((((((((((Angela)))))))))))))

I am sorry that some of the replies here have not been very supportive of you or your proposal. I can see the value of having a place to talk about those issues. While it seems appropriate to discuss them in General, we have seen that not everyone will support it, and I think it's also uncomfortable that threads here move so fast and are replaced with new ones. I prefer posting on the forums that just don't move so fast.

I would encourage you to remember that you did receive many supportive replies also, as well as to keep in mind that you are welcome to talk about those issues on the forums that we already have. I think that sometimes we get a little too rigid about topic fitting exactly with a particular forum, and it should not be that big of a deal. Personally, I would post just about anything that was close to my heart and my feelings on the SI board, just because I am comfortable there. Maybe I'm wrong about that, but it is what I would do.

I mentioned before that I suspect we are a much more diverse group than we tend to think. We have things in common such as mental/emotional struggles and that we are able to look to the internet for support. Those things draw us together and perhaps overcome some barriers that might keep some of us apart in the real world. We're all human, and sometimes it's hard to see past our own beliefs and feelings and reactions and accept others for who they are, differences and all. I know I'd like to be better than I am at that sometimes.

You definitely are right about minority status and issues surrounding it having an impact on mental health. We all have things in life that tie in with our mental health struggles - things like employment status, relationships, parenthood, homelessness, grieving, physical illness, financial struggles, major (or minor) life changes, and the list goes on. Many of those things have their own forums here and some don't but we talk about them still. I can see a place for the things that you want to talk about, and I hope that we can talk about them whether or not a new forum is created, and I hope that people will be supportive. Maybe it's a little harder because feelings run deep in this area.