It is ridiculous and, frankly, shocking that some people are still unaware of the existence of the LGBTQ+ community in this day and age. Whether they’re oblivious completely by accident or entirely on purpose, these people pretend that folks who are lesbian, gay, bi, trans, and queer don’t exist on Planet Earth.

What’s more, they’re ignorant of the everyday challenges LGBTQ+ people face. Some of those challenges even extend to digital spaces, such as the bias in AI-driven dating apps that often overlook queer users altogether.

Bored Panda has collected screenshots of the times that straight people forgot that LGBTQ+ people are actually a part of society.

When you’re done reading through this list right here, you can check out Bored Panda’s previous article about the times that people had clearly been living under a rock right here.

Accredited psychotherapist and author Silva Neves, from the UK, explained to Bored Panda why some people pretend that LGBTQ+ people don't exist and went into detail about the discrimination, homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia they still have to deal with in 2022.

According to the psychotherapist, for some straight people, ignoring the existence of LGBTQ+ is to stay comfortable in their own lives.

#1

For Those Afraid To Tell Their Doctors Their Sexuality. We Are Taught To Treat Everyone And Keep Our Opinions To Ourselves

For Those Afraid To Tell Their Doctors Their Sexuality. We Are Taught To Treat Everyone And Keep Our Opinions To Ourselves

despistada Report

MaddaPanda
Community Member
4 years ago

We praise you, great professor!

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RELATED:
    #2

    Ikr

    Ikr

    _Username-Available Report

    rspanther
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    You can just hear the guy saying , that's not the same thing at all.

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    #3

    Stole The Rainbow

    Stole The Rainbow

    Drag0nK1ng123 Report

    rspanther
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    It was just sitting there, didn't look like it was being used, so why not take it out, dust it off.

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    #4

    Better Lesbian Husband

    Better Lesbian Husband

    VRSJMS Report

    Liam F.
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    oy I kinda just might've laughed at that

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    #5

    Oh Brad You Poor Thing, I'm Jus Really Gay

    Oh Brad You Poor Thing, I'm Jus Really Gay

    MattloKei Report

    MaddaPanda
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    Love this!

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    #6

    Ah Yes Nothing Like Getting Rejected By An Old Married Lesbian

    Ah Yes Nothing Like Getting Rejected By An Old Married Lesbian

    LilliputianMouse Report

    ALEX THE WEIRDO
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    brilliant

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    #7

    Vivianne Miedema - All Round Legend

    Vivianne Miedema - All Round Legend

    golfbuggysareawesome Report

    ADHORTATOR
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    Gold!

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    #8

    “I Think Emily Dickinson Was A Lesbian”

    “I Think Emily Dickinson Was A Lesbian”

    fairydreamys Report

    Hawkmoon
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    "Emily Dickinson should have been more carefull about Covid". Another dumb historian.

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    #9

    They'll Be Pals. Gal Pals

    They'll Be Pals. Gal Pals

    doomed-to-sparkle Report

    Foxxy (The Original)
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    Well yeah you can have a bond girl but why does the sex object have to be just a girl, why can't it be a bond guy.

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    #10

    Ms. And Mrs

    Ms. And Mrs

    sapphomd Report

    Trillian
    Community Member
    4 years ago (edited)

    Even if they (edited pronoun) were married to a man that would be totally out of line

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    #11

    Brah

    Brah

    RachChamp_ Report

    Jo Choto
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    I do not understand why doctors think they have the right to decide what you can do with your own body.

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    #12

    Ultimate Gal Pals

    Ultimate Gal Pals

    piratekangs Report

    ADHORTATOR
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    Friendship wedding?

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    #13

    Hitting With That Self Sappho

    Hitting With That Self Sappho

    Thedepressionoftrees Report

    Crazy Dog Lady
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    Oh dear... I hope she figured it out

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    #14

    Sit On My Face But Just In A Friend's Way

    Sit On My Face But Just In A Friend's Way

    Reality_Rose Report

    NsG
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    Um, if the girl you're hitting on is straight, she's probably using the same deflection she uses on guys, but isn't sure how to let you down gently either.

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    #15

    Who's Gonna Tell Them

    Who's Gonna Tell Them

    AdrienneACox Report

    Bored Seb
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    I imagine what they mean is "to avoid any risk of unwanted pregnancy that would be a nightmare to deal with in space". But they spelt it wrong indeed ;)

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    Never miss a story that brings joy to the world. Add us on Google

    #16

    People Are Gay, Steven

    People Are Gay, Steven

    Explainer003 Report

    KJ
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    Yup, just two good friends, ignore the fact they are snogging later in the evening.

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    #17

    Aunt Pat And Her "Roommate", 1986

    Aunt Pat And Her "Roommate", 1986

    Snukes42Q Report

    Nathaniel
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    Raging roommates I reckon. Possibly militant roommates.

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    #18

    And They Were “Color Enthusiasts”

    And They Were “Color Enthusiasts”

    finnsatch Report

    Guy MacGregor
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    Well the rainbow have been used as a symbol for multiple different things through history. It is not necessarily linked to homosexuality for everyone.

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    #19

    It's Straight To Be Gay

    It's Straight To Be Gay

    The_Hottest_Mess Report

    Candia Lee
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    Gatekeeping? There won't be enough fems to go around.

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    #20

    Yup… Just Friends

    Yup… Just Friends

    TheCoonManYT , muzzpete Report

    ADHORTATOR
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    Two Santas :-)

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    #21

    Let's Go, Lesbians

    Let's Go, Lesbians

    LilliputianMouse Report

    Random Anon
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    Oh Joe, triggered for the wrong reasons.

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    #22

    How Many Here Are In The "More Options" Category?

    How Many Here Are In The "More Options" Category?

    JohnZ117 Report

    Liam F.
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    Bruh, if they're going to ask the question why, wouldn't homosexuality be a choice?

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    #23

    Finally Found One In The Wild

    Finally Found One In The Wild

    alexisprofessional Report

    KJ
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    And save on laundry costs by sharing a bed, very environmentally friendly.

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    #24

    That’s How Long Y’all Been Married Or?

    That’s How Long Y’all Been Married Or?

    und3rta1e , chrysssruiz Report

    Nathaniel
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    To be fair, without any other context, you might not immediately jump to gender transition.

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    #25

    I Believe This Man Is Really Close To Having A Realization About Himself That He Is Going To Be Uncomfortable With

    I Believe This Man Is Really Close To Having A Realization About Himself That He Is Going To Be Uncomfortable With

    NomadFire Report

    Foxxy (The Original)
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    And he knows this how?

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    #26

    Where Are Their Wives

    Where Are Their Wives

    mattxiv , mattxiv Report

    Jo Choto
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    Honey, we are the girls.

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    #27

    "My Daughter And Her Best Friend / Room Mate." - Worried Parent

    "My Daughter And Her Best Friend / Room Mate." - Worried Parent

    WhoAm_I_AmWho Report

    MaddaPanda
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    What can your daughter do to make you grow up to be a decent human being before it's too late? Oh wait...it's probably already too late.

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    #28

    But Boys Don't Get Periods?

    But Boys Don't Get Periods?

    _DonkeyPigeon_ Report

    Bad Alchemy
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    Trans boys get periods. trans men get periods. Any one with a uterus may get a period. Not all uterus-owners are girls/women. Please update your reality.

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    #29

    Hotel Friends

    Hotel Friends

    Crafty_Cupcake_670 Report

    ALEX THE WEIRDO
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    just gals being pals

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    #30

    Good Friends

    Good Friends

    Trey_Explainer Report

    shuka shuka
    Community Member
    4 years ago (edited)

    Not true. I took a Classics university course 20 years ago and on day one we were told Alexander was gay.

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    #31

    Well, Why Would She??

    Well, Why Would She??

    ggtrollster Report

    Nathaniel
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    I work in an office with several women, all of them straight. But they are obsessed with boobs, like it is the number one talking point about them. Liking boobs is universal.

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    #32

    My Great-Great Aunt And Her “Roommate” (People At The Time Assumed They Were Sisters Though)

    My Great-Great Aunt And Her “Roommate” (People At The Time Assumed They Were Sisters Though)

    ffxhalog Report

    Scipio Africanus
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    To be fair they do look very similar

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    #33

    There’s No Bi In Team (Link To Thread In Comments)

    There’s No Bi In Team (Link To Thread In Comments)

    _TallieRose Report

    Nathaniel
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    What does the B stand for then? Balloonists?

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    #34

    Lovely Bit Of Sportswomanship On Display By Sam Kerr And Kristie Mewis

    Lovely Bit Of Sportswomanship On Display By Sam Kerr And Kristie Mewis

    NotableMr Report

    Tamra Stiffler
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    Well, she DOES look comforted. 🙂

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    #35

    He Never Married

    He Never Married

    bigmacbear Report

    Garry Cowan
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    Confirmed bachelor is my personal favourite

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    #36

    We Exist Solely For The Satisfaction Of Straight People

    We Exist Solely For The Satisfaction Of Straight People

    Aris-Totally Report

    Nathaniel
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    So... are women the cause of homosexual behaviour in men?

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    #37

    They're Gay Harold

    They're Gay Harold

    TryParking316 Report

    Jo Choto
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    Yeah, those money-saving GAY millennials.

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    #38

    Ah, Yes. I Love My Pda-Filled “Friendships”

    Ah, Yes. I Love My Pda-Filled “Friendships”

    Late_Pen1829 Report

    Nathaniel
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    Sometimes women will marry each other which also look like romantic relationships.

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    #39

    “Mila With Her Classmate” Written On The Backside; My Grandmother Is On The Left; C. 1950s, St. Petersburg, Russia

    “Mila With Her Classmate” Written On The Backside; My Grandmother Is On The Left; C. 1950s, St. Petersburg, Russia

    haskittens Report

    Nathaniel
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    Wow. Such good friends.

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    #40

    Staring

    Staring

    Nate_Shoober Report

    Sean
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    well its interesting seeing a person thats not boring and the same as everyone else although its also uncomfortable, at least thats how i felt when i was in a bigger city for the first time (i grew up and still live in a tiny german town)

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    #41

    Two Men Having Sex Is Unheard Of

    Two Men Having Sex Is Unheard Of

    shmupied Report

    -
    Community Member
    4 years ago (edited)

    Either that or someone grew up and stayed in a nunnery... "Yes, sweetie, the deep-voiced visitor was a man. Don't let the long black dress fool you."

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    #42

    Sometimes I Feel Like People Are Just Intentionally Trying To Ignore The Signs

    Sometimes I Feel Like People Are Just Intentionally Trying To Ignore The Signs

    yes_affirmative Report

    -
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    A little embarrassed that I mistook two men for father and son - they looked alike and had a twenty-year age gap. They corrected me and were wonderfully gracious about it. We had a conversation about long-time couples coming to look and sound alike. I congratulated them on their decades-long relationship and more recent marriage. A very happy couple - certainly better partners than my married-to-the-bitter-end parents!

    #43

    There Was An Attempt

    There Was An Attempt

    JohnZ117 Report

    Tiggy Darling
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    They're a bit dim, which is ironically, a mix of light and dark.

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    #44

    1 Month After My Mom And Uncle Came To The Conclusion My Cousin Isn't Gay

    1 Month After My Mom And Uncle Came To The Conclusion My Cousin Isn't Gay

    DenikaMae Report

    Random Anon
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    People would rather stick their heads in the sand than face reality, especially the uncomfortable reality. It's like seeing life in a different light would break their minds or something. Astonishing, but that's just how it is.

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    #45

    Weeeelll... Lucky Me

    Weeeelll... Lucky Me

    fran_smuck251 Report

    MaddaPanda
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    More or less everything is wrong with this sign. First of: "Women will never". Ok.. Then; "as successful as men", as if all men are successful. Plus; lots of men don't have wives, a lot of women do have wives, etc. etc.

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    #46

    Casual Parental Erasure From The Telegraph

    Casual Parental Erasure From The Telegraph

    Avocato_FHS Report

    CaptainDinosaur
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    I love how these old heads call kids 'snowflakes' when they're the ones getting butt-hurt about everything.

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    #47

    Comment On A Cooking Video Of Strange Aeons And Her Girlfriend

    Comment On A Cooking Video Of Strange Aeons And Her Girlfriend

    jan_troeti Report

    Kathi Schäffer
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    That's gotta be satire

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    #48

    Is This The Father Figure That Men Keep Saying That Feminists Lack?

    Is This The Father Figure That Men Keep Saying That Feminists Lack?

    Theweirdposidenchild Report

    Potato patato
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    Iirc Mary tweeted " happy valentine's day, hide your wife and husband because I swing both ways." So I think she knows. Or grandma's like to have very similar pfps

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    #49

    Emojis

    Emojis

    carteractually Report

    Shelp
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    guess it has something to do with some countries the phone is also used in

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    #50

    Projecting

    Projecting

    reddit.com Report

    Chris Kane
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    wow, didn't notice that when I was a kid!

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    #51

    Families Be Like

    Families Be Like

    reddit.com Report

    Atlas
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    When girls kiss they’re just friends, when guys kiss it’s “unnatural” but when a guy kisses a girl it’s serious???

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    #52

    Ah Yes, The Friendship Flag

    Ah Yes, The Friendship Flag

    aw-coffee-no Report

    guineapiglover12
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    Looks a lot like an LGBTQ one! friends forever!

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    #53

    Child Discovers Gay People Exist

    Child Discovers Gay People Exist

    Alzoura Report

    Misstaken138
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    Bobdylanslapmyfatnuts has to be one of the most amazing usernames I've ever encountered 😂

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    #54

    They're Just Companions

    They're Just Companions

    davetowers646 Report

    #55

    Just Gal Pals Kissing On The Lips And Snuggling

    Just Gal Pals Kissing On The Lips And Snuggling

    reddit.com Report

    Nathaniel
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    EveChan sounds like they are deeply in the closet, wandering around Narnia.

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    #56

    North Korean Defector Describes Being Sent To The Doctor Because He Wasn’t Attracted To Women

    North Korean Defector Describes Being Sent To The Doctor Because He Wasn’t Attracted To Women

    ChrisMMatthews Report

    weatherwitch
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    As someone who felt broken until my mid forties because I didn't know Asexuality existed I cannot begin to comprehend how awful this must feel for him and gay people in North Korea. I thought I was broken heterosexual, instead I was a classic Asexual. Decades of not understanding what was wrong with me, when I simply didn't know the name for what was Right with me ❤️

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    #57

    Ah Yes, B E S T M A N

    Ah Yes, B E S T M A N

    ErenYeagerOwnsMe Report

    grindelwald_the_insomnia_panda
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    I will fart in the commentators direction.

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    #58

    The Next Question Was The Same But Girlfriend/Girls

    The Next Question Was The Same But Girlfriend/Girls

    Enby_pancakelgbt Report

    -
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    This nerd is thinking: radio buttons vs checkboxes...

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    #59

    Right. Hang Out. Mhm

    Right. Hang Out. Mhm

    homowithoutsapiens Report

    Jo Choto
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    Spoken like a man who has only ever seen women on porn videos.

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    #60

    You're Hot, Cupcake

    You're Hot, Cupcake

    JameXito Report

    Bored Seb
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    FIrst time I watched, I didn't really see Vi as flirting with Cupcake. For me, she was just trying to make her feel unconfortable (which obviously work). Later on (scene in the bed) was a bit more obvious. But still... I like the idea that they could be just "really good friend" (I obviously have nothing against gay relationship; I just like nice friendship being depicted in a show; but won't be upset if they end up together).

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    #61

    Who's Gonna Tell Him

    Who's Gonna Tell Him

    supportbiggay Report

    Shelli Aderman
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    WHEN did he say he was straight? 🤣

    #62

    There Is No Such Thing As A Female Couple (First Comment)

    There Is No Such Thing As A Female Couple (First Comment)

    DutchNotSleeping Report

    Hugh Richardson
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    Liberalism is a mental disorder, huh? Cool! Sign me up!

    View more comments
    #63

    Is It Straight For A Woman To Have Crushes On Women?

    Is It Straight For A Woman To Have Crushes On Women?

    glittermunster Report

    CrunChewy McSandybutt
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    This doesn't belong here. I am very much a straight woman, but I had girl crushes, especially during the throes of puberty. Being human is complicated and sh*t.

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    #64

    That’s Not How This Works, That’s Not How Any Of This Works!

    That’s Not How This Works, That’s Not How Any Of This Works!

    Fatally_Flawed Report

    Shelli Aderman
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    My mind put an Oxford comma there… 🤣 “You choose!” 🤣

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    #65

    I Found This, I Was Very Happy To See Gay Hijabs (I Wear A Hijab And I’m Gay) Until I Read The Caption

    I Found This, I Was Very Happy To See Gay Hijabs (I Wear A Hijab And I’m Gay) Until I Read The Caption

    itsruqiah Report

    Sean
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    maybe they live in a country you cant openly be gay. then this would still be very brave. but idk

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