Joe Lycett says LGBT+ community has ‘problem’ communicating online
Joe Lycett has spoken out about the way LGBT+ respond to people online. (Mark Milan/Getty)
Pansexual comedian Joe Lycett has said that LGBT+ people have a “problem” with the way they talk to others online.
The 30-year-old entertainer urged queer people to be “compassionate” in responding to ignorant internet users during an interview with the BBC.
He said that when it came to educating non-LGBT people, they often “need to have it explained to them in a way that’s compassionate, and [with the] understanding that there’s quite a lot to take in.”
Joe Lycett calls for kinder treatment of non-LGBT people online
The comedian explained: “I’m loathe to call it ‘my community’ but I suppose it is as I am a member of it,” before saying that the queer internet “can sometimes be guilty of expecting everyone to have done all of the reading and research that members of it have.
Pansexual comedian Joe Lycett has urged LGBT+ people to be kind online. (Ian Gavan/Getty)
“Because lots of LGBTQ people are really smart, and there’s so much really interesting reading that can be done, and so much academic writing that’s been done about it, people can end up getting quite academic about it.”
He recalled a time when he posted about queer issues and watched as people condemned a user in his replies who had asked a question.
“If I asked the question, they would answer it to me, so just try and treat people in the way I expect to be treated myself.”
— Joe Lycett
“I did a tweet about LGBTQ+ and someone was saying ‘what’s the + and what’s the Q?'” he said, “and some people would be like ‘you should educate yourself it’s disgusting, google it.’
“If I asked the question, they would answer it to me, so just try and treat people in the way I expect to be treated myself.
“So I do think that’s been a problem in our community,” added Lycett, who is set to present new Channel 4 show Got Your Back.
Stonewall responds by calling on LGBT+ people to help allies
In a statement to the BBC, Stonewall said that Lycett was right to say it was helpful for queer people to talk to potential allies in a “respectful way to help increase understanding and acceptance for LGBT people in society.”
The LGBT+ charity added: “It’s great that people want to better understand the right language to use when talking about LGBT people and their identities.
“Non-LGBT people who want to better support the community can start by learning about and listening to the experiences of LGBT people and the challenges we face.”
The group continued: “Getting to know more about LGBT people, our history and issues is an empowering step towards becoming an ally.
“Only by working together with allies can we create a world where no one faces violence, harassment and discrimination just because of who they are.”
