I'm deleting the above comment because I'm afraid it just comes across as unhinged and overly negative. I was upset after reading about what happened to you in your previous journal. Good luck with whatever you choose to pursue!

I've been straight in the fandom for almost a decade and have had zero problems.

I do think you have the right idea though. If the furry fandom is your only social outlet you should probably explore more ways to interact with people; that's how you become well rounded.

I've always thought Furry was very inclusive but I understand needing to branch out as well. I do hope you find what you're looking for though, and I'm sorry some people inside the fandom are jerks.

Focusing your social life on one group is never a good idea, and it is good that you are branching out. However, leaving one group for another is not necessarily a good idea. I've found that being a part of multiple different social groups does help for having a wide social outlet, but don't expect that to be a source for finding that which you are looking for. That comes with kindling friendships in everyday interactions with people. Only once or twice in my 65 years have I been introduced to a relationship via others.
I do agree with you that the majority of what I see within the furry fandom has become gay culture, but there still is straight culture within the fandom, you just need to know what to look for to find it. In all the years I've been in the fandom, I've never had an issue finding the small straight community at conventions.
FYI, it is more apparent at small cons than at the big ones.
All that being said, you do what you feel is best for you, but I hate to see you leave just because you can't find what you're looking for here.

I'm with you on that, felt it was one way years ago and it's been another the past few years. Granted I look at myself as part of thr lowest on the group spectrum, IE broke as hell so no loads of art and in no way would fit in wearing a suit. After so long and stabbed in thr back more times than I can remember, I've just stuck around just a few people I know are okay and mostly just lurk while doing my own thing. My time has went from wanting to be super active in the furry groups to a full time job, helping family, gaming, and building models. The stepping back I agree can do you some good but it can't hurt to still be in contact with those you know are still good to you.

I feel like some of this where you go and what you plan to do. Like the catfishing thing can be boiled down to just your standard person being your standard ass, because the people doing it think it would be funny or wanted something out of it.

And I have gone to DenFur almost every year when it has not been cancelled and even when it was RMFC, and I haven't really had much of this problem, but I know I don't really go to go to parties. If I can go with friends I can, if not I go it alone, and then just attend panels that seem fun and interesting, or I spend time in the game outside of that.

I think though, having a few different friend groups or social activities outside of furry will be beneficial, as others have said. I play a lot of Magic, I have friend I met at work that I will do game nights with about once a month or so. Or my Local Game Store will hold Commander Night for Magic the Gathering I will sometimes go to.

When a fandom gets to a specific size, you tend to need to find your group within the larger group. But yeah, it does feel like there has been a pretty large shift in how things are done in the community, Like I feel like to some degree it went from being a group for the general social 'outcast' for those who simply didn't fit in elsewhere to being what it is now, and part of that is just that it has become a little more mainstream, and those shifts are expected, and it is always about how one adapts to change.

But, I still think of you as a friend of mine even for how little we chit chat, but I have known you for a while, but whatever happens, stay nerdy my friend.

Good luck