Equality works both ways.
I've been rejected by other groups because I'm not part of that group.
It's like those cultural clubs at NTID. I've had a few students give me a hard time because I wasn't black, Asian, or foreign. I've had a few students give me a hard time because I'm not deaf enough. I've had some students give me a hard time because I'm not gay or am not a woman.
I went to a rape conference. It was a general conference where people could get together and talk about rape. No, it's not just rape experience... but what could or should be done as well as the emotional impact that could happen. It was designed to help prepare students in case rape did occur. I went as a volunteer for work. There were only 2 guys there... me and a gay guy. All the women kept giving me a hard time cuz I was a guy. "Oh, guys are never raped. They can't be raped. You have no part in this meeting! You don't understand anything!"
I went to this meeting involving Asian students. I was only there as an observer. A few weeks later, I went to a friend's apartment for a small social gathering as well as making cookies for an upcoming party. One other person there was part of this organization as a student advisor. He knew I was observing those meetings and asked me what I observed. So, I told him what I observed. Unfortunately, what I observed were not what he expected (not following parliamentarian procedure, no respect, etc). He expressed his concern to their next meeting. A few days later, I was with a friend minding my own business when one of their members approached me and yelled at me saying, "You have no right to talk about our meeting! You're not part of us. Don't talk about us!"
I was part of an deaf assembly of student organizations and clubs. I was parliamentarian. It was difficult because students wouldn't listen to me. Since I was not "deaf enough", I had no right to judge their errors in operating parliamentarian procedures.
