Posted on July 29, 2013
Update: LGBTerrriffic!
I wore my shirt to Baltimore.
No one gave me the stink-eye. No one hit on me, either. I actually almost made it through the day entirely without a single comment.
And then I went to the Barnes & Noble on the next pier. I wandered around, bought Young House Love‘s book (finally), and when checking out, the cashier dude casually commented, “I like your shirt.” And I smiled and said, “Thanks!”, and then I told him how awesome that B&N is (seriously, it is super amazing), and there were a few more words exchanged, and then I bounced out with my book and my smile, because someone liked my shirt. The very shirt that I felt anxiety over wearing! Such vindication!
So the moral of the story is: Wear the damn shirt. People probably won’t give you shit, and hey, they might even appreciate it.
Thank you, Inner Harbor Barnes & Noble Cashier Man. You did more for me than just take my money. :)
Posted on July 22, 2013
Weird Anxiety Quirks, Part 38394
I know I seem pretty together, yeah? Like I got it all. But sometimes I get anxious about things that are stupid.
Tomorrow, I’m going to the National Aquarium in Baltimore by myself. The “by myself” part isn’t the anxiety-inducing thing–I’m honestly looking forward to being alone and not having to worry about how fast/slow anyone else wants to see everything. (Plus I’ll be able to sit at the bottom of the big shark & ray tank and just watch them swim in circles for as long as I want.)
I was thinking about what to wear, and I decided that I’d wear this one shirt that I don’t wear in public that often. It’s an LGBT shirt. Actually, I have a picture of it here. It was October 2009, and the lovely lady next to me is married to the equally-lovely lady who took the picture. They were visiting NYC from England, and being with my friends was enough to make me confident enough to wear it for the first time. The only time I can think of that I wore it in public since then was when I went to Philly Pride in June 2011.
Anyway. I wanna wear it tomorrow. I don’t know why, exactly. I mean, the aquarium isn’t a particularly gay hotspot. But I think about the idea that maybe I’ll meet someone there. Someone who’s also there to watch the rays and sharks swim around, and so I guess maybe I want to put my label on display? And, y’know, why shouldn’t I wear that shirt in public? I wear Yankees and Rangers apparel in Philly territory all the time, and that’ll be more likely to cause strife than being gay, right?
But I can’t deny that it’s a big deal. It gives me some anxiety, along with a thrill. It shouldn’t. I shouldn’t care. I shouldn’t have to think so hard about it.
Maybe, though, if I do this, it’ll make it easier next time.
Posted on July 19, 2013
Gaycott Sochi
First off, I promise I’m still using this! I just get it in my head that blogging like this means that every post has to be Deep and Meaningful and long and blah blah blah that’s dumb. I should just frickin’ post!
Next February, there’ll be some Winter Olympics! Woohoo! I love the Olympics, for both seasons. The Olympics are my jam, serious talk. And just moments ago, it was announced that the NHL players have the okay to play for their national teams. Yay!
Or, maybe not yay?
If you aren’t aware, the 2014 Winter Olympics are being held in Sochi, Russia. And Russia has just laid down some new laws about homosexuality–and they’re pretty terrible laws. Essentially, speaking positively about any sexual orientation that isn’t hetero is considered “propaganda” and if you spread it to minors, you can be arrested. I think most people get the feeling that the definition of said “propaganda” is not going to be very strict.
People are, therefore, rather worried about having the Olympics, which involves not only gay athletes but also plenty of gay fans from all over the world, in a country where these fans or athletes could be arrested potentially for just being openly gay. (I mean, if two dudes hold hands and smile near a child, couldn’t that be considered gay-positive propaganda towards a minor? Some people certainly think it is!) And, predictably, a number of people are calling for the boycott of these Sochi Olympics.
I’m not. I think that’s the worst thing you can do to speak up against what Russia’s done.
I’d much rather we send our gay athletes in. Send them in wearing rainbow flags right under their countries’ flags. Send in all the ally fans to cheer them on. Support gay athletes for ANY country if your country doesn’t have a participant in the competition. Keep it gay, and dare Russia to actually arrest anyone. There are two ways it can go:
- Russia doesn’t arrest anyone, which will just go to show that their “moral convictions” are really a lot of bullshit if they can be so easily ignored in favor of international approval, and maybe that can start a movement to reverse the law.
- Russia does arrest people, and the world can see just how disgusting this law is, see how inappropriate such laws and treatment of our fellow humans are.
One big piece of that, though, means that we can’t give Russian authorities any other reasons to arrest people. No wild parties. No talk-back to the cops. Certainly no acts of violence. Be polite, be civil, and be supportive of gay rights around the world.
Man, can you imagine if, say, Team USA and Team Canada showed up in the Olympic village wearing You Can Play buttons? DO IT. DO IT DO IT DO IT.