The GLBTQ movement inspires me, because they have gotten so far… But seeing as it’s considered worse to be called homophobic than gay, I think it would be wonderful if other groups could have that kind of respect.When “homophobe” is used as a rallying cry for rape, murder, forced institutionalization, aversion therapy, bombings, and mass socially approved harassment to the point where homophobic children are driven to suicide at much higher rates than non-homophobic children, THEN you can tell me that being called a homophobe is worse than being called gay. AND I PROBABLY STILL WILL NOT CARE, because being a homophobe is NOT a legitimate identity, it is and will always be a worldview based on violent hatred.
DO NOT EVER, EVER, EVER SAY THAT IT IS WORSE TO BE HOMOPHOBIC THAN IT IS TO BE QUEER EVER. AGAIN. EVER. EVER EVER EVER. I DON’T CARE IF THAT’S ~LANGUAGE POLICING~ I JUST. DON’T DO IT. DON’T EVEN THINK ABOUT GOING THERE.
And I frankly don’t care whether or not people are making fun of me because of age old oppression, or just personal preference. It doesn’t matter to me, because the results are the same.
No, the results AREN’T the same, that’s the goddamn point. There are these things called “institutions”, “social conventions”, “culture”, “society”, etc. You know, the forces that shape and govern almost every area of our lives? Okay. Now imagine that instead of a handful of individuals “making fun” of you, EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE FORCES was trying to eliminate you and people like you off the face of the earth. I know that sounds a bit dramatic, probably especially to someone who lives in
deniala magical fairyland where homophobia and transphobia don’t exist, to queers and trans folk with privileges that allow them some degree of protection from the worst of this violence, etc. But for a lot of queer and trans people, it’s reality. Just because you individually do not feel the difference between shitty experiences and manifestations of systemic oppression does NOT mean that the results are the same, and if you looked two inches past your own fucking nose you would see that.If homosexuality was unheard of, I don’t think it would make lives easier for individual homosexuals. Nobody would use gay slurs, or vandalise gay clubs, but there would be no gay clubs, there would be no information, no support.Wait, first homophobia isn’t a real problem, and now people are using gay slurs, vandalizing gay clubs, etc? WOW IT’S ALMOST LIKE YOU ONLY WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE EXISTENCE OF HOMOPHOBIA AND TRANSPHOBIA WHEN IT’S CONVENIENT FOR YOU.
Look. Here’s what I want you to do for me, okay:
1. Turn off your computer
2. Go outside
3. Draw a picture of a house
While you are doing those things, take some time to seriously reflect on both your life and your choices. And feel terrible for being such a complete douche.
Really, I feel your are being a bit immature. I’m describing how it works here. Not how it is globally, not how you experience it. I’m describing my everyday life.
Sometimes, I feel like we need to move on from historical injustice. For example: Have women been oppressed historically? yes. Is this a good reason to discriminate against men? Hell no.
Do trans* and non-straight persons meet discrimination and injustice in many places? Yes. But does that mean that they do everywhere? No.
I’m bisexual. OP is bigender. We are talking out of personal experience. For me, bisexuality isn’t anything I have to struggle about. But other parts of my sexual identity (kink, zoo) are something I still meet a large amount of hatred because. So when I say that in comparison, vanilla gay people have it good, could you stop shitting your pants and tell me I’m a douchebag? I’m telling you about how my life is. Where you live, maybe there are otherkin literature circles, non-human parades and therian night clubs, but nobody who is willing to listen to anyone who is queer? Because it sure ain’t like that here.
Just because a group has been oppressed in the past, doesn’t make it so for ever, thank gods. And even though it’s not perfect for queers, we should take time and appreciate how far we’ve come. Instead of crying out “Oh, you just CAN’T compare the struggles, douchebag!” Yes, I’m comparing. Because the LGBTQ movement talks so much about acceptance, openness, every persons right to be who they are. But then, so disappointingly, doesn’t follow through on those promises.
People tell me “Oh, being gay gets you assaulted, but being otherkin makes you just seem silly”. Hm… I’m sorry if its like that where you live. But it doesn’t apply to me. I’m also very sad to see that the tumblr SJ community seems to work very much as all the bad things I’ve experienced at the Stockholm gay scene: martyrdom and lack of acceptance towards people who are different.
I held a speech about otherkin and therians at last years Pride, actually. I was glad to see that those young people who were there listening to me seemed to care a little, but whenever I’ve talked about my animal identity, or my religion, my sexuality (when it doesn’t involve other girls) or almost anything else with adults at in the LGBTQ community, they’ve thought I was just being uncomfortable. Maybe it’s because those teenagers didn’t felt threatened. Me talking about species dysphoria didn’t threaten any gender dysphoria they experienced.
But really, I’m not saying that LGBTQ are privileged. I really avoid using that word for most part, since I’m a bit unsure of it. I’m just saying that they’ve come a long way since the 1960s, and I wish that a similar process could happen with other groups. Does that make me a douche?
(Source: genuineferalswagger)
