Hey gang, I've been gone for a while. Sorry. But I'm back now and in FULL affect! Lets proceed gayly forward shall we? So we have finally done it. Give yourselves a high five girlfriends, the gays have officially taken over the world because now we have a superhero in drag to confuse the minds of the children!
Nah. Just kidding. The first episode of SheZow premiered last night on hubnetwork. If OneMillionMoms bothered to watch the show they would note that, as far as I can tell, Guy Hamdon is pretty much what his name implies, a ham of a guy. The show opens with Guy and his bff Max skateboarding and terrorizing his older sister. He discovers an old ring in the basement and transforms into SheZow, the town superhero. With the help of his sister, a super computer named Sheila, and Max, Guy saves the world from a slue of cooky villains one lip gloss at a time. Check it out.
The important thing to note is that Guy likes being a dude and identifies with maleness, and is initially mortified when he transforms into SheZow, until he discovers he has superpowers of course. Which means he is probably a boring cisgendered kid, who happens to wear a skirt and thigh high boots to fight crime on occasion. What I think is truly radical about this show is its portrayal of a "normal" guy finding fulfillment and empowerment through his female alter ego (which is probably scarier to some than actual transgender representation). Even in the first episode, we can see a small evolution in Guy's attitude towards women. I think, if done right, the show can do a few sheawesome things.
1) Give kids with non-conformist gender identities a character to relate to. Not every girl wants to be My Little Pony and not every little boy likes Batman.
2) Show that boys and girls have much more in common than we like to admit. Yes our consumerist society has a great deal invested in the gendering and separation of the sexes. Have you tried to shop for gender neutral toys or clothes for kids under 13 lately? I triple dog dare you.
3) Cause a little havoc on Elm Street when Billy decides to dress up like his fave superhero on Halloween.
*Oh and by the way, this isn't the first, nor will it be the last time, that American television has showcased a male cartoon character in female wares. Two words... Bugs Bunny. If audiences could handle it in the 50's and 60's, surely we can learn to love one more awesome boy in a dress.
Lindsay Lohan has dodged another jail bullet. On March 18th, she pleaded no contest to misdemeanor charges, relating to a June 2012 car crash, the Los Angeles Times reports. She has been sentenced to 90 days in rehab and 18 months of psychotherapy, along with 30 days of community service. So what's new? Her arrest record is thicker than "War and Peace". *Signal patriotic music*. Well I'm an American, and as an American I love to champion the underdog. And my God if Lindsay Lohan isn't a hairless poodle in a dog show. Now I know that a lot of her troubles she's brought on herself.But at the end of the drunken, drug induced,
vehicular assault, mug shot day, I hope every time she enters rehab, she will
emerge with a fresh perspective on life and a since of purpose for her
career.A few weeks ago, I was
discussing Lohan withsome co-workers
and had a serious“leave Lindsay alone” moment.Everyone was like, “ dude why do you even like her?” It took me a second, but I did come up with a few answers.
Reason #1: The girl can act. She
can be in a drug induced coma and still act circles around many of the
actresses in Hollywood. Check her stats. These are a few of my adolescent
faves.
Is she Elizabeth Taylor, no.
But she could be if
she would only, “Just Say No”.
Lohan and Samantha Ronson
Reason #2: She came out before it was trending. Lohan came out before Wanda Sykes, Ricky Martin, Jodie Foster and the wonderful Chely Wright. She didn't do it on a stage, on the cover of "People" or have a coming out coach. All she had was a few pics, a long term relationship and a statement.
What I loved about her “outing” was that she was unapologetic about her sexuality. That took bravery. And even though her girlfriend was criticized for being too old and too butch, she celebrated them in public. That took class.
Reason #3: We could all use more red heads in our lives.
Chickswelike.com
Its funny when queer folk hope, beg, demand for celebrities to come out of the closet and they emerge as a train wreck. Now what do we do with them? Do we only want/support them when they lead good, wholesome queer lives? Hell, can we afford for them not to? I do believe that there is a pressure for queer celebrities to rise above the behaviors of their straight peers, although some may not want to recognize it. Every public persona that represents a minority, whether they want to or not, carries that burden. And the only way to ease that burden is for more representatives to step forward. A whole slue of celebrities have come out since Lohan, and perhaps one day fear of losing one's career because of sexual orientation will be no more. Until we reach that point, I will continue to root for that freckled 90s kid with so much promise. Because we're worth it.
Its official! Despite the loud protests from One Million Moms and other "traditional" values groups, Jennifer Lopez's comedy-drama, The Fosters, aired its official trailer last week. This groundbreaking series stars the fierce Teri Polo (The West Wing) and Sherry Saum (Rescue Me) as lesbian couple Stef and Lena. The mixed-raced couple have a biological son and several adopted children. On the first episode, the family's world is turned upside down when Lena invites a rambunctious runaway to live with them.
The historic nature of the series goes without saying. But I'll say it anyways. This is historic. Multi-racial family depiction is slim, and never before has there been a series on American television centered exclusively on a two mom household. This is also political. Few television series get protested before they even have a season in the can. One Million Moms had this to say about the series:
Obviously, ABC has lost their minds…[they've] approved a series
pilot from Jennifer Lopez’s production company, Nuyorican, about a lesbian
couple and their diverse family…ABC Family reported the comedy-drama pilot,
working with the title “The Fosters,” is about two women raising a “21st
century,” multi-ethnic mix of foster and biological kids.
While foster care and adoption is a wonderful
thing and the Bible does teach us to help orphans, this program is attempting
to redefine marriage and family by having two moms raise these children
together.
As dangerous as two women raising children together sounds, its not nearly as insidious as the statement it will make every single episode: "Our families are the same as yours. Our love is the same. Our struggles are the same. And if you don't want to give us a place at the table......we will make our own table. Because we are good at that sort of thing."
IMDb
According to the trailer, the series seems to be more focused on the lives of the children, which is great because who wants to see a "very special" episode about the difficulty of having a same-sex household every week, downer. I will be interested in how the show integrates the real issues faced by same-sex parents and the challenges of raising children in general. Very early reviews of the series compares it to the mamma bear of family shows, 7th Heaven. I wish it the same longevity and success. Be on the look out for my review of the pilot in June, and please tune in. In the midst of the real struggles that LGBT families face, true representation of our lives is the strongest weapon we have. Use it. Support it. And a side note. I want to give a shoutout to ABC Family's consistent support of non-traditional characters and families in general. If you are not following this network, do because it is light years ahead in terms of queer representation and depiction of modern family life. Their slogan says it all: "A New Kind of Family." And family is what its all about.
We've been seeing each other for a while now, so I think its time we talked about sex. Lesbian sex specifically and why its soooo hard to find. After years of independent research *clears throat* and after countless conversations with my friends, I have categorized "Girl on Girl" into three categories: Hot, Really? and NEXT!.
Too often one encounters the same stale images that pass for lesbian porn.
Two women with long flowing hair, both heavily endowed, but thin, gaze at each other in a non-descriptive room.
They kiss, timid at first but then more aggressively. Girl 1 mounts Girl 2 and slides her long red fingernails (Really?) down the tout frame of Girl 2, who giggles.
*THIS IS A PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT*
Anyone who truly "works" with their hands knows to watch the length and texture of their fingernails. Remember women are like fine luxury cars...... DON'T scratch the interior. Thank you.
Back to bad porn:
If the actresses are bold, they may engage in a little thunder down under (Hot), but most of the time the fingers do the talking and then, still too damn much, the shocked but forgiving boyfriend interrupts the ladies. And now we prepare for the "real" deal (NEXT!).
"Girl on Girl" means just that, two girls engaging in intimate acts designed, in my opinion, for the male heterosexual gaze. Often these actresses are novices with female parts-- even their own, only brushing the surface of female eroticism, and pausing at awkward moments looking for cues from male directors. But have no fear queerlings, there are some queer adult film companies made for us by us, and they know what you want.
nahmanilikegirls.tumblr.com
Pink and White Productions , the works of Courtney Trouble , the performers of Crash Pad, and the amateur films on Queer Porn TV are all excellent places to start the journey to ...... self realization. But if you are like me, you might be wondering what makes Queer porn different from the run of the mill stuff your brother watches? Autostraddle.com has a great piece on Feminist and Queer adult entertainment that explores the emphasis on ethics and gender non-conformity that separates these productions from mainstream "Girl on Girl".
"There's a danger when porn is limiting in gender and sexual
acts -- in an absence of other forms of explicit sex as education, a limited
view starts to paint a portrait of what sex looks like, what people who have
sex look like, etc... and a constrained example of sex negates MANY alternate
and completely valid experiences of what sex is."
J-Bird of Crash Pad Series
"The experiences I have had given me a new perspective on how
ethical porn can be. It requires communication, consent, and respect. I love
working with production companies where the performer has a lot of freedom to
create their own scene, come as they are (ie: body hair, clothing (or not)) and
there is a supporting environment around. That feels ethical and feminist to
me."
If you are looking for genuine queer images in adult entertainment, my greatest advice is to just explore. Free your mind. And try to let go of the traditional gender/sexual role play that you were taught even before you knew what sex was. And above all Respect and enjoy.
WellCast, an animated Internet show, explores physical, emotional and psychological paths to wellness. The bi-weekly program covers a lot of wellness ground like dealing with depression, finding the perfect roommate and last week, how to come out.
Unfortunately, it seems WellCast is already catching a little heat for its coming out video. Something about how it shouldn't be geared towards kids, the "gay agenda," blah blah blah.
I think the video does a admirable job at confronting, consolidating and expressing what can be a very cumbersome topic. The 5 steps to coming out are sound, realistic and just plain good advice. What is cool about the video, besides the quirky humor and clever animation, is its advocacy for coming out from a WELLNESS perspective. Words like, "There's nothing healthier and nothing braver than living openly as yourself," may seem obvious, but they do make an impact. Queer people have always suspected, and in recent history have touted, that coming out is critical to one's mental and spiritual health. But to have a mainstream publication support that view so matter-of-factly is worth talking about.
Do the world a favor and go to the WellCast Facebook page and voice your support for the video. Also add a "thumbs up" on the YouTube page. You should also check out their other videos. The good people at WellCast just might know what they are talking about. Besides, who couldn't use a little free therapy?
So it turns out The Gay is catching. A few days ago the Kindle Paperwhite came out.
For me this commercial is refreshingly boring. It manages not to sensationalize gayness, though the very existence of a married gay man is odd enough for some viewers. Still the positive portrayal of a gay relationship was enough to get the usual suspects all in a tizzy. Conservative media watch group, One Million Moms stated, "We have Amazon's Kindle Paperwhite commercial that promotes gay marriage. Instead of Amazon remaining neutral in the culture wars, while showcasing how their product has no glare even at the beach, they chose to promote sin." Umm ok. Why does a commercial with a married gay character get everyone so hot and bothered? And why don't we see more of it?
Americans were introduced to television in 1939. The first television commercial aired in 1941. Since then the two have gone together like peanut butter and jelly, cookies and milk, lesbians and softball. Queer folk have made great strides in media representation, especially lately. We have out celebrities, tons of movies, TV shows, TV episodes, our own section on Netflix, our own networks and we are practically immortalized in print.
JC Penny
Image credit: Facebook.com/Oreo
But sit back, close your eyes and tell me the last time you saw a mainstream TV commercial with any of the GLBTs in it? (PSAs or commercials with Ellen don't count). I mean a Lysol commercial, a Burger King commercial, a Beggin' Strips commercial. I'd even accept one with queer people in the background. Go ahead, I can wait.
Chevy Volt Gay Pride Ad
So much fuss is made over the number of queer characters on TV shows, in music, on film, and rightfully so. But every year I am shocked at the invisibility of queer life in commercials?! Why such low representation you ask? I can't say for sure, but I have a theory. We will use the Kindle ad as an example, imagine this. Mom and Dad are watching "American Idol" with their kids, Jimmy and Susie. Then right after the Ellen Cover Girl commercial, there is the Kindle commercial:
Man: Nope
"I just bought a Kindle Paperwhite. *Leans towards woman.* "We should celebrate."
Woman: "My husband is bringing me a drink right now."
Man: "So is mine."
Husbands wave from the bar.
GLITTER BOMB!
Commercial fades. Mom and Dad look at each other. Jimmy looks at Mom and asks, " Can boys have husbands?"
There it is. The dreaded conversation so many families are afraid to have. How dare "we" force them to talk about this issue to their kids. Its not like they actually know any of "those". Call me a skeptic, but I think the reason we rarely see commercials with queer content or people is because advertisers are afraid to spook potential buyers. I think this perception used to be reality, but most Americans have evolved to the point where a gay character shopping at Marsh won't lead to a boycott of Marsh....right? I get why CBS won't run the KY jelly commercial with Mark and Max, but can't the gay boy buy a sandwich at Mckie Ds?
Come on America we're better than this.
P.S. Below are a few of my favorite queer commercials from the US.
Hurry, hurry, hurry! Step right up! On May 15th, American television will bring you CPAC (Conservative Political Action Conference), the greatest show on Earth!! This year's conference brings you American patriots like: Mitt Romney, Marco Rubio, Rand Paul and Sarah Palin, you betcha'. Truthfully I can't wait to see what Conservative shenanigans will ensue next week, but my Elephant O's will be missing the marshmallows this year because the gays have been banned again. In 2011, the Log Cabin Republicans and Go Proud ruffled a few feathers with their presence at CPAC. In 2012 Go Proud was shooed away, and in 2013, both organizations were officially texted, "btw we are Never Ever EVER getting back together."
When I heard that both groups were banned from CPAC 2013 I was surprised. Not because a bunch of Conservatives excluded them from their reindeer games, but because of the timing. Who in the CPAC media relations group thought that excluding, what is arguably the most high profile minority group in the country right now, from CPAC was a sound political strategy? After getting a whoopin' in two election cycles, I thought the new Republican party line was centered around reaching out to minorities? I am a registered Democrat. But even I was a little disheartened and a lot of miffed with this decision. Why? Because no matter how you feel about gay Republicans/Conservatives in general, they are still gay and have been subjected to blatant discrimination and homophobia by their own party, and that's just not cool. What is worse is the non-reaction of the leadership of Go Proud and the Log Cabin Republicans.
According to the Huffington Post, GOProud's Jimmy LaSalvia stated, "We were kicked out last year and nothing has changed and we wont be at CPAC. The last communication I've had from them is that we were kicked out. Nothing has changed."
Log Cabin Republicans spokesman West Honeycutt said, "At the present time, we have no plans to participate in CPAC this year."
Now maybe I'm just a fiery jack a**, but these organizations should not let this stand. Where is the righteous indignation, the threat to protest, the pressure to boycott, the propensity to act up, THE PRIDE?
Many in the queer community feel confused, even betrayed when we meet gay Republicans. We think or ask why they would participate in a party that actively disenfranchises and demonizes them. I get the same sorts of questions when gay folks find out I'm a Christian. My first answer is usually "because I believe". And belief is independent of sexual orientation, please and thank you. Secondly, I can change my church from the inside faster than you can from the outside. And here is where I can gather some respect for gay Conservatives. Most of us expect only the Democrats to champion equality.
Jezebel/Facebook
And that is fine, but there is so much else to do. Pinning all of our hopes and dreams on the Dems is, well foolish. But if gay Conservatives can form relationships with other Conservatives and get them to back away from hardline anti-gay positions, then the work of equality will move much more swiftly with a little help from our friends on the Right. And that ladies and gentlemen is the endgame after all.
“I can’t change, even if I tried. Even if I wanted to, my love it keeps me warm.”
-"Same Love "
I arrived late to the
Macklemore party. I first met this
artist, and I mean artist in every sense of the word, a few months ago by
accident. I was harrumphing over the suspension of a Middle School teacher in Michigan, for showing a music video called “Same Love.” After a student complained about the video, the school thought it appropriate to suspend the teacher, without
pay. Read the story here. Don’t worry, after some communal protest, Susan Johnson has been reinstated. So I clicked on the video prepared to play devil's advocate, searching for anything scandalous enough to warrant a suspension. What I found lasted 7 minutes. Now maybe it was the tacos I ate or allergies, but as I watched there was a distinct burning
in my chest that brought water to my eyes. The music video was only 7 minutes long, but in it I saw my whole life's story; my loneliness, my fears, my hopes, my love. And I was like whoa. Watch "Same Love" below.
"Same Love" is one of many Macklemore sensations. Take a trip down the Youtube rabbit hole, and you will find a collection of works by a passionate, charismatic hip-hop artist who is a strong civil rights advocate. For me, Macklemore's cool melodies, mellow rhythms and pure beats are only surpassed by his message. In a genre that uses homophobia to sell records, Macklemore is a refreshing addition to hip-hop. With lyrics like, "I might not be the same, but that's not important/No freedom 'til we're equal, damn right I support it," I believe he will be a key piece to hip-hop's evolution. More importantly, he is already becoming a prominent and consistent presence in the queer fight for equality. Recently, he has been a voice for the "You Can Play Project" to support and encourage gay athletes to pursue sports. Since
its release ‘Same Love,” the official video, has had over 21 million views on Youtube with 220,800 likes and 6,500 dislikes. Numbers
that I think are becoming more and more representative of the general population's feelings on social issues. So if you haven’t already, please put "Same Love" on your playlist after "Thrift Shop."
And now a little flo from yours truly *clears throat*.
Macklemore is super fly.
Macklemore is trendy.
If he wants to message me he can be my friendy.
GLBTs need friends like these, to live a life of freedom.
If you go gay for comic books like me, you need to read the
new issue of Batwoman #17. After a hard
day at the office; fighting Medusa with Wonder Woman and saving the world
again, Kate Kane finally decides to take the plunge with girlfriend Maggie. If this actually
happens, this would make the second superhero wedding in the last year, mazel tov boys.
Recently, we have seen
quite a few superheroes come out of the comic book closet; DC's Batwoman and Green Lantern, Xmen's Northstar, and Hulking and Wiccan of Young Avengers. When
Batwoman #1 was released, a friend and I ran to the comic book shop
cooing about how awesome it was that Batwoman
is a lesbian. I guess we were a little too exuberant, because we were interrupted
by a rather large man who wanted to know why superheroes needed to be gay at
all. Comic books are for children anyway, duh. I resisted the urge to ask
him, if comics where only for kids, then why was he reading The Avengers? Instead I just stated the obvious, “Gay kids
need superheroes too.” Enter Katherine Kane. In 2009, Gregg Rucka
and JH Williams III presented a bad ass 21st century heroine who was
sexy, dangerous, smart and very gay. Although inspired by Batman she is independent of him, fights in her own universe, and loves in her own way. The
first few issues do a spectacular job of weaving together present story lines and backstory. We learn that Kate Kane is a
military brat, whose mother and twin sister were kidnapped and killed when she
was a child. In issue #2, Kate is kicked
out of West Point for kissing a girl and spirals out of control into the stable
arms of Police Officer Renee Montoya.
One night, after kicking the rusty butt of a mugger, she is “saved” by
the big guy himself. The imagery is powerful.
It is dark and raining - Batman swoops down, the mugger runs away, he extends a
hand, pulls her from the ground, and shoots back into the sky - leaving Kate alone. She stares into the bat signal, all at once remembering who she was and knowing what she must do.
Superheroes have always appealed to queer
culture. It is not a stretch to see why queer kids feel a connection to them. Many
superheroes live among society but are separate from it. They struggle to live like 'normal’ citizens,
while hiding secret identities and leading double lives. Because of their dual obligations, it is
often difficult to maintain truthful relationships with those closest to them. And they all seem to know someone who does
fabulous costume work. The parallels go
on and on, and I am excited that writers
and artists are brave enough now to portray queer characters on the
panel. And anyway you draw it - that is a good thing. Batwoman #18 premieres March 20th. If you haven’t
picked her up yet, I heard she’s pretty easy. DC Comics has digital copies of the series on sale for .99-$2.99. Get it girl.
Attention class. Before we begin our yearly pilgrimages to various cities, states and countries to celebrate pride season, I think its important to remember how we got here. What better way to do that than in front of the TV or computer screen! Grab your lover, friends and that baby gay from the coffee shop, and kick off the season right with a little dose of history. I promise it will only hurt a little bit. Here are my top queer historical type films. For future references, I only recommend films I have seen.
1995
The Celluloid Closet is the most prolific body of
work that documents GLBT representation in film I have ever seen. From the introduction of the “fairy boy” in 1912,
to the loud and proud drag queen in 1994, this doc is one of my favorites of
all time. The Celluloid Closet is
literally “Queer Film 101.”
1984
1999
Before Stonewallfollows the LGBT movement from
the early whispers of the Homophile meetings and the coveted dime store
magazine, to the Stonewall riots in 1969. Narrated by Rita Mae Brown, this
documentary is full of images, interviews and information about the queer
community before it came out to the world.
Narrated by Melissa Etheridge, After Stonewall documents
the 30 year equality fight since the Stonewall riots.The film shows the emergence of queer
positive portrayal in the media, the struggles of the AIDS crisis, and the
formation of a people persistent on equal rights.
1990
Before RuPaul there was Paris DuPree.One of the first portrayals of the Black and Latino drag culture on film.Paris is Burningis raw and passionate, exploring issues of race, class, gender and the ball scene in New York City.
2001
Trembling Before G-D is one of the few documentaries about the lives of
queer Orthodox Jews, who try various methods to reconcile their faith and
sexuality.
The Times of Harvey Milk is a great film that highlights the career and assassination of Harvey Milk, San
Francisco’s first openly gay supervisor. Its power lies in its depiction of the
Anti-Gay movement, the birth of traditional values coalitions and the
politicization of the queer citizen.
1984
2008
Milk is an auto-biography of the personal and political
life of Harvey Milk. I put this on the list because it is such a compliment to
the documentary and Sean Penn’s performance is excellent.
The Laramie Project is based on the play about the
killing of Matthew Shepard and its effects on the small town of Laramie Wyoming. A haunting exploration into the complexities
of being gay in the heartland.
.
2002
Narrated by Rupert Everett, Paragraph 175 chronicles the lives of gay
men and women under the oppression of Nazi Germany. The imagery is wonderful and ghoulish. The storytelling is fantastic.
2002
2007
Call Me Troy is an honest piece that I first saw at a
film festival in Austin.It follows the
life of Reverend Troy Perry, the founder of the Metropolitan Community
Church.This church was the first of its
kind, built by and for the GLBT community.
Who says that debates over marriage equality have to be all sighs and gnashing of teeth. If months or years of trying to convince your mom, sister or the nosy neighbor down the street that your marriage will not interfere with theirs hasn't worked, then give them a reason to worry. The awesome ladies of the UnsolicitedProject, have presented a plethora of reasons why lesbians can and will marry their boyfriends if we can't have our way. And the boys will like it.
Crew Magazine released this video called "So God Made a Gay Man," that operates on the same meme as the "So God Made a Farmer" Superbowl commercial. Much like the commercial, this video packs quite an emotional punch. Warning: May not be suitable to watch in public if you are a crier. Just sayin'.
If the embedded video acts up go to the Youtube video here
Last Saturday Indianapolis lost two of its finest. Medic 50, driven by EMT Tim McCormick,24, and his work partner Cody Medley,22, was struck in a head on collision while on duty. Both men died as a result of their injuries. Fellow healthcare workers and friends describe the pair as passionate about their jobs and eager to make a difference in the community. In McCormick's brief career he had indeed made a difference. He was a first responder in the south side explosion in November and in the Indiana State Fair stage collapse. I did not know Tim, but a visit to his Youtube Channel will tell you all you need to know about the courage and compassion ofthis proud gay EMT.
My dad is a firefighter and paramedic in Houston. I know firsthand the type of strength it takes to do this man's job. I know the character it requires to do your best work on someone else's worst day. Although I did not know Tim McCormick, I mourn his passing because of his dedication and ultimate sacrifice to the service of a state that did not view him as equal under the law. Like all EMTs, this man ran to places where others fled from. He comforted the living, fought for the wounded, and took the dead home. Yet in 29 states he could have been fired for being openly gay. This man who raced toward screaming metal and stage debris, was banned from giving blood to the very people he saved. This man who nurtured the smudged and singed victims of a south side blast on Saturday night, was told that his love is a sin by their pastors on Sunday morning.
Today the Indianapolis community laid Tim McCormick to rest. Tomorrow morning there will be a memorial service for both of the EMTs, where I know there will be more men and women like this man. People who are eager and want to make a difference. People who move forward while others move away. People who love, and hope, and fight for towns and cities that won't do the same for them. People like this man. And I am grateful for it.
In Sullivan Indiana, senior
students are preparing for the hallmarks of American life; senior pictures,
graduation and prom. The prom at Sullivan High School includes a grand march,
where couples are presented before the big dance. In January a petition circulated that asked
that gay couples be included in the tradition.
The request generated a case of gay panic that put Sullivan on the
national stage. A group of students
began a push for a separate, more “traditional prom” in response. It is ironic that the push for the “straights
only” prom, and subsequent Facebook page, has done little more than produce a
ton of dislikes and outrage. Now the
school district and residents are tripping all over themselves to create
separation between the town and this sad knee jerk reaction to a few queer
couples wanting to rock thatGangnam style.
When I first heard this story I was
shocked but not surprised, after all this is still the Midwest. Perhaps it was an association of the
“traditional prom” with the “whites only” vibe that initially caused my
discomfort. But it was the corn husk reality slap that stunned me. In a time
where the LGBTQ movement is moving at warp speed, incidents like this can cause
major whiplash when they grab you by the ankles. When some of us live in a state where we can
get married and walk hand and hand with our significant others without causing
a ruckus, we forget that the majority of America is Sullivan Indiana. The thousands of towns and small cities that
dot this nation are the true representatives of the country. What they believe, what they think, tells us
where the nation is. And right now, the
nation is a little offended about a couple of gay kids going to prom together,
so offended that they need to have a “traditional prom”.
I don’t know if the secondary prom
will ever happen. And if it does, how
will they enforce the “straights only” rule?
Will there be gay screeners of sorts or bouncers mayhaps? I think it unfortunate that Sullivan now
bares a homophobic stigma. And I am even
more embarrassed to live in a state that something like this could happen
in. I hope the kids that dared to be
themselves don’t let this mess ruin their big day. If you’re in Indiana or are just a supporter
of equality, write in, give money, and give time to Sullivan High’s original
prom. Make it the most AWESOME prom ever,
and let the “traditional prom” be what it is going to be without the gay….lame.
