It was noted briefly that this online space welcomes everyone. However, there is a negative aspect of everything good— and with the growing reliance on social media paired with a well-renowned community based off of an unpopular belief, the unfortunate inevitable is bound to occur: trolls, hate, and author abuse.

*Trigger warning: some of the posts below may be difficult to read. There is explicit language, derogatory slurs, and other phrasing that may be sensitive to some users.

Author Abuse, Hate Speech, and Trolling

Attached above are some direct responses to individuals engaging in conversation regarding LGBTQ+ rights or other relations. This is considered author abuse, which Becky Gardiner describes as “demeaning and insulting speech targeted at the writer of the comment” (Gardiner, Guardian). While this is only a slim scope of what this community has to endure both in the public sphere as well as their own counter-public, this is the unfortunate reality of spaces like these. Other issues that occur as a result of such easily accessible spaces like this one, is trolling and hate speech. These spaces are created to encourage conversation and information sharing; however, there are spiteful individuals in the world that utilize online anonymity to troll and demean others. As we explored earlier how individuals can create accounts like them, or choose how to represent themselves, the concept of remaining anonymous is a large appeal to online cyber bullies. While for sure, there are users who are open about their homophobia, there are others that make fake accounts and pretend to be an ally; but then go ahead and begin berating the group with hateful and homophobic comments and attacks.

Both in this counter public, as well as in the outer public sphere; there is a deliberate antagonization of this group. Mocking, bullying, trolling and the derailing from conversation are a constant when it comes to an opinion that differs from the vast majority. Despite this, the community and its interactivity continues to flourish. It was a space built for people's upbringing, and will remain strong and growing regardless of what is happening in the world. #LoveWins is a large online community that is always growing. You become enlightened and educated by engaging with the hashtag and immersing yourself in this space. The power is in the people and their desires for change, and their efforts have been impactful since their emergence; no matter who tries to shrink them down.