Do people feel they are, or will be, safer and/or more welcome, for example?

No, I don't feel safer/more welcome. When I'm posting on 'neutral topics' on sites I frequently post on, no problem (and there never has been, even when questions specifically address the representation of LGBTQ+ individuals, which is on-topic for one of those sites -- the moderators there have got my back, even if their personal views might be at odds -- about which frankly I have no idea, as they don't let them affect their actions. And elsewhere the question hasn't come up (Lua and VBA, Pets and Gardening tend not to open the topic -- although I noted a tone change in the responses to my questions on the technical sites when I switched from a username without gender connotations to one that included the damning word 'girl' -- which is off topic here, but I will say I'm big bad and old enough to snort with laughter and move on. 40-odd years of active feminism gives you sufficient armour to identify and ignore the [fill in your choice of perjorative noun here].

But on Meta, I'm treading on eggshells all the time -- Will this post attract the trolls? Am I prepared to deal with them? Have I expressed my opinion in a sufficiently guarded manner that the mob won't howl in outrage if it isn't the popular opinion?

And yes, I'm characterizing some (not most) of what I've seen here over the last 4-6 weeks as a mob -- I've seen and held rational discussions that involved a number of participants; but also observed and tried not to participate in less structured discussions that make no pretence to respect alternative viewpoints. It's hard to feel safe/comfortable when it appears that the 'wrong' opinion will result not in disagreement but vituperation. (And that's before we get to the trolls). With the exception of the trolls (and that -- I hope -- very few who are genuinely opposed to welcoming LGBTQ+ individuals), the members of the apparent 'mob' might want to reflect on this fact: "four legs good two legs bad" is not a welcoming ethos. Let's talk, rationally; we might have to agree to disagree. But we don't have to make anyone miserable or scared.

Right now, I'm scared to participate here without a censor looking over my shoulder.

Do people feel they are, or will be, safer and/or more welcome, for example?

No, I don't feel safer/more welcome. When I'm posting on 'neutral topics' on sites I frequently post on, no problem ; and there never has been, even when questions specifically address the representation of LGBTQ+ individuals, which is on-topic for one of those sites -- the moderators there have got my back, even if their personal views might be at odds -- about which frankly I have no idea, as they don't let them affect their actions.

Elsewhere the question hasn't come up: Lua and VBA, Pets and Gardening tend not to open the topic -- although I noted a tone change in the responses to my questions on the technical sites when I switched from a username without gender connotations to one that included the damning word 'girl' -- which is off topic here, but I will say I'm big bad and old enough to snort with laughter and move on. 40-odd years of active feminism gives you sufficient armour to identify and ignore the [fill in your choice of perjorative noun here].

But on Meta, I'm treading on eggshells all the time -- Will this post attract the trolls? Am I prepared to deal with them? Have I expressed my opinion in a sufficiently guarded manner that the mob won't howl in outrage if it isn't the popular opinion?

And yes, I'm characterizing some (not most) of what I've seen here over the last 4-6 weeks as a mob -- I've seen and held rational discussions that involved a number of participants; but also observed and tried not to participate in less structured discussions that make no pretence to respect alternative viewpoints. It's hard to feel safe/comfortable when it appears that the 'wrong' opinion will result not in disagreement but vituperation. (And that's before we get to the trolls). With the exception of the trolls (and that -- I hope -- very few who are genuinely opposed to welcoming LGBTQ+ individuals), the members of the apparent 'mob' might want to reflect on this fact: "four legs good two legs bad" is not a welcoming ethos. Let's talk, rationally; we might have to agree to disagree. But we don't have to make anyone miserable or scared.

Right now, I'm scared to participate here without a censor looking over my shoulder.