eregyrn-falls reblogged
The Gay Manifesto, Carl Wittman, 1969
[ID: "4. Gay 'stereotypes': The straights' image of the gay world is defined largely by those of us who have violated straight roles. There is a tendency among 'homophile' groups to deplore gays who play visible roles - the queens and the nellies. As liberated gays, we much take a clear stand. 1. Gays who stand out have become our first martyrs. They came out and withstood disapproval before the rest of us did. 2. If they have suffered from being open, it is straight society whom we much indict, not the queen." /]
#lgbtqia+ history#lgbtqia+ issues#and there it is#the struggle between authentic expression and respectability politics is not a new or modern concern only#it can't be said enough though#and i hope that people (in the U.S.) looking at what is happening politically here right now start to recognize#that for a segment of the population - that includes an outsized number of U.S. politicians -#if you are gay or any form of queer at all#there is NO degree of respectability that you can express or achieve that will cause them to accept you#or even cause them to not want to make you disappear from the public sphere#it is a losing game#don't play it#and don't do their jobs for them by policing the respectability of your fellows in the lgbtqia+ community
