For me the performative aspect of being queer can be both liberating and constraining. I recall being 17, travelling back from. London to Liverpool in the late 70s on the last train of the day and reading a copy of Gay News in an open carriage conscious that people were looking at me seemingly flaunting my sexuality unaware that I was recoiling from it as a result of reading the dating section of the paper in which everyone seemed to be either ‘butch’ or ‘femme’. It felt too prescriptive. I wanted to be open to sexuality and wherever it may take me and not confined to role playing, worse still, patriarchal, cos-playing heteronormativity! I’ve mellowed a bit since then.
Love your opening sentence. I feel the same way. Great that it’s safer. But where’s the edge? Maybe it made us feel more alive because it was survival everywhere you went back then. I don’t want to be in that much danger again. But I miss the vibe.
Great stuff! You only live once, and because life is fucking awesome, let people know that you lived. Be who you wanna be. Leave a mark on the world! Otherwise life would just be boring. Love from Holland ❤️
This is not a time to be dismayed, this is punk rock time. This is what Joe Strummer trained you for.
@henryrollins
I ain't gay, but your words resonate.
Middle aged cis white guy hanging on your every word here, we need your voice more than ever.
Hell yes.
For me the performative aspect of being queer can be both liberating and constraining. I recall being 17, travelling back from. London to Liverpool in the late 70s on the last train of the day and reading a copy of Gay News in an open carriage conscious that people were looking at me seemingly flaunting my sexuality unaware that I was recoiling from it as a result of reading the dating section of the paper in which everyone seemed to be either ‘butch’ or ‘femme’. It felt too prescriptive. I wanted to be open to sexuality and wherever it may take me and not confined to role playing, worse still, patriarchal, cos-playing heteronormativity! I’ve mellowed a bit since then.
Love your opening sentence. I feel the same way. Great that it’s safer. But where’s the edge? Maybe it made us feel more alive because it was survival everywhere you went back then. I don’t want to be in that much danger again. But I miss the vibe.
Great stuff! You only live once, and because life is fucking awesome, let people know that you lived. Be who you wanna be. Leave a mark on the world! Otherwise life would just be boring. Love from Holland ❤️