Sunday, April 23, 2006

(From Storage

because the computer's been mean)

I have been following a particular thread on a message board I regularly haunt. A debate board, this thread asks us to consider the appropriateness of gay families wearing colourful leis to the White House Egg Roll.

To my mind, yes, it was a political statement… of the most very benign kind. It said, We Exist. No big fanfare, no placards, these families simply identified themselves in much the same manner that other groups have used.

Personally, I approve. I want folks to see our similarities to them, so they might also consider themselves in our shoes when they read what’s denied to us. Let the world see that we also have children, we form families. We and our children deserve the protections and benefits that gay-haters keep from us.

Getting lei’d for the Egg Roll (sorry, couldn’t help myself *grin*) was called socially inappropriate by one poster. Which naturally begs the question, what behaviours ARE we allowed? What is considered appropriate in public? By most accounts, we aren’t even allowed a standard accorded to heterosexual couples. To hold hands, to wrap an arm around the other’s waist or to give a tender kiss is taboo.

It’s discriminatory, plain and simple. We’re not asking to dry-hump each other out on the sidewalk for fuck’s sake! Anyway… temper, temper Kim... I was then thinking about a poll asking what behaviours the posters would consider socially appropriate. In the end, I decided it would be an exercise in frustration. No matter how minor, or how much within the realm of good taste, anti-gay people don’t want ANY legitimacy allowed to us.

I suppose they think we’ll just give up this ‘disposition’ if they withhold approval. If kids don’t see us and don’t ask questions, they’ll never be gay. Yeah, that’s really worked. Protect the children from us, except for the gay ones who must live with the threat of violence and propensity for suicide. I could rant in this vein for a while, but I think you get my gist.

I also read that Laura Bush was overseer of this event and through her spokesman said that all families are welcome to attend. This sounds nice, except for one thing; the policy of ticket distribution was changed. In the past, the families at the head of the line, the ones who have waited the longest, get in for the opening ceremonies. This year, those longest-waiting were given tickets with an entrance time of 11am or later… long after the ceremonies had finished and the cameras had gone.

The Deputy White House Press Secretary said that the early morning tickets were designated for the youth volunteers. More like the hand-picked, adulating audience that Bush prefers.

As an aside, I read somewhere that Rep Nadler has been busy again. Wonder how long he’ll be ignored? *

2 comments:

nelle said...

I wasn't aware of that ticket aspect, and that is interesting.

The reaction is typical and about as expected. Hide that gayness!

I posted on this last week...

When gays show their colours

Nice to see you post again, Kim...

nelle

Elle said...

I can't think of anything coherent to say. GRRR comes to mind. Also 'how do you cope'? which is a painfully stupid comment and not the least bit helpful. But seriously - to be goggled at for kissing SO? the GRRR is back.