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24

When Did Queers Get So Angry With One Another?

I’m a White Male-Identified Queer Imperialist Pig!
How are you?

Young dykes calling out white gay men as Imperialists; imposing the Canadian system of values and rights on other countries when it comes to queer rights as Imperialist; the oppression queers live under in Canada; the temerity of expecting others to take a page out of our model for human rights. I hear a lot of these statements and it makes me shake my head with wonder; wonder at the name-calling and wonder at when and why did we develop such animosity toward one another?

It’s hard to argue for your queer rights when you are staring down the barrel of a gun

How is trying to create a model for basic human rights (queer rights) a form of Imperialism that interferes with the right/ability of queers around the world to self-determine. I’d argue that it’s a little hard to self-determine or argue for your queer rights when you are staring down the barrel of a gun, or in the process of being shot, beaten, stabbed, imprisoned, in a labour camp or left for dead in a ditch.

Instead of the party line “Woe Is Us” how about voicing some constructive solutions. If you don’t like the western model of human rights, find one that you support from another part of the world: How about Russia? Iran? Iraq? Colombia? Mexico? Malawi? What works best for you?

I’m tired of being talked down to as someone who is a male-identified imperialist by political groups who—allegedly—are working for justice and equality around the world where queers are oppressed. Question: why are YOU allowed to organize, march, shout awareness of atrocities—both political and physical—yet proselytize to me that I’m out of line for saying the same because I’m a…man? Aren’t we fighting for the same thing?

I won’t apologize for being a man.
I won’t apologize for being queer.

How far do you think you’d get in your diatribe about the Imperialist Canadian junta as it pertains to queers in most parts of the world before you found yourself arrested, imprisoned, brutally beaten or killed?

I spent years marching for queer rights. I stood in unity with my gay brothers, my dyke sisters, trans people, and straight people who ‘got it’ to get our rights as not just queer people, but as people. Christ, I fought against homophobia and sexism in the greater society. Do I have to do it again inside the queer community?

I won’t apologize for being a man. I won’t apologize for being queer. I won’t apologize for being a Canadian. And I won’t apologize for reaching out around the world when I can to offer my hand to help someone who is being truly oppressed by their government, police, society, church or whatever. Their suffering and oppression isn’t imagined. It’s painfully tangible.

Count your blessings, not your perceived enemies.

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2 Comments For This Post

  1. Teach alumnus Says:
    June 16th, 2010 at 11:21 pm

    The problem with exporting Canada’s model of human rights is that it was designed with Canadians in mind and it only sorta works for us. It reflects our racism (claiming this country had 2 founding nations, excluding 1st Nations), our “secularism” (which is actually about keeping christian institutions at arms length from the parliament while school holidays still revolved around Christmas, Easter, etc.) and so on.

    I think New-Zealand/Aotearoa’s system of settling land claims is superior to Canada’s, even if it has its own flaws. I am impressed with the growing amount of bilingualism in the US where there is no official language (much less legislation controlling it) while we do an appalling job over here IMO. More/stricter legislation isn’t always better. Legislation for a policy that has no governmental ministry in charge of implementing it (e.g. multiculturalism) is hardly worth mentioning however much pride we take in its spirit. As horrified as I was to learn of the rise in LGBT hate crimes recently, ethno-cultural based hate crimes continues to be the highest ranked category in this country.

    I caution you against grading oppression in other parts of the world as worse than in Canada. A quick look at the way that so many 1st Nations live in developping world conditions should keep Canadian egos in check about our own record, while we remember that it’s not by pitting one marginalized group [you hint at feminists of colour in Canada) against another (people in other countries across the world which you seem to think should be pitied in a condescending way from a holier than thou Canadian vintage point because clearly everyone should want to be (just like) a Canadian.]

    I completely agree that there needs to be more bridge building, people with an ability to learn from their mistakes as well as be able to forgive and move on united rather than further divide. But that can only happen if the more privilege become more aware of the way they benefit from systems of oppression and move forward without defensiveness.

  2. Teach alumnus Says:
    June 16th, 2010 at 11:21 pm

    The problem with exporting Canada’s model of human rights is that it was designed with Canadians in mind and it only sorta works for us. It reflects our racism (claiming this country had 2 founding nations, excluding 1st Nations), our “secularism” (which is actually about keeping christian institutions at arms length from the parliament while school holidays still revolved around Christmas, Easter, etc.) and so on.

    I think New-Zealand/Aotearoa’s system of settling land claims is superior to Canada’s, even if it has its own flaws. I am impressed with the growing amount of bilingualism in the US where there is no official language (much less legislation controlling it) while we do an appalling job over here IMO. More/stricter legislation isn’t always better. Legislation for a policy that has no governmental ministry in charge of implementing it (e.g. multiculturalism) is hardly worth mentioning however much pride we take in its spirit. As horrified as I was to learn of the rise in LGBT hate crimes recently, ethno-cultural based hate crimes continues to be the highest ranked category in this country.

    I caution you against grading oppression in other parts of the world as worse than in Canada. A quick look at the way that so many 1st Nations live in developping world conditions should keep Canadian egos in check about our own record, while we remember that it’s not by pitting one marginalized group [you hint at feminists of colour in Canada) against another (people in other countries across the world which you seem to think should be pitied in a condescending way from a holier than thou Canadian vintage point because clearly everyone should want to be (just like) a Canadian.]

    I completely agree that there needs to be more bridge building, people with an ability to learn from their mistakes as well as be able to forgive and move on united rather than further divide. But that can only happen if the more privilege become more aware of the way they benefit from systems of oppression and move forward without defensiveness

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  1. Queers Against…Everything? | gayguidetoronto.com Says:
    June 7th, 2010 at 9:51 am

    [...] previous post was in reaction to a lot of negativity that I’ve been seeing and hearing in the queer community. [...]

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