I go to Church a lot. I'm an Episcopalian (formerly a catholicish Methodist, turned MCCer) . I'm also an aspiring Priest and Anthropologist( of the socio-cultural variety). Also, I'm a gay with a wonderful Boyfriend. This blog will likely be a combination of churchy things, anthropology, and things I find amusing. Please forgive my grammar and style, because most of my writing on here is stream of consciousness. I don't argue.
I received this book from my xSJ/MCC/Orthodox priest friend this morning. It’s in Russian and English. My friend has the Pokemon attitude toward ordinations (gotta catch ‘em all).
Dear Straight People: Stop making definitive statements about the closet!
Unless you have been in the (gay) closet, it’s not for you to say that the closet is all but irrelevant, or that it’s a pity that more people don’t stay in the closet. To the liberals out there: give your support, don’t be pushy or excessively knowing. To conservatives (I’m looking at you Ron Paul): the closet is not a good thing for those who are in it! Just like I don’t tell women, black people, or any other group that they don’t have social problems anymore - Don’t try to speak for other people!
(Source: tnr.com)
The above link is to the section of the American Anthropological Association that is both devoted to the anthropological study of LGBTQ persons and serves as a network for anthropologists who are themselves queer. One of my areas of interest, that I think will be better served in Anthropology than in Linguistics is in interest in the interest in linguistic structures and gender Identity.
My Queer-friendly Echo Chamber
I have gone home for Christmas to rural upstate New York, and have been reminded of the echo chamber of queer-friendliness in which I live. For the last five or so years I have lived in an academic or metropolitan environment in which diversity are valued, and LGBTQ people are celebrated or at least tolerated. I currently in grad school with my circle of gay-friendly friends, and I even have a gay priest. I have become accustomed to knowing that there is intolerance out there, but not really encountering it much.
Last night I was reminded of this while at the gym. I was doing my workout and had noticed big macho body builder guys being chummy, and heard one of them call another “ya queer.” I am all about using the term queer as an umbrella term, but that’s not what he was saying. I recognize that I should have said something, but I got caught up in my own thoughts.
I got thinking about this other kid who was there working out. He was most certainly “a gay,” with his loose wrists, his tight short shorts, and his Britney Spears tour sleeveless tee. I was wondering if he deals with this kind of maligning regularly. I also wondered if these derps just didn’t notice the two gays in the room, or didn’t care.
It wasn’t one of my best moments, but it reminded me of the feeling that those of us fortunate enough to live in cosmopolitan tolerant settings need to not be complacent and forget that there are queer folks who aren’t as fortunate. We need to reach out, or work toward social change.
A for me I need to get out of my comfort zone, speak up when this sort of thing happens, and it adds to my sense of call to the priesthood, so I am in a position to reach out to LGBTQ persons, and influence the world as best I can.
