traditions and shared references are, paradoxically, born out of having to shield and affirm oneself against mainstream marginalization. Rather than simply existing without comment or controversy, same-sex relationships have historically attracted disproportionate scrutiny and hostility, making visibility or even basic dignity a social struggle. That struggle for recognition and safety has, in turn, knit together communities that might not otherwise have needed robust structures of solidarity and celebration.

Pointing to the irrationality underlying homophobia and discrimination, Tennant imagines that if societies were rational, if no one considered whom a person loves or is attracted to as problematic, there would be no stigma or hostility. Without oppression, there would be no need for defensive cultures or separate communities to protect against hostility. Such a world wouldn’t erase diversity, but it would make it unremarkable and unremarked upon, a natural part of the human experience rather than a rallying point for either persecution or resistance. The existence of LGBT+ culture, then, is at once a testament to creativity and resilience and an indictment of the intolerance that made its formation necessary.