I don't it matters really from where or who the likes and comments are coming from. You can be male, female, trans, cis, straight, gay, lesbian, metrosexual, or whatever, but I doubt it'll make much difference.

Seriously, a like is a like. Praise is praise. And I think the writer will greatly appreciate that their work is getting some recognition and praise for their accomplishments.

Of course I say this as a straight male who tends to read up some erotic stories that other people wrote (and has no shame in admitting this). So who am I to judge, right?

Avoiding interaction and not liking erotic pieces of poetry simply based on avoiding conflict is an apathetic and internecine inaction that sidelines authentic expression of oneself. The inability to articulate and release simple forms of gratitude, with sincere endearment, for fear of reprisal is self-sabotaging and vastly limiting. What is more, capping one's engagement while simultaneously stifling one's positioning on LGBTQ+ issues or works-of-art is the metaphorical equivalent to sitting on one's hands while watching an utterly moving artistic performance without clapping, therefore, avoiding any sign of pleasure or disapproval.

If a like or comment on your well-intentioned doings were proven to be counterproductive for the poet or writer, then they would be self-sabotaging and self-defeating their own means-and-ends. Moreover, if you genuinely express approval or appreciation for one’s self-expression then you are encouraging an underrepresented part of society to freely express their artistic creativity. As a self-aware, white and hetero cis “ally” you would be a champion of the oppressed, capable of extending understanding to anyone too afraid to participate. Let your passivity turn into participation in what will adorn your writing and build bridges across cross-sectional alliances against hatred and malfeasance.

With the understanding of the aforementioned, I beckon you to acknowledge your unintentional pacifism of the sensitivities of LGBTQ+ movement. It is not my intent to polarize, nor tar your peaceful positioning on this seemingly sensitive matter, rather to awaken and enlighten an already self-aware cis hetero "ally" of the ever-evolving LGBTQ+ movement and what you seem to already support. In the words of the famed-feminist, Simon de Beauvoir, " Those who occupy themselves in restraining this original movement can be considered as sub-men. They have eyes and ears, but from their childhood on they make themselves blind and deaf, without love and without desire. This apathy manifests a fundamental fear in the face of existence, in the face of the risks and tensions which it implies." In other words, taking shelter in the shadows is a cowardly act that is not in keeping with what the famous writer Steven Pressfield refers to when he talks about fighting "resistance."

Sadly, there is hardly a more unfortunate action than the inaction or lack of support for those deemed worthy of such. Although, it must be understood that all acknowledgements in the form of flattery is concomitant with the accompanied resentment from any oppositional views. However, this challenging growth opportunity has presented itself to unfreeze your emotions in transcendence of your freedom of expression. And, if opposition to your likings should rear its ugly head again, while clutching its pretentious pearls, let us revisit this post and remember the refreshing feeling and courage it takes to unapologetically support and defend your ideas and attitudes for the LGBTQ+ writers worldwide. In summation, if we're to become better writers ourselves, we must seek resistance and challenge ourselves to overcome the inevitable hurdles that accompany oppositional viewpoints to achieve a justifiable existence and transcendence of hatred.

I'm probably going to echo what others have said and I also don't (if I'm reading it properly) fit into the 'category' of people this is aimed at. But I don't think it matters. If you like somebody's writing then you like it. If you highlight examples that you think are a) well written, b)sexy or c) you just like the phrase or whatever, then just say so.

Half the time (if not more) I read, like and comment on things and then think... oh, I better check who wrote that, so I know who I'm talking to. I would also venture to suggest that there is writing on here by people that most of us don't know are LGBTQ+, bi-sexual, hetro or whatever else other classifications there are. I always think of Prose as a 'safe' space and would be upset if somebody viewed a like as a 'leer'. Most people here genuinely appreciate feedback and most feedback is genuinely sensitive. I'm not sure that anything needs to alter that by making people feel uncomfortable about commenting on certain pieces of writing.