- Givin’ it all they’ve got, Cap’n – The endurance of Star Trek - 9 April, 2014
- Hate the Sin, Not the Sinner – The Pope & LGBT - 5 August, 2013
- Keeping It Positive – The Silence Of Mainstream News On LGBT - 22 July, 2013
As we come to the close of another LGBT History Month, I’m very glad that, once again, we’ve been able to spend time celebrating the diverse history of the LGBT community.
However, I’m also glad that it’ll soon be over!
Not because I don’t like to get involved with the LGBT community – I wouldn’t be writing for Vada if that were the case – but because there will soon be an end to the incessant voices that say “I don’t get it – if you guys have LGBT History Month, why can’t we have Straight History Month? I thought you guys were all about equality!” Oh dear.
Unfortunately these voices won’t be silent for long – come Summer the phrase ‘LGBT History Month’ will be replaced by ‘Pride’ in the self-righteous heterosexual’s complaining about how they are left unequal by the “special treatment” of LGBT people in getting a whole month dedicated to their history. What, pray tell, constitutes ‘Straight History’? Oh, that’s right, it’s called ‘History’. That thing that is often reported on and taught about, but only in the last forty years has it actively included any mention of LGBT people, and then for the most part only socially within the LGBT community, or academically within queer theory research – which for academics and non-academics alike is an absolute bugger to read! (no pun intended)
It’s the same with LGBT Pride days – the other 364 days of the year are ‘straight pride’ days, where straights can wander through the streets holding hands with the ones they love, kissing them in public and generally flaunting their heterosexuality in front of everybody around them.
But those who cry ‘injustice’ at LGBT people for daring to have one month out of twelve dedicated to their history and achievements, or one day out of 365 to celebrate their difference, do not realise their position of privilege in the society we live in – a society that in queer theory is called a heteronormative society, i.e. heterosexuality is seen as the norm.
There are those, LGBT and non-LGBT, who say that this is all unnecessary – we should learn to blend in more, now that we have many more laws on our side and are seemingly more accepted by society.
To those people I say this: if you are therefore saying that people should quell their natural desires to be out and proud – to be who and how they want to be – then you have missed the point of the LGBT movement.
If there is just ONE questioning or closeted person out there who would benefit from it, then I am going to go out there and be as openly gay and as fiercely proud as I can, until I don’t need to any more.
True equality does not just mean tolerance. It means full, unconditional acceptance.
