Author: gabiethebaddie

Eli Clare’s Exile and Pride was difficult to read but necessary. Writing subjects such as racism, sexual violence and homophobia, Clare reveals the dark but real side of being apart of the LGBTQ community as a person of color. Although we tend to focus on the good sides of being queer, there are many perspectives that do not get heard from people of different race, gender, disability, etc. Clare’s literature brought to light the dark reality of many queer people who are not accepted by the world around them. He explains the overlap between queerness, disability and race. He says that by begging on the street for money, “is how some of us (disabled persons) survive,” (Claire, 81). According to his race also he says that African men and women were, “made freaks, socially constructed for the purposes of entertainment and profit,” (Claire, 89). By doing so, he describes intersectionality and its affects on identity. In contrast, Schitt’s creek is a sitcom centered on a small town in which homophobia does not exist. Rare for many small towns in America, this sitcom provided a safe environment for those in the LGBTQ community. By having one of the protagonists, David, be an openly gay man and slaying, it sends the message that being gay is okay. In a world where you have to live up to societal standards in every aspect, seeing this in every episode all 6 seasons was a necessary change of pace. However, one does not hold more significance over the other. As everything in life, there needs to be a balance of the good and bad. Although the most ideal world would be no homophobia for LGBTQ people, that’s sadly not the case. Both texts offer their audiences an insight into their perspectives- the light and dark realities of LGBTQ persons in America. 

In the play “Angels in America”, Tony Kushner emphasizes the difficulties of accepting ones identity in a conflicting time period. Kushner centers the play on a homosexual man with AIDS during the AIDS epidemic to develop a broader discussion on the political, religious, and cultural significance of the rights of homosexual identifying persons.

Kushner uses Roy Cohn’s character to portray the closeted homosexual mans’ experience during the AIDS epidemic. Typical closeted lawyer in the corporate world, Roy hides from his homosexuality by denying it. For instance, although he has engaged in sexual activity with other men for decades, he argues with his doctor, Henry, in Act I scene 9 about why he was diagnosed with AIDS. Roy affirms that AIDS “afflicts mostly homosexuals and drug addicts,”(44) then denies he is a homosexual man and proceeds to threaten to destroy his doctors reputation if he says anything. Roy’s reluctance to see the truth in himself was and continues to be a common choice for closeted homosexual men. When faced with the repercussions of coming out in their professional lives, closeted LGBTQ persons worry about their reputations when they no longer present the heterosexual normative. To illustrate, Cohn’s character is a representation of many LGBTQ persons during the AIDS epidemic. Hiding a homosexual identity in a time period when that was the most feared and misunderstood, drove many closeted homosexual men to adverse situations in which their sexuality would be exposed regardless. Hence, while faced with his own blood test, Roy separates homosexual persons and himself. He tells Henry, “Homosexuals are not men who sleep with other men. Homosexuals are men who know nobody and who nobody knows… Does that sound like me, Henry?” (46). After going on a rant trying to prove to himself and his doctor he wasn’t homosexual, his AIDS diagnosis, and having slept with men for years, Roy is in a deep denial for who he is. Kushner’s use of such a melodramatic character reveals a misunderstood perspective that was hidden during the AIDS epidemic and still continues to be. 

“I have so wanted to ignore my own homophobia,” (Moraga, 49)

If as a gay person, you have never felt homophobia in any way, I would genuinely  be surprised. Being apart of the LGBTQ community is a risk and always has been. People commit heinous acts to “destroy the gay.” Even, as Moraga bravely admitted, oneself. Homophobia is a dangerous road. Homophobia too oneself is even worse. Hating yourself for something you cannot control within you is suicide. Through her literature, Moraga accepts that she doesn’t accept who she is. Her irony is soothing. She’s saying its okay to be gay and not like it at times. It’s normal, it’s a part of the journey. In my life, I spent years convincing myself that I wasn’t gay. That it was immoral and against God’s will. Now I have rainbow gay stickers on my mirror and I came out to my mom. Moraga and many of the authors we have read so far stress that “being gay” isn’t a one way journey. Being queer means having different experiences, thoughts, and goals as the queer person next to you. This world loves to put all gay people in one category but there’s more to being queer then just being gay.

The line “being behind a door you can’t open,” is so wild to me. The desire to want something so bad and then have it denied from you by the person you want it from is such a sick feeling. As a newly come out queer person, it’s so sad to see that being part of something like the LGBTQ community can come with such strong feelings of love and hate. Hate for each other, oneself, and others. Homophobia can cause people to turn into monsters. But in this quote, Jones isn’t gay. He isn’t “a boy who likes boys” or a queer. In this quote, Jones is a human being wanting to be loved by someone who can’t love him. This poem stuck out to me because it isn’t about being gay or showing the rainbows in our community. It’s about a broken person begging themselves to get up and leave.