It doesn't help that most people don't consider it a problem. They see life as "men are supposed to be independent and if you get lonely you just date". If you try to insist there is another way, some amount of people will continuously push back as if it's an insult to their culture(it really isn't meant that way!). Which, okay I can almost understand, but then I go back to seeing constant posts about how lonely people say they are and I'm like "well that's what I was saying"
Parent didnt say or even suggest that.
> when being gay was literally a criminal offense straight guys didn’t have to worry about holding hands
He's making an observation. Have you been to Turkey at around the same and have a different experience?
Holding hands between people of the same gender is now seen as a sign of a gay relationship (aka: couples holding friends). Therefore holding hands is no longer the sign of just friendship.
This is especially true in countries like Turkey where being gay is not really accepted.
Is that really so shocking to you? You can observe this in any Arab Muslim country today.