Perhaps I should start with the title? That is, after all, what spawned this, for the most part. I had been alerted to the blog We Are Respectable Negroes though, when I had first read the title, I had read it as We Were Respectable Negroes. Admittingly, I liked the latter title far more.
Now, while We Were[...]Negroes and We Were Faggots both hold the past tense, both invoke negative connotations of their selective groups for some point in time, and both use the title as a sort of rally cry to bring together their respective groups, there is a difference between the two.
While We Were Faggots invokes the idea of no longer being so, We Were Respectable Negroes says that the group is no longer respectable. I don't know if my liking to these titles is because of the emphasis on the past and the idea of some sort of decay or if it's telling of the way I see people of color in America today. The latter here seems absurd to me, so I will assume my liking of these particular titles is not racially motivated.
But there is the definite expression of time in this title, particularly that of the past. And that is what this blog shall strive to record and remain relevant.
The sad fact of things are, most Queer youth (and many adults, as well) are flat out ignorant of their history. Part of the continual feeling of isolation and uncertainty amongst Queer people (as well as many other internal feelings) is the utterly lack of Queer representation and identity for them to attach and compare themselves to. It's so much easier to question yourself when you aren't entirely aware that people like yourself exist (which, I'm sure, the opposition would love). Also, the past informs the present, as any sensible person would know.
As such, this blog will feature facts about Queer history, historic places and events, and people of Queer history.
Coupled with this will be my own commentary about the current state of things Queer. Why my voice versus any other? Queer politics and liberation has, for a very large majority of the time been dominated by the extremes of our community. While there is good reason why that is, and it ought not to be ignored, I hope to give a view to the current state of the Queer community through the eyes of an abstinent until marriage Catholic who despises pop music, doesn't drink, and is (for the most part) rather straight lace.
This blog will not seek to delegitimize those who do not fit into this category. Indeed, this blog will be conscious of these different viewpoints and acknowledge them. What it will seek to do is remove Queer people's association with those stereotypes (however true they may happen to be in certain circles).
Following my own mode of belief, this blog will make the argument that sexual orientation and biological sex, like the similar immutable characteristic hair color, have no direct and unalterable effect upon the tastes and personal choices (such as religion, political association, etc.) of an individual.
Leading from that, finally, this blog will question the state and importance of a Queer culture, what Queer culture has been, and whether so diverse and wide a group can have a culture which is specific to them and allow all (or most) members to feel welcome.
I will also try to be frank in my discussions. I admit I came out of the mindset of a traditional, somewhat stereotypical heterosexual and, thus, will try to raise issues that may be true for others within the Queer community (though not necessarily correct). For example, not understanding certain aspects of the Trans community and, perhaps, the gay stereotype that seems to be a part of the identity for some may be some of the things I will speak frankly about, question, and try to put into definition for the common layperson to understand (with the strict and necessary understanding that their importance and legitimacy is in no way less than to any other who happens to fit what is considered "normal" in this day and age).
That long introduction, out of the way, some quick terms and ideas to understand when addressing this blog (okay, maybe not so quick):
When dealing with sexual orientation, I take the stance that our immutable attractions (i.e. sexual orientation) are physically based. While not to be confused with the misguided notion that orientation is sex, but that immutable attraction pertains to the physical makeup of an individual's person.
Homosexual/Gay - someone attracted to the same sex
Heterosexual/Straight - someone attracted to the opposite sex
Bisexual/Bi - someone attracted to both sexes *due to there being more than just the "traditional" sexes (male and female), some feel there is a need for the term Pansexual for those whose attraction can extend beyond the traditional sexes. Since my stance that attraction is based upon the physical bodies of the involved persons and, unless you construct utterly new organs, a person shall be made up of the traditional body parts (all of which apply roughly to each traditional sex with the exception of genitalia), I argue that Bisexual is a legitimate label for those individuals. However, whichever way a person wishes to be addressed, I shall address them as such*
Asexual - someone who is attracted to no sex. Though, while this may be the case, this does not prohibit relationships (that are more than friendships) from occurring. Many Asexuals have attested to having non-sexual romantic relationships
Questioning - someone who is unsure of their orientation or proper sex. Generally, this is ascribed to those who haven't come out yet
Sex - more or less, what you physically are. What genitalia do you have, sometimes what are the levels of your hormones. In the end, the individual person defines their sex
Gender - is performative. Basically, how you're expected to act based on what sex you are perceived to be. I find this serves little use other than to speak in stereotypes. No one is explicitly a specific gender (and how could anyone really be, specifically?)
Transgendered - an umbrella term for any and all who do not fit the typical or prescribed roles of their sex. This does not denote sexual orientation and is separate from it
Transsexual - someone who identifies with a different sex than the one they were born with. People often make the mistake of assuming that Transsexuals always want to make a complete change from one traditional sex to the other; some feel their correct sex is somewhere in between of these two extremes
Transvestite - someone who wears clothing assigned in the dominant Gender for the opposite sex of their culture *cross-dresser - straight men who dress as women who wished to have a distinct name to solely identify their group*
Drag Queen - someone who frequently dresses up in exaggerated stereotypes of women (very high heels, tons of makeup, etc.) for a variety of reasons (depending on the person in question)
Drag King - someone who frequently dresses up in exaggerated stereotypes of men for a variety of reasons (depending on the person in question)
Genderqueer - someone whose Gender may not stay constant or does not fit into a particular binary (etc.) *Genderguck - the self-conscious effort to "fuck with" or play with traditional notions of Gender*
Androgyne - a person who does not fit cleanly into the typical gender roles of their society. Androgynes may identify as beyond gender, between genders, moving across genders, entirely genderless, or any or all of these
Intersex - someone who, for biological reasons, was born neither technically male nor female. This may be (for one example) someone with male genitalia but also female breasts. With lately the formation of groups dedicated to Intersex representation, there has been put out the opinion that Intersex sexes are valid sexes and don't need "reparative" surgery
Queer - being that there are so many who make up this diverse community, this word serves to represent all of us
Faggot - a demeaning and derogatory word aimed towards (largely) gay men, though can be attributed to the culture as a whole. I find this word to be of the same caliber as Nigger and will not be tolerated on this site unless used in an historical matter or to make a point. There is no reclaiming of this word.
