[stylist] LGBTQ REVISITED

Wed Mar 26 18:37:53 UTC 2014

HI Bridgit,

I understand what you're saying, and in general, I think it's a solid, 
useful dictum:  never suppose that you need to justify yourself to 
others.  We're all equals, whatever our differences. But when you're 
gay, you have to pass through trials which healthy heterosexuals don't 
even think about because heterosexuality is the expected --some would 
say demanded-- standard.  But those of us who came of age thirty years 
ago have had to work out basic issues of self-worth and self-respect 
just to win our place under the sun.  I think it's different for gay 
kids growing up now; in many or most cases they're simply not brutalized 
for being who they are.  This isn't universally true.  Ignorant, brutal  
parents still consign their gay children to "ex-gay" ministeries in 
order to "pray away the gay". Schoolyard bullies and bullies of all 
kinds still torment young gay and lesbian folk for being who they are, 
and sometimes they do more than simply torment them. Straight people, 
even very kind and well-meaning straight people, don't have this 
experience and consequently don'understand why gay people sometimes have 
to take a noisy stand about who they are. It shouldn't be that way, and 
it shouldn't be that way, and it shouldn't be that way.  Yet in the 
office and in the schoolyard and in the parking lot it IS that way, and 
gay people have to fight that war just to stay alive, just to live their 
own lives with dignity and self-respect.

--Bill

On 3/25/2014 12:51 PM, Bridgit Pollpeter wrote:
> And perhaps this is an ignorant heterosexual talking, but the way I see
> it is that no one expects straight people to constantly identify our
> sexual orientation, so why gays and bi's and transgender? I think a part
> of equality and inclusion means accepting people as whole beings
> regardless of sexual orientation. Identifying or being identified by
> sexual orientation is the same as being identified by disability or hair
> color or music interest etc. It's just one part of a person.
>
> Bridgit
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of William L
> Houts
> Sent: Monday, March 24, 2014 11:38 PM
> To: stylist at nfbnet.org
> Subject: Re: [stylist] LGBTQ REVISITED
>
>
>
>
> HI Katie,
>
> I cheerfully identify as gay, though my reality is a little more
> complicated.  For various reasons, I no longer go to bars or participate
>
> in gay culture in that way.  It's all fine, clubs, bars, parades, the
> whole thing.  But to my friends and family, I feel myself to be
> "postgay", which is how I identify myself on the rare occasions the
> subject comes up.  Postgay isn't nearly the same thing as "ex-gay",
> which is false and noxious.  Postgay, as I understand the word, means
> that yes, yes, I love men, and in general take a relaxed view of
> sexuality.  I'm just not very interested in making a big issue of it.  I
>
> love all of our gay heroes, our Oscar Wilde, our Harvey Milk, our name
> your poison. But I don't go out of my way to make gay jokes, to frequent
>
> gay owned establishments, or to attend gay-themed parties. You're
> welcome to go, and I'll be glad to hear about it when you come home.  As
>
> for me, well, I'm working on a sestina tonight.
>
>
>
> --Bill
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On 3/24/2014 9:22 PM, kec92 at ourlink.net wrote:
>>    
>>
>> Hi all,
>>
>> I am still writing the play about the bisexual transgender male. I
>> would just like to update on some of the issues that I have read about
>> and talking to lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and
>> Questioning
>> (LGBTQQ) peoples. One of the issues that I have read about is that
> many
>> of the characters that are seen on movies that are acting as LGBTQQ
> are
>> mostly heteorsexual and cisgender (people whose gender idenity and
>> assigned sex match), play LGBTQQ characters. There has been some
>> controversy in the LGBTQQ community where they want people who
> actually
>> identify as LGBTQQ.
>>
>> Another issue that I would like to bring up is the inclusion of people
>> with disabilities who also identify as LGBTQQ wanting inclusion as
>> well. Even within the LGBTQQ community, there is still discrimination
>> and bias.
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Katie
>>
>> On 24.03.2014 20:23, Bridgit Pollpeter wrote:
>>
>>> Jackie,
>>>
>>> The movie is Tu Wong Fu: To Julie Newmar, with Love, starring Patrick
>>> Swayze, and yes, it was a funny but heart-felt movie. It was made in
>>> the mid-90's.
>>>
>>> Bridgit
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Jackie
>>> Williams
>>> Sent: Monday, March 24, 2014 7:42 PM
>>> To: stylist at nfbnet.org
>>> Subject: [stylist] LGBTQ REVISITED
>>>
>>> I AM STILL REVISITING ALL THE E-MAILS I MISSED. Well, I enclosed my
>>> few about spiders. I have had a hard time remembering the meanings of
>>> all these letters, but I have one or two poems that might nibble on
>>> the edges. I have known many gay men, some fellow teachers, two of
>>> whom adopted. Quite amazing for Arizona. Better parents I never knew.
>>> I also found that my Great Aunt Dora, a heroine of mine throughout my
>>> life, left a letter when she died asking that her headstone be placed
>>> next to another woman's headstone, and a tender letter was enclosed.
>>> A very attractive woman, she refused offers of marriage, and became
>>> the Librarian at Upper Iowa University. When she retired after fifty
>>> years, an old beau asked her again, and she again refused. Years
>>> after this mystery, an answer. Then, some years ago, I saw a movie
>>> with a Chinese title about a drag queen. It starred the dancer who
>>> also starred in ghost, and it was hilarious. I also visited a friend
>>> in San Francisco, and went first to a place to eat and see the belly
>>> dancers. Then we went next door and saw endless men in drag. I had to
>>> write about a man with a mother that could be me, and his wife and
>>> child who could be my daughter-in-law. Other than my imagination, I
>>> don't have a lot of knowledge, except my scientific-based beliefs,
>>> that is most developments take place in the womb, and sometimes are
>>> highly influenced also by environments that cannot help but magnify
>>> or turn the tide to an already genetic pattern. Now that I think of
>>> it, I have three poems that touch in some way on one or another of
>>> these "letters." I suggest that you read this first line by line, and
>>> spell out the few words that are not phonetic, then read it a second
>>> time with insert, down arrow. It is long, 73 lines. I submitted it to
>>> Georgia for several years, since I understood it to be the drag queen
>>> capitol of the U.S., but it must have offended someone to claim it as
>>> part of their history. It is a marathon of rhyming, and if you do not
>>> hear it, the format has not remained true. Category 4 Jacqueline
>>> Williams Expressing Beliefs In All Ways 1431 W.
>>> 7th Place
>>>
>>> Mesa, AZ 85201
>>>
>>> 480-834-1782
>>>
>>> The Evolution of a Drag Queen
>>>
>>> "My Mother, nothing comes to mind
>>> to extricate me from my bind."
>>> Athletic honors, throwing shot
>>> and javelin were surely not
>>> the skills that now will make up for
>>> a youth I wasted. I foreswore
>>> the effort facing learning times,
>>> realities and saving dimes.
>>> All those awards led me astray
>>> until too late, though I must say
>>> the medals for my breaststroke swims
>>> left me big "pecs" and long strong limbs.
>>> I had a decent resume
>>> before I lost my job. Foul play
>>> robbed goals set by my love and me
>>> for newborn son, cast them asea.
>>>
>>> "My son, I'll think about it soon."
>>> So often, Mom, I've heard this tune.
>>> You'll wear your gowns and gaudy rings
>>> to hifalutin social things.
>>> Oh, wait, my quite majestic mom,
>>> so tall, so buxom, such aplomb.
>>> Ideas brew-a rushing tide.
>>> I'll find a conquest for my bride.
>>>
>>> You gone, your spikes upon my feet,
>>> I walk and fall and still repeat
>>> a practice that becomes my code,
>>> a perfect imagery, the mode.
>>> I've got the walk, now what to do
>>> to make the perfect witch's brew
>>> that causes me to light the flame?
>>> Please bring me soon to newborn fame.
>>>
>>> My wife's peach-pink scant underpants
>>> inspire an undulating dance.
>>> While she, adored, earns great big bucks,
>>> I hold the bottle my son sucks.
>>> As "Mister Mom," I take him here
>>> and there and now it's everywhere.
>>> The beauty parlor-such a place!
>>> He always grins his funny face.
>>> We hang out as a winsome pair.
>>> The ladies think us both quite fair.
>>> As one beautician holds him tight,
>>> another makes my eyes shine bright.
>>> Eye shadow, glitter, wigs all glow.
>>> My heart beats fast. My wife will know
>>> the depth of love I feel for her.
>>> Oh, dear, my makeup must not blur.
>>> I slowly roll my thigh-highs up-
>>> the jet-black net-oh, quite corrupt.
>>>
>>> My mom and wife will meet for dinner.
>>> I pray that they will see a winner.
>>> Mother, son and dearest one
>>> arrive all laughing, full of fun-
>>> awash in new-felt wonderments
>>> at rainbow fans on fundaments.
>>> They do not know I'm here, you see,
>>> cast eyes at entrance doors. Oh me.
>>>
>>> The drum roll comes and I sashay
>>> the runway, not one hair astray.
>>> Bestowing smiles on all alike-
>>> arched eyebrows, winks, I pass my tyke
>>> with arms outstretched and then he knows
>>> his "Mommy" right down to my toes.
>>>
>>> And now when all is said and done,
>>> with kudos to my lovely one,
>>> she must compete with all those droves
>>> who bring me gifts and treasure troves
>>> of drag queens-past and present tense.
>>> I hope that I'll maintain the sense
>>> to build a future-one to see-
>>> that's free of fear and bigotry.
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
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>>    
>>
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>> ai
>> [4]
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-- 
"Let's drink a toast now to who we really are."

           --Jane Siberry