OUT OF THE CLOSET:And Into The Mainstream
16 September 1998
My dear friends, our fellow citizens have some valid complaints against some of members of the GLBT rights movement. (For the benefit of those not acquainted with this abbreviation, it means "Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/Transgendered" persons.)
For example: Two years ago, here in my hometown of Chicago's annual gay pride parade, I saw one marcher carrying a sign which read, "Hey Moral Majority: Give us your children! What we can't f---, we'll eat!" This is a disgrace.
Here on the interenet, I read with dismay an article which detailed the conduct of some of our GLBT brothers and sisters at this year's New York City pride parade, including men exposing their genitals and women exposing their breasts. Some even went to such outlandishly disgusting lengths as defecating on the steps of St. Patrick's Cathedral. This type of conduct is beneath contempt. It is every bit as vile and hate-filled as burning a cross on someone's front lawn. And it does great harm to our movement!
How in the world is the movement for GLBT rights ever to be taken seriously when some of us, in essence, trample on the rights of our fellow citizens in such fashion? How can we ever make progress if such despicable acts in our own "closet" are not cleaned out?
Now a few words about behaviors which are less clear-cut extremes -- and this is simply my personal opinion. Some people object to men in pride parades wearing leather chaps with a good portion of their buttocks exposed, just as one example. I cannot speak with the same harshness against such actions as this, but rather, I will make some friendly suggestions. One of the principles we must live by in our democratic society is compromise. I feel it is only fair to the general heterosexual community that we give a little, as well as take a little.
Maybe you are a buffed and tan, fine specimen of man- or womanhood, and justifiably proud of your body. But may I ask you as a friend and brother/sister in the GLBT rights movement to please be less risque' in your behavior and dress in public? It probably is not against most local or state laws banning indecent exposure to let your posterior hang out a bit. But we are trying to persuade the public that they should consider legal or judicial efforts to guarantee our rights. Some of them feel justified in pointing to this sort of behavior as an excuse to dismiss our entire cause. That may not be right -- but it's difficult to argue with. When Dr. King led peaceful civil rights marches in the 1960s, never once did he even remotely advocate violence. He spoke strongly against it at every turn. Yet he was often unfairly lumped together with the rioters and firebombers on the extremist fringe who were in no way connected with him. People may be wrong in making such associations -- but wrong or right, that hurts us!
Now I realize that showing off your buns in a parade is nothing at all like the criminality of throwing a firebomb. But keep in mind that many bystanders on the parade route, and many viewers of the TV and newspaper coverage of it, are offended by such sights. Can we perhaps be a little bit old-fashioned, and show them the respect they are entitled to as our fellow citizens? We're big enough to make small sacrifices -- big enough to compromise -- aren't we?
With all the talk these days about "coming out of the closet," I want to talk about the closet as well. We as a group need to do a bit of closet cleaning.
So "cover your ass" if I may be blunt. Next time you march in the pride parade, wear a T-shirt with our symbols of the pink triangle or rainbow flag. Wear some less revealing pants or shorts. If the weather isn't too hot, you might consider wearing something like you would wear to work. If we want to make others understand that we are people just like they are, it wouldn't hurt to look just like they do. Let's show some appreciation for their side. Let's indulge in some "imitation is the highest form of flattery" actions. Let's show more of our pride, and less of our privates.
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