You hit the nail on the head when you correctly pointed out that when we do try to organize, we're told to sit down, stand back, listen and support from behind. We're warned against colonizing someone else's movement for our own gain. And these are all valid criticisms.

Another thing I would like to point out as a white liberal male, is that I don't really have anything of my own interest specific to a straight white male around which to organize. Straight white liberal males are typically educated, have decent careers, make decent money. We're typically happy with our lot in life, and lean liberal because we empathize with the plight of others, and we want others to have access to the same privileges and opportunities afforded to us. We want injustice to end for everyone, including ourselves, but we haven't experienced much injustice ourselves. We participate in movements and we believe that we vote correctly, but it's not for us, it's for others around us.

Even when it comes to suicide, this is not an issue that affects a lot of us. I grew up in an uber-conservative area, spent most of my adulthood in an uber-liberal area and now live in an area that is right down the middle. I've known a lot of white men my age who have succumbed to suicide and overdose. However, nearly all of them were conservative and working class, the straight white men that straight white liberal men have a tough time being social with, and vise-a-versa. So even there, while we support policies that we believe would reduce or eliminate suicide and overdose, many of us don't really connect personally until it happens to someone that actually is close with us.

Anyway, this was a thought-provoking piece. Thank you.