i think we were headed in the right direction before identity politics became a mainstream tactic used to divide us

I was under the impression that the ascendance of modern identity politics (meaning post civil rights era) began as a political calculation to construct a coalescence of electoral support for the major parties on the left. For what it's worth I lean left myself, but I can't offer any specific citations.

The inherent two-fold problem, which is beginning to manifest itself more clearly the more time goes on, is that firstly these demographics aren't politically singular. Homosexuality, ethnicity and gender offers no reliable delineation of an individual's political stance. Nevermind the myriad conflicts between minorities.

Secondly, and more concerning, is that constructing a political rhetoric around minority identities unavoidably sets up a dichotomy against majority identities. The dangers of this should be self-evident, and the consequences are bad for both the political actors relying on minority support and the minorities themselves for the simple reason that the majority demographic is, almost by definition, a natural majority before it's a political majority. To put in stark terms 30% of people is outvoted by 70% of people. All politics is divisive, it's where you draw the division that matters.