Monday, June 27, 2005

9:52:11 PM    Comments []

Is this helping us? Toronto     Toronto   Berlin and Paris   Paris Guadalajara City   Rio de Janeiro and Mexico City   New York   New York   New York San Francisco San Francisco All of the Reuters, Associated Press and AFP photos above were taken this past weekend at gay and lesbian pride events around the globe. I'm all for gay men and lesbians having parades. I believe in their -- our -- freedom to do so. But I can't help but wonder what, exactly, we are accomplishing. I'm sure that the parade participants and the parade observers have a good time -- a gay old time. But I wonder about the larger picture: I wonder about the gay community's standing within society at large when the dominant images of gay men that society sees are men in clownish drag or men who are hypermuscular and hairless, a physical ideal that few of us gay men can actually achieve -- and little in between (I suppose that the guys in the bear masks would qualify as "in between"...). And when the dominant images of lesbians that society sees are of "dykes on bikes." Take us seriously, we gay men and lesbians tell society. And Being gay isn't just about sex, we tell society. Yet look at the images that we put out to the world every June. None of these images are me. I have no desire to dress in women's clothing, even just for fun. (Not that there's anything wrong with that.) And I'll never look like a gay porn star. Is there a place for me in the gay community?* OK, let the hate mail begin... *Physically, I suppose that I could do the bear thing, but that just doesn't really feel like me... 8:07:21 PM    Comments []