[stylist] LGBTQ REVISITED

Thu Mar 27 04:20:24 UTC 2014

Thea,

Calm down, I think you misunderstood my post. I'm not suggesting people
hide their sexual orientation, and I believe it's important to promote
equality for everyone. LGBTQ's should have a presence in our world so
more people realize there's nothing wrong with being LGBTQ and to treat
LGBTQ's with respect. I have gay family members and friends, and I'm a
huge pro-gay rights person.

My point is why does anyone need to attach labels? It's one thing to
make known sexual preference when dating or working to break barriers
gays have known for far too long, but just as I don't identify as a
blind person, I don't understand why we need identify with our sexual
preference either. I'm a person with likes, interests, goals,
abilities-- why is it so important I specifically identify as blind?
Can't I just as easily identify with anything else that makes up who I
am as a person? Yet no one wants me to do that. I must be labeled as
blind. And that's not enough. I must specify partial or total or low
vision. I find it meaningless. To me, it seems the same for LGBTQ's and
any other minority.

This has nothing to do with promoting equality and fair treatment for
the LGBTQ community. It's just those bins again, and if anyone wants to
live outside the bins, then maybe we shouldn't be so hung-up on the
labels. Gay, straight, transgender, questioning, blind, non-disabled,
why does it matter so much? People may be ignorant about these issues,
and this is why so much education is still necessary, but to see people
only for their sexual orientation or disability, seems to take 10 steps
back for either cause. I'm not saying hide who you are or lie or not
inform people, but to label for the sake of labeling, it doesn't seem to
do anyone good.

You imply that my post was about staying in the closet and not educating
society, and that couldn't be farther from my intentions or my post.
I've lived my entire life with labels and being pegged for those labels,
so yes, I hate labels, but this doesn't equate to meaning I believe in
living in closets and not educating the world.

Bridgit

-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Miss Thea
Sent: Tuesday, March 25, 2014 8:45 PM
To: Writer's Division Mailing List
Subject: Re: [stylist] LGBTQ REVISITED

Hi, Bridgit.
Just as it is important to others to know about your blindness, how you
do 
things, etc., a person's sexuality is a big part of how they socialize
and 
how people look at them.
Especially for trans-sexuals, who may be transitioning from one to the 
other.
I think that's why shows like "The L Word" were so important, in spite
of 
the promiscuity, profanity, and general dikey drama.
As a blind person, you want the right to get jobs you're qualified for,
like 
everyone else.  As gays, we want the right to marry, same as everyone
else. We want the right not to have the crap kicked out of us because
we're 
holding hands with someone in the park, just as blind people with dogs 
fought for the right to have their guide dogs with them in restaurants,
in 
parks, etc.
It's the same with people who are different everywhere.
In order to get those rights, the wrongs must be brought out into the
open. 
Hence, Gay Pride and other shouts to the world that we want what other 
people have as a birthright.
I'm a quiet woman, and what I want is a sweet woman to come home to
every 
night. I'd like a woman whose hand I can put a ring on.
Or maybe I'd like a really close friendship with benefits or whatever.
The point is, if you can get it, so should I, without fear of being
beaten, 
fired, or being outted, and then getting beaten or fired.
Make sense?
Thea

-----Original Message----- 
From: Bridgit Pollpeter
Sent: Tuesday, March 25, 2014 3:51 PM
To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [stylist] LGBTQ REVISITED

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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-- 
"Let's drink a toast now to who we really are."

           --Jane Siberry

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