I find it to be like this:

People, especially those who haven't gotten to know too many people in the community here, tend to ask based on what's relevant in their own lives (as Stormy said above). I do find that as people are around here more and more and get to know people, they tend to become broader in their inclusion of people/genders/prefere nces.

I don't think it's intentional or meant to exclude anyone, it's just what they know. I happen to spend a lot of time in both the "straight world" and in the "LGBT community," so I tend to be hyperaware. And I still find it very unfortunate that those "worlds" so rarely intertwine. less

Likely. What I've seen some other LGBT folks do is comment on the posts with things like "None of these options include me, so I could not vote." And then explain what their options would be had they been included.

The open minded people will make note to be more inclusive. The close minded people likely won't stick around long, so it's win-win. less

I think it's just a by-product of the hetero-centric world we live in.

For straight people, with mostly straight friends, who see mostly straight people on TV, it's probably very easy to forget about those who don't conform to that.

I don't necessarily hold it against them, but I feel happier when someone makes the effort to be more inclusive. less

If it gives you any indication of the transformation that has occurred in me since I joined EF about 18 months ago, I'll put it to you this way:

When I arrived I was a closeted woman, deeply rooted in conservatism. The only gay friends I had were ones I knew in high school and I didn't even know of anyone personally who is transgendered. Now I'm open about my sexuality, and more than half of my current friends are either gay or lesbian, and actually know transgendered people.

That's just my journey. It certainly isn't everyone's journey, but getting to know people who were different than me here, gave me courage to get to know more people in the real world too. less