In the past years in my country the hobby often attracted various shitheads. Now it's slowly getting better but I still see posts on local groups where someone wants 'no SJW bullshit' in their games. Which you can be sure translates to 'i don't wanna be nice to people who are different than me'. Sure, dude, I can even save up some dirty socks to blend in if you're that flavour of basement dweller but I won't tolerate homophobia, especially in something that's intended as the pleasant experience.
@goblinrogue I’ve booted people from my table for that sort of behavior. Just a firm “you are not welcome here with that attitude.” A couple of my friends have begun only gaming with other members of the LGBTQ+ community as a safety precaution, and outside of convention games or promotional store games, honestly, I’m well on my way to doing the same.
@WilliamAdcock It's a kind of circular problem when you can't find right people in the hobby because they didn't feel welcome here in the first place because they couldn't find right people in the hobby. I know most of the people around my age who play tabletop games in my town at least in passing and there's a reason I don't hang out with them lol. And from the other side, at least covering G and B men, I know exactly of one couple playing some board games around here.
@goblinrogue
For what it's worth, we're in the Hudson valley and looking for local gamers
@WilliamAdcock
@FASA_Andrew_1879 Doesn't help me much as I'm in Europe ;)
@FASA_Andrew_1879 Appreciate it, but I'm upstate :)