GETTING ALONG
I am a lousy representative of the ‘Gay Community’, because a certain part of it irks the hell out of me! I’ve been Gay for all of my life (thus far), and have spent much of it involved almost exclusively within its boundaries. When we are on our own turf…’camping’ and outrageous behavior, are a given. However, out in the straight community, all that bazaar behavior is just not acceptable. Too many Gay’s can’t seem to accept the fact that we live in a ‘straight’ world. All that flamboyant, lisping, and limp wristed crap just creates more and more hostility amongst the ‘straights’, which in turn, bring about ‘Gay-bashings’ and hate crimes. Take note however, that you never hear of a “straight” bubba taking on a Gay man one-on-one…. there are always 2 or more in their pack. I’m sure it’s because that ‘good-old-boy’ doesn’t want to take the chance on a ‘faggot’ beating the crap out of him! How humiliating would that be?
For the Gay community, as a whole, to expect to get ‘special’ considerations based on a minority status, is wrong. If we are acting like sane, responsible adults, then there should be no need for ‘special’ treatment. There is only one thing that should set us apart from the straight world, and that is our sexual preference. If we held up an acceptable image, then what we do in the privacy of our bedrooms (with a consenting adult) is nobody’s business but ours. As long as we attempt to go head-to-head with straights, we are always going to be reviled, and ostracized. The best we can hope for is tolerance….and, even that must be earned by acting decently while moving about in society.
Of course, there will always be flaming ‘queens’…..those who take delight in shocking the straight community with their antics. ‘Drag-Queens’ are another pet peeve of mine. As a ‘camp’ show in a Gay nightclub, they can be entertaining. But out in mainstream society…..’NOT’! I’m just as good as the next guy, and I don’t have to excuse my behavior to anyone; fact being, I act like a regular guy because that is how I feel. Understand, there are times (when around Gay friends) that I can ‘camp-it-up’ with the best of them, and have a great time. But, at my place of employment, or out in public…..no way!
Basically, it really is a matter of respect……coming from both sides, and from there, we can GET ALONG.
Rex D.
