So this big blog, The New Civil Rights Movement, features this entry called "I Do Not Deserve Your Tolerance." It's a gay marriage blog (surprise), a watchdog of sorts, I guess. Well, anyways, here is why gay people "don't deserve" tolerance -Basically, David Badash, here, expresses that his good citizenship, purchasing power, class privilege, education privilege, and acceptance of "american" systems, should mean that he is normal. That he is just like everyone else. He might even be better than a lot of people, maybe even MOST people - he tips doormen for god's sake! he has money to donate to charities! probably LOTS of money.
I am an American citizen. I pay taxes. I vote. I have a passport. I volunteer my time and voice and donate money to charities or causes I believe in. I have a college degree from a pretty good school.
And there it is. This is why people think that the LGBTQ community is equivalent to an affluent, educated gay male population. Not only that, but that we are all obsessed with our normalcy, and need our rights like normal frickin people.
And maybe it is the affluent, gay, white male population that is so normal. And so, they do deserve civil rights, damn it.
I'm sorry, but I know I am not the only reading between the xenophobic lines here. What if I was not a citizen? What if I yell at the cab driver sometimes? What if I have a shitton of debt, didn't finish high school and have had a slew of un-committed relationships in my past and future? (yougetwhati'mtryingtosayhere,right?) Do I still deserve the right to marriage, the right to health care and services, the rights to my future children and possible partners' will?
Well, the thing is, it seems that I am always pissed off about the same ol' thing these days. But I suppose privilege is as privilege does. Maybe I'm the one who's wrong and mistaken, it's just frustratingly exhausting. for real, though. I'm tired.
Next stop: jb sells out. sells her soul. becomes a highpowered corporate businessperson. eats exploitation for breakfast. and lives with her cat, named "willful ignorance."
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