The Gay Community’s Dirty Little Secret
Be it GAA or some current LGBT entity, the dirty little secret of Racism in the “gay” community still rears its ugly head. Below is a clip from the KQED documentary Outrage ‘69, where activists from the ’60’s and ’70’s talk about the issue of racism and sexism in the gay community. As the saying goes “The Names Change but the Story Stays the Same.” Be it 1969 or 2008, this clip would not be that inaccurate. The folks at QWB would encourage us in the LGBT/Queer community to engage in a serious dialogue of the “gay community’s Dirty Little Secret.” And feel free to start here on the QWB blog.
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The Dirty Little Secret is that so many still want white power, some conciously but most unconciously. Today, I see it in the assimliationism of what use to be a movement. I heard it recently when a member of the Commission met with a “promoter” of women’s event about helping us with a Drag King show for City Queers. Our commissioner mentioned that we were collaborating with the Health Collective. This promoter then referred to the HC location as “The armpit of Hartford” and went on to make several racist and classist comments. I told the commissioner that I had never met a racist/classist queer who was not also transphobic. Bang!! I hit it on the head as she told me about the rest of this dinner meeting that I was SOOOO glad that I wasn’t able to make.
So much for picking on this individual-
I told that story because it exemplities the attitude that always invites people of color into a white dominant culture and wonders why we don’t want to stay long. I sometimes find it hard to believe that in 2008 white folks still think they need to teach us how to act and that so many people of color still think that to emulate the dominant society is to make oneself a better person. A trading language, a business culture-I wish we could see these agreed upon manners of speech and behavior as just that and no more-not better than anything. I also wish we mixed it up more in business and socializing.
Mostly, I am elated and encouraged when white people accept invitations to work and play in environments other than the standard culture. Frankly, my feelings have been hurt whenever I have invited folks into my deepest places of comfort and they have asked me to turn down the music, talk quieter or asked critically(not curiously) why people are taking plates of food home. One of the most important lessons white people can learn is not to be in charge. Those who have dared to step into that classroom will tell you that they learned sooo much!
I’m not saying this as a mad black dyke pointing fingers at white folk. I try to practice it by making myself available as an ally to groups in which I do not have membership and by purposefully emersing myself in environments where I don’t speak the language or know the customs. It’s GREAT!!! You really learn how to support and thus how to work in real coalition-not just push your agenda.
We are so fortunate to have you Regina. It is by no small effort I am sure, that you suffer the attitudes of whites and remain a open, and progressive individual. I am caucasian but I have never felt racism like many white people do. I had a great teacher, a peer, and role model when I was young. I shed my pretentious superiority in favor of awe. I became aware that not would I never have some of Eldgins qualities,but even if I was to exeperence what he went through to become the person he is, my reaction probaly would not be the same.
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