The way I've seen it described (on Tumblr, so correct for context where needed) is this way: people on the conservative side of politics tend to regard "weirdness" as being suspect, putting a high value on social conformity and the ability to blend in with the pack. To them being "weird" is definitely a social solecism and a sin, and something which is outright harmful. Unity and conformity are strength. Being regarded as "evil" by people who don't understand what they stand for is acceptable, because they know they are Right.
Meanwhile, on the progressive side of politics, being "weird" is regarded through a lens of tolerance - if it doesn't hurt anyone else, you're allowed to have colourful hair, differences in sexuality, differences in gender presentation (even within the conventionally accepted gender labels, never mind about outside them), differences in clothing, differences in opinion, and so on. Standing out from the crowd is allowable and acceptable, because on the progressive side of things, diversity is a positive thing - lots of different opinions working together tend to make for more durable and lasting solutions to problems. So the progressive side of politics welcomes the weirdoes, to a degree, because they add a bit of variety to things, and provide another perspective.
So for those on the progressive side of politics, "weird" isn't an insult, where "evil" would be, because people who tend progressive tend to be more interested in doing right than being right. For those on the conservative side of politics, "evil" isn't an insult, but "weird" is, because people who tend conservative tend to be more interested in being right than doing right.
That said... as a fellow (benign) weirdo, I tend to find it a bit uncomfortable myself. It's working... but the reason it's working is because the people it's working on aren't interested in being tolerant of people like me. Call me picky, but I think people won over to the side of tolerance through their own intolerance aren't going to remain there very long.
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Meanwhile, on the progressive side of politics, being "weird" is regarded through a lens of tolerance - if it doesn't hurt anyone else, you're allowed to have colourful hair, differences in sexuality, differences in gender presentation (even within the conventionally accepted gender labels, never mind about outside them), differences in clothing, differences in opinion, and so on. Standing out from the crowd is allowable and acceptable, because on the progressive side of things, diversity is a positive thing - lots of different opinions working together tend to make for more durable and lasting solutions to problems. So the progressive side of politics welcomes the weirdoes, to a degree, because they add a bit of variety to things, and provide another perspective.
So for those on the progressive side of politics, "weird" isn't an insult, where "evil" would be, because people who tend progressive tend to be more interested in doing right than being right. For those on the conservative side of politics, "evil" isn't an insult, but "weird" is, because people who tend conservative tend to be more interested in being right than doing right.
That said... as a fellow (benign) weirdo, I tend to find it a bit uncomfortable myself. It's working... but the reason it's working is because the people it's working on aren't interested in being tolerant of people like me. Call me picky, but I think people won over to the side of tolerance through their own intolerance aren't going to remain there very long.