LGBTQ folk in the military
A story about a gay British soldier during World War II:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/36/a2688636.shtml
It’s interesting that he said that in his time, "there were none of the anti-gay witch-hunts we had after WW2". I think that visibility of an ‘invisible’ group, without public acceptance, can be more dangerous than just being underground. By that, I mean that opponents can attack queer people because the queer movement is in most people’s view. Whereas before, many of them didn’t know that queer people existed, and you can’t exactly attack something that you don’t believe to exist.
Sure, Cave said that there were gay drag performers in the army, and (ostensibly) straight soldiers having sexual relations with gay men. But I think that kind of visibility is a long ways from the visibility of activists trying to get same-sex marriage legalized.
I'm not saying that LGBTQ activists 'brought this on themselves'. I'm just suggesting that there's an awkward adolescent phase that most civil rights groups have to pass through in order to gain acceptance. First you remain mostly unseen. Then you start making more appearances, and many will view you with hostility, or at least disdain. The general hope is that everyone will eventually tolerate you. It’s difficult to gain acceptance without becoming visible, yet that visibility itself is risky.
Truth is, I’m not yet sure if I believe everything I just said--I’m just speculating.
- Mitra
http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/36/a2688636.shtml
It’s interesting that he said that in his time, "there were none of the anti-gay witch-hunts we had after WW2". I think that visibility of an ‘invisible’ group, without public acceptance, can be more dangerous than just being underground. By that, I mean that opponents can attack queer people because the queer movement is in most people’s view. Whereas before, many of them didn’t know that queer people existed, and you can’t exactly attack something that you don’t believe to exist.
Sure, Cave said that there were gay drag performers in the army, and (ostensibly) straight soldiers having sexual relations with gay men. But I think that kind of visibility is a long ways from the visibility of activists trying to get same-sex marriage legalized.
I'm not saying that LGBTQ activists 'brought this on themselves'. I'm just suggesting that there's an awkward adolescent phase that most civil rights groups have to pass through in order to gain acceptance. First you remain mostly unseen. Then you start making more appearances, and many will view you with hostility, or at least disdain. The general hope is that everyone will eventually tolerate you. It’s difficult to gain acceptance without becoming visible, yet that visibility itself is risky.
Truth is, I’m not yet sure if I believe everything I just said--I’m just speculating.
- Mitra
posted by Mitra at 6:46 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home