First, let me just say thanks to all who weighed in on this thread. I was away from this site for a few days, and caught off guard by the outpouring of thoughts and opinions. Excellent discussion! I learned some things. What a great reminder of why I love this fleet!
And for those who have spoken out on "Ginger Pride" (I'm so stealing that) and said pro-ginger things, it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. But for me it's not a ginger issue, not a gay or straight issue, but a respect issue. When someone singles out a group of people and treats them badly, simply because they are different in some way, it diminishes us all.
One thing I absolutely love about this fleet is how inclusive it is. While the demographics may change over time as people fade in and out of the game, the spirit of the fleet remains remarkably constant (thanks in no small part to Nick and the officers). I suppose that's why I was so taken aback by what happened in fleet chat that night. But I know that was an aberration. The fleet I see in this thread is the fleet I signed up for: supportive, inclusive, thoughtful, and just generally awesome!
So thank you, one and all--even those who don't agree with me or think I may have overreacted. Thank you for contributing to this discussion. Thank you for making me feel at home again. And thank you, officers and fleetmates alike, for creating a safe place for us to explore strange new worlds, seek out new life and new civilizations, and occasionally massacre the hell out of each other in PvP.