--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Ostracism means you don't exist at all…" description: "\"Ostracism means you don't exist at all. And that's a very difficult situation to live with. As gay people, we had been chasing ostracism by that point ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6a/harry-hay-26318_black_ostracism-means-you-don-t-exist-at-all-a_831407.png" --- # Ostracism means you don't exist at all. And that's a very… ![“Ostracism means you don't exist at all. And that's a very difficult situation to live with. As gay people, we had been chasing ostracism by that point for probably 300 years. You just knew that you should have dropped into your black hole.” quote by Harry Hay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6a/harry-hay-26318_black_ostracism-means-you-don-t-exist-at-all-a_831407.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6a/harry-hay-26318_black_ostracism-means-you-don-t-exist-at-all-a_831407.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6a/harry-hay-26318_black_ostracism-means-you-don-t-exist-at-all-a_831407.png) > “Ostracism means you don't exist at all. And that's a very difficult situation to live with. As gay people, we had been chasing ostracism by that point for probably 300 years. You just knew that you should have dropped into your black hole.” [Harry Hay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-hay/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Ostracism erases identity, making existence feel impossible, especially for marginalized groups historically forced into invisibility. **In simple terms:** Being ignored makes life extremely hard for oppressed people. Key Takeaway Seek inclusion and visibility for all. Themes identity exclusion LGBTQ+ social pressure mental health Mood empathetic reflective Type inspirational social When to use this quote - community building - support groups - public advocacy Key Concepts social dynamics psychological impact human rights Questions to Reflect On - What does true inclusion look like? - How can societies prevent ostracism? A Different Perspective It may simplify complex social dynamics to a single cause. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Black hole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-hole/) [Difficult Situation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficult-situation/) [Difficult situations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficult-situations/) [Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gay/) [Gay people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gay-people/) [Homosexuality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/homosexuality/) [Ostracism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ostracism/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [Though you cannot see, when you take one step, what will be the next, yet follow truth, justice, and plain dealing, and never fear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/though-you-cannot-see-when-you-take-one-step-what-will-be-the-next/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [It is very important to be aware that you may never be satistied with your analytic career if you feel that you are restricted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilfred-bion/it-is-very-important-to-be-aware-that-you-may-never-be-satistied-with/) [Wilfred Bion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilfred-bion/) > [At certain times in the revolutionary struggle, the difficulties outweigh the favorable conditions and so constitute the principal aspect of the contradiction and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mao-zedong/at-certain-times-in-the-revolutionary-struggle-the-difficulties/) [Mao Zedong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mao-zedong/) > [Just because we go through a difficult situation, it doesn’t mean that the future is predetermined. 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Believe this, then begin looking for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/in-every-difficult-situation-is-potential-value-believe-this-then/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [One way to become enthusiastic is to look for the plus sign. To make progress in any difficult situation, you have to start with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/one-way-to-become-enthusiastic-is-to-look-for-the-plus-sign-to-make/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [When a difficult situation comes into your life, it is possible to tune in to your mind and say, ?Okay, choose.? Are you going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jeffers/when-a-difficult-situation-comes-into-your-life-it-is-possible-to/) [Susan Jeffers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jeffers/) ## More by Harry Hay > [The police had a practice of entrapping people. This was done all over the country, but we had a particularly vicious group here in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-hay/the-police-had-a-practice-of-entrapping-people-this-was-done-all-over/) [Harry Hay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-hay/) > [A law is a law. It can be voted in. It can be voted out. It can be voted in and stay in as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-hay/a-law-is-a-law-it-can-be-voted-in-it-can-be-voted-out-it-can-be-voted/) [Harry Hay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-hay/) > [Underneath that facade, I'm a terrified little sissy, just like everybody else. But I never let it show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-hay/underneath-that-facade-i-m-a-terrified-little-sissy-just-like/) [Harry Hay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-hay/) > [Assimilation is the way you excuse yourself. It absolutely never worked at all. You may not think you are noticeable. 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