goat

There is a shining gem though, and that is Cuba, which has one of the most progressive LGBTQ+ frameworks in the Americas, and Castro publicly apologised his comments about gay people, though an apology doesn't automatically negate past atrocity. Yet, ironically, Cuba accomplished this through largely liberal means, such as a democratic public referendum and civil debate, mechanisms which are not possible in the much more powerful China, Russia and Iran because the state is afraid of conceding control to the people. Which makes you wonder, if Cuba, a much weaker socialist country can implement gay marriage while standing against Western Hegemony and the ML definition of imperialism, why can't the others?

Extremists, like tankies, operate using the same epistemic mechanics as cults, or more aptly, authoritarian groups. They maintain their worldview through strict isolation, removing all information and non-approved media and individuals as inherently corrupted by a looming, monolithic enemy, for example, Capitalism. When they are exposed to something that contradicts their views, they default to thought-termination, dismissing the contradiction as Western propaganda, or use lies and libel to distract and disregard. In the view of extremists, there is only good-versus-evil, where the evil has invariably corrupted every aspect of society, political forums, communities, organisations, or personhood. 

You are either in "in the know," a tankie, or otherwise a useful idiot or someone who has been so utterly brainwashed that you cannot see "the truth," thus an enemy -- This is also why Tankies, and other extremists, can never admit wrong or defeat, to do so means that they are not "The Truth," that their dualistic, conspiratorial view of the world is instead a product of their dissonance. 

When you probe tankies on Capitalism, you'll find they often only mean the West. They never mean China, even though China is more exploitative to its working class than Western nations. My experiences with them are that the shadowy figures or looming power, in this case, Capitalism, is actually the US. Since if they did mean it from a structuralist view, they'd also apply to China, which they do not. And if they do, it's with the caveat that Western influence is doing it, and this is supported by historic socialist states always referring to their flaws and faults as foreign interference. I think it's more telling, honestly, that tankies fundamentally misunderstand communist theory, which is ironic, all things considered. 

They sometimes frame their support of contradictory powers and figures as the greater good. Like Hamas or Iran, for example, who are overtly against everything Tankies stand for. But because Tankies view them as the lesser evil, Tankies will show their support, with the belief they will be spared or celebrated, or that there must be sacrifices. (Naivety, really, as they are a part of Western hegemony). This is backed up by historic precedent, where you can look at anarchist and other leftist movements as an example, where once authoritarian states consolidate power over their enemies, they later destroy the useful leftists who supported them along the way, such as the Ayatollah.   

Their arguments are also that progressivism and queer rights are conditional. So long as they are useful proponents of Capitalism, they will be allowed to flourish under controlled conditions. Still, at a moment's notice, the capitalist State can become fascist and authoritarian, while at the same time being blissfully ignorant that the same can be and has been done by socialist states as well. Despite that, Western Liberal Democracies and Capitalism afford more power to civil society through different forms of resistance, including lawsuits, strikes, boycotts, fundraisers, protests, and independent movements and individuals. In the modern states Tankies support, the State controls everything already, making organised resistance illegal, sometimes fatal. So queer people will still have more rights and freedoms afforded to them in the West, as they can actually resist using the system. Compared to the State already being in control. In the West, rights might be a constant battle, but the State allows you to equip yourself to resist. In the authoritarian regimes that tankies support, the State has already won and outlawed resistance. 

And for arguments they cannot counter, which more often than not, reflect reality or their day-to-day lives, they remove them and hide themselves in safe spaces, protected from bitter reality and harsh truths. It's here that they are groomed and shaped into useful doctrine, and encouraged and rewarded by a like-minded community, which ends up being very much the operating apparatus of cults and cliques. In today's age, many can fall for this trap, which can lead to disastrous results: denying reality and destroying aspects of your life and others' to sustain this illusion. To know that you are not in this, ask yourself: how often do you challenge yourself and explore unknown territories? Can you admit wrong? Can you apply your morals past nations, such as recognising that liberal countries aren't perfect either?

It's here, where I believe, diversity fits nicely, forcing you to confront difference. It's also here that I remind everyone in this community to actively engage with Tankies when available to do so.