16 June 2013

My increased awareness of myself in relation to the gay community.


Not long ago, I had never really given a thought to the gay community.   I equated it with something along the lines of political activism, which had always seemed beyond my concern.  I'd especially espoused the whole "one voice won't make a difference" mentality when it came to involvement - especially as a teen.  The idea of a 'gay community' seemed too filled with social and/or political involvement with (or even awareness of) people who happen to share the - in my eyes - insignificant commonality of not being straight.  I had rarely viewed my sexuality as anything more than a deep secret and it was never something I was passionate about.  I had just been indifferent to it, only viewing it as an abstraction.


There's always been a stigma against gays in society, obviously, but only recently had I truly considered it a stigma against myself.  I realized that the position of indifference I'd taken on, considering involvement within the community beyond my concern, was not how I should be viewing it.  Homophobia and anti-gay sentiment is of course a real, pervasive problem that can't be avoided... and, eventually, I realized that I didn't want to avoid it anyway.

I was reminded of this by a book, Albert Camus's The Plague.  Camus was concerned extensively with the human condition.  Living through both World Wars, he developed the philosophy that men are inherently more good than bad, but what really defined their virtuousness was their level of ignorance - which his character states as "the most incorrigible vice".  He viewed that an individual's existential purpose in life was achieved best through combating social problems with solidarity.

In his book, the citizens of a town live routine, habitually self-concerned lives which revolve around commerce and shallow relationships.  When faced with a devastating disease, the townspeople initially refuse to acknowledge it due to their indifference and contentedness with their sheltered isolation.  They were simply waiting to die.  It is only when the city is quarantined - when people are forced to accept the pervasion of the plague - that collective measures are taken to combat the disease. At this point, Camus's ideal is achieved; the people take participatory action to combat the harms facing a society - regardless of its inevitability and of their success against it.  They realize the prevalence of the problem, and thus the plague's victims finally develop true compassion for one another; they begin to value every beloved and endangered memory, experience, and person in their life far more than when they had previously taken it all for granted.  It is only when they struggle against death that they finally begin to live.


While this point of view might seem philosophically extreme and dense, I think it's a lot more applicable to our lives than it seems.  After coming out to two of my friends, I considered actually being gay within society, and what it would be like.. and frankly, I didn't like what I expected.  I thought, "it's a struggle to be open. It's a struggle to face society.  It's a struggle to be gay."  But that's exactly what the cowards in The Plague thought; they hid and shielded themselves from the disease that was terrorizing their town, because that was easy - because that required no personal sacrifice.  Because it didn't require them to rise above themselves.

I found Camus' pestilence particularly equatable to homophobia today.   It is a true social disease, allowed to persist through conscious ignorance towards it.  The problem, in addition to its own derivation from ignorance, is that people are content to live ignorantly to it; these people are the ones in The Plague who sat in their houses doing nothing, or attempted to flee the city - which is, in Camus's eyes, meaningless, selfish alienation from a pestilence they chose to ignore.  This can be reflected in society as a whole, perhaps, in that society has allowed the continuity of such intolerance.  However, it was also what I was what I was like; I hardly had a true concern for homophobia.  Sure, I acknowledged it's existence and malevolence, as well as being under its aim, but I felt that I had no place in fighting it.  Camus would condemn me. He demands that people stand up to the plague of homophobia, which incessantly harms the gay community, for it has an impact, whether direct or indirect, on all of us. It is notable that Camus does not even make the distinction between achieving success; to fight rather than submit, and to be defiant against wrongness, however abstract, is what gives one's life purpose and oneself definition.





  
Camus's plague can not only be considered allegorical
of homophobia, but also of ALL societal problems.

While I still hardly have a 'role' in the LGB community, I've moved past labeling it as impalpable "activism".  Yet, I thought to myself, 'am I not still a coward? I'm certainly still afraid to come out, and to be open with my sexuality in my personal life... I'm afraid of sacrifice in order to stand for a greater common purpose.' But then again, at what point does one's involvement become uncowardly, rather than being so from the very smallest amount?  Even Camus recognized the importance of all levels of resistance - he labels one of his characters, "who had to his credit only a little goodness of heart," as the hero of his book, because despite his relatively insignificant contribution, Grand "was the true embodiment of the quiet courage" that was the inspiration for solidarity against the plague.  

For example, it may have been long in the coming, but finally, there is an active, openly gay man in the NBA - Jason Collins. Just his simple admission to Sports Illustrated and the sports community, and ultimately, to the world, gives so many people - myself included - hope that society is changing, that it is finally coming to be more accepting of homosexuality.  He may not have done something requiring much effort in itself (not that it's easy or uncourageous to confess homosexuality in that context), but even something such as coming out can be herculean in the ideal behind it and impact from it. 


Supporting the gay community is not something that I, nor anyone, necessarily has to be shouting and protesting about. I figure that those roles of prominent, widespread involvement can be left to more logistically skilled and uplifting people. What's left for me to do would be to provide my own perspectives - through this blog - and hope that, maybe, someone somewhere might find comfort through them.  But I've mentioned that in enough posts already.  All I can do is hope that it's enough, for now at least.



"We do not congratulate a schoolmaster on teaching that two and two make four, though we may, perhaps, congratulate him on having chosen his laudable vocation.  Let us then say it was praiseworthy that...so many others should have elected to prove that two and two make four rather than the contrary; but let us add that this good will of theirs was one that is shared by the schoolmaster and by all who have the same feelings as the schoolmaster, and, be it said to the credit of mankind, they are more numerous than one would think...[Yet] needless to say...these men were risking their lives.  But again and again there comes a time in history when the man who dares to say that two and two make four is punished with death.  The schoolteacher is well aware of this.  And the question is not one of knowing what punishment or reward attends the making of this calculation.  The question is that of knowing whether two and two do make four.  For those of our townsfolk who risked their lives in this predicament the issue was whether or not plague was in their midst and whether or not they must fight against it."

- Albert Camus


(Yes, his writing is pretty dense, but I found inspiration through it. I'd definitely recommend his work to anyone.)



25 April 2013

Dysfunctional Introversion



I'm not a very open person.  I rarely share secrets.  While this has earned me the apparently enticing description of "mysterious" by girls at school, I only consider it an unnecessary extension of my introversion.  I've never seen much use for small talk; what's the point of asking "what's up" or "how are you" when the answer is already obvious?  Honestly, I doubt a large majority of whoever asks such routinely trivial questions actually care about the answer.  They just want a canned answer like "I'm fine," or "good," so that they can move on with their lives and be happy with their feigned interest.  Small talk is inauthentic, repetitive,  and irrelevant.  



Expectation of small talk is oppressive


Sure, I can acknowledge that the purpose of small talk is as a social lubrication to maintain some kind of subconscious mutual positivity... but that bores me.  I would choose an actual conversation with someone instead of "nice weather, huh?" any day of the week.  In fact, the points during the day at which I'm most vocal are when it's a class discussion over some topic; when it comes to literature analysis or historical reflection, my eyes light up with the possibility of debate and perspective deliberation.  I've earned a notorious reputation as a devil's advocate, and a more jocular - if somewhat disparaging - label from my teacher: "critical thinker".


When it comes to conversation, I would simply rather have an intellectually probing one rather than nonfunctional chatter.  However, this is socially maladjusted; hardly anyone wants to pour out their personal philosophies, viewpoints, and ideas.  I would love to ask people what they think about subjects like morality, astrology, theology, sexuality, and most any other ologies and alities.  I would love to hear someone's wishes, goals, and interests.  But more realistically, I would just rather have a conversation in which interest doesn't have to be feigned. Because those kinds of conversations are interesting.  Aren't they?

I know from the past that when I vainly try to approach such topics, they quickly get dropped due to my friends' apparently indifferent exasperation.  I find that people would rather discuss the shitty Minnesotan weather than their own views on life, and that depresses me.  Consequential to this dispassionate status quo, there's not really any place for people like me - people who prefer deep conversation.  This means that I'm considered quiet, and shy - because that's what naturally occurs when one hardly has any desire to contribute to boring conversations.  I am shy because I'm aware of the effect introversion has on others.  I primarily have a desire to talk about non-social topics, and I fear that if I do say something, then it will be a topic that is uninteresting and weird.  The point is, I have no desire for petty conversation, and anyone else rarely has any desire for intellectual or divulgent conversation, and thus there's no reason for me to speak much at all.  This is what earns me the label of "shy" - I don't speak that much, so I'm looked at as a loner.

Now don't get me wrong - I'm not seeking to discuss the deepest questions mankind has ever considered with everyone I meet, and I'm not beyond the desire for chatting (as long as it's not solely to just make noise).  I say hello to people in the hallways and sometimes feign interest in what they're saying as well, I make jokes and I enjoy speaking with people at my school.  It's just that I'd much rather replace the boring chats with deep ones.  Perhaps I'm simply a characteristic introvert; I prefer small groups and purposeful conversation, and despise the opposite.


Big talk > small talk
..okay, maybe the guy does look a little bored

Yet this social barrier for people like me in particular is something I'm concerned about.  I can't be the only one out there that wishes conversational topics could be a little less dull - and frankly, I think it's something we all, whether introvert or extrovert, ought to strive for.  Why not ask your friends what they think about topics you care about? About things you never bothered to bring up in the past? Why not make relationships more interesting, and consequently deeper? I believe that if you can have mutually connective conversations, which may require sharing silently-held beliefs, then your friends will be closer to you through them. 

"I am very little inclined on any occasion to say anything unless I hope to produce some good by it."
 - Abraham Lincoln

30 March 2013

Music as Catharsis


My taste in music is probably pretty lame and eclectic. I'm utterly biased against 90% of the music made in this century, mostly because I feel it's become too commercialized and focused on money and fame. Furthermore, older music makes me think of times where life was a breeze, when Marty McFly could skateboard around and time travel like it was no big deal, or when Samantha Baker could land the hottie Jake Ryan, or when a group of archetypal high schoolers could change the world through a Saturday detention.

Yeah, I like '80s music.

Regardless of your musical affiliation, however, I think all types of songs share the universality of the human experience. All genres address love, pain, happiness, acceptance, death, etc... Music portrays the sentiments and experiences that we all share in one of the most profoundly impacting and universal ways. Because of this, music is clearly one of the most effective modes of catharsis. Pain can be easily released through the lyrics of a song.



So, I decided to dedicate this post to the cathartic beneficence of music, despite knowing that my own taste in it will probably repulse some of you.  These are all songs that "speak" to me in some way.. some are pretty vague connections, while others seem as if they were written to explain my feelings.  Maybe you'll feel the same.



Same Love
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis



If You Were Here
Thompson Twins


If It Wasn't for the Nights
ABBA



Every Breath You Take
the Police


Why Can't I Have You
the Cars



Wouldn't It Be Nice
the Beach Boys



Undisclosed Desires
Muse


Getcha Back
the Beach Boys



Ordinary World
Duran Duran



Slow Down
Poolside



The One I Love
R.E.M.



Here's a list, longer than I thought it would be, of other relevant songs.  Enjoy:

Angel Eyes, ABBA
Bizarre Love Triangle, New Order
Burnin' For You, Blue Oyster Cult
Cold As Ice, Foreigner
Can't Get You Off My Mind, Poolside
Do You Believe in Love, Huey Lewis & The News
Don't Worry Baby, Beach Boys
Don't You Want Me, Human League
Dream On, Aerosmith
Everybody Hurts, R.E.M.
Good Times Roll, the Cars
Happy Together, the Turtles
Hotel California, the Eagles
I Heard It Through the Grapevine, Marvin Gaye
If You Leave, OMD
It Must Have Been Love, Roxette
Livin' On a Prayer, Bon Jovi
Man in the Wilderness, Styx
Obsession, Animotion
Ogden's Nut Gone Flake, Small Faces
The Promise, When in Rome
Shake it Out, Florence + the Machine
She Cares, Styx
Soon, the Cars
Stone in Love, Journey
Surfer Girl, Beach Boys
Tainted Love, Soft Cell
Take My Breath Away, Berlin
Take On Me, a-ha
The Best of Times, Styx
Touch, Daft Punk
You're My Best Friend, Queen
You're the One that I Want, Olivia Newton John

My Coming Out Story




I suppose I've forgotten to mention that I'm not completely inside the closet as I may have (unintentionally) made it seem.  There are actually five people in my personal life who know that I'm gay.  My best 'girl' friend, my best guy friend, both of my parents, and my school counselor.  Yet while my sexuality is known by these people, I still wouldn't agree to say that I'm "out".  I've told these few people, and a couple of them came to know without my consent (I'll explain), yet I have no wish to tell anyone else. I don't mean to justify or defend anything, I'm just saying that what is is what is.


The first person I ever told was my friend whom I've known for two years now.  I told her last summer, while we were eating at a Chipotle.  I hadn't really known her for very long before I came out to her.. but I think that was part of the security of choosing her.  We're pretty close, yet we weren't dependent on each other for support and counsel.  This meant that if our short-term friendship were ruined, it wouldn't have been very hard on me (I hope that doesn't sound too shallow).  This, coupled with the fact that she had a lot of gay friends and was entirely open to homosexuality, gave me enough incentive - or lack of fear - to tell her.

We were watching people on a random South Minneapolis street while I tried to muster the courage, with extreme difficulty, to tell her.  Finally, I quietly uttered, "I think I'm gay"...  She looked at me and laughed.  For the next five minutes, I tried to convince her that I was being serious (after the initial admittance, it was a lot easier to try and explain to her).  She thought I was joking, and even when it finally dawned on her that I wasn't, she nodded and explained that she never would have guessed.  She took it well, and looking back on it, I wonder why I feared otherwise.  It didn't phase her that I was gay, it phased her that she didn't figure it out before.  The rest of the day continued normally, and we were all smiles.  I was relieved beyond any relief I had ever felt, even though deep down I knew that it wouldn't have turned out any differently.  I don't regret it - in fact, I wish I had told her sooner.  Today, we discretely joke about it in the school hallways and in our English class, and sharing this secret with her has brought us much closer.


Life continued on after a while, and I began to hardly think about the fact that she knew about my sexuality.  I became a little more content with my life as the summer blew by; I was even beginning to look forward to the start of school.  That is, until one day in a car ride with my mom. We were making the drive from Madison back to the Twin Cities together, cohesively and enjoyably, until she brought up the subject.  I knew what it was the exact second she started - and the funny thing is, neither of us ever even said the word "gay".  Yet all of a sudden, my mom was essentially telling me that she knew I was, that she'd known for a while, and that she was worried about me.  The only exact wording of hers I remember was "sometimes, you look like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders".  I couldn't blame her for thinking that - it did often feel that way for me.  I knew that she was only explaining everything to me as any protective and concerned mother would, but it still infuriated me.  Maybe I was too emotionally immature to properly handle it, but I was pissed that she dropped that bomb on me, and I made it clear.  I told her - ordered her - that she never speak of it again, and that I wasn't going to talk about it with her.  I know it hurt her to have her comfort rejected so abrasively, but I felt then - as I still do - that she had no right to out me.  They're my feelings, my secret, and it's my right to withhold that from her.  It was my choice to bring it up between us, not hers.  I'm grateful that she cares about me, and that she tried to comfort me, but I was not ready for her to know - or, for me to know that she knew.  I'm not angry at her so much as I'm angry at the situation.

It caused a lot of strife, both between the two of us and within myself. I wouldn't even speak to her for a while afterwards, and I quietly seethed to myself.  I absolutely hated that she knew, and that she admitted it.  In all honesty, I still do hate it; I was not ready for her to know then, and I still am not.


While there continued an intense rift between my parents and I, a much more weighty burden was bearing down at me at the time.  My best friend, whom I've loved more than life itself for years, appeared more and more in my thoughts.  I could never stop thinking of him, and it hurt.  I cried plenty of times over him, and over my irresistible feelings for him.  The idea of coming out to him had been in my mind for a long time, and it slowly began to take more shape, even as I began to become more distressed by it.  I wanted to tell him, badly, but it wasn't that easy.  The fears of every closeted gay were screaming at me - that if I told him, this straight, masculine guy would freak out; he'd reject me, and push me away, and break our friendship. And even if it wouldn't have been that extreme, we most certainly would have drifted apart, wouldn't we? He wouldn't want anything to do with a loser queer like me. I simply wouldn't have been able to handle that kind of reaction.. not only was he the guy of my dreams, but we had been best friends for ten years. Beyond love, I shared a connection with him that people rarely had, and I dared not break it by coming out to him. I chose to suffer in silence rather than even risk losing his friendship.

At least, I suffered in literal silence; an online friend of mine, whom I'd found solace in through emails, had been serving as an outlet for my feelings and depressions. He was the one who pushed me to seek out the guidance counselor at my school. I agreed with him; my head was getting into darker and darker places, and I had to find some way to bring light to it. I had almost as much apprehension in visiting the counselor as I did when I came out for the first time to my friend. I went to his office and told him what had been troubling me. I told him that I was in love with a guy who couldn't love me back. I told him that I was feeling hopeless and lost. I broke down in his office (though I suppose 'breaking down' for me is a few tears). And all he did for me was give me a shoulder to cry on; he gave me a way to unload my problems. And it helped; I felt like the weight of unrequited love wasn't pressing so hard on me any more.


Yet it didn't last for very long, and I hadn't expected it to. I was soon back to doting over my best friend, and imagining coming out to him. I kept promising myself every time we hung out that it would be the time I'd finally tell him. Time after time I backed out, and tore myself up over it afterwords. Until one night, when I fell into the lowest low I had been in, and I knew that I couldn't put it off any longer; I had to do something. So, over winter break, he and I hung out at his house, and I did it. It was by far the hardest thing I had ever done - much more difficult than telling either my girl friend or the counselor. My simple, choked out explanation was that "I like guys." (I didn't tell him about my feelings for him). I dreaded the response.. but he just flashed me his big, goofy grin, and told me that it was all good. He patted me on the back and said that he wouldn't think of me any differently, and that nothing would change the fact that we were buds.

To say the least, I was relieved. I returned to my house shortly afterwards, and I didn't know what to do with myself. The most unfamiliar emotions (I think it was happiness) exploded in me; I swore I could have done anything on the high I had from relief. It literally, physically felt like I could breathe easier then, that the weight of my biggest secret from my best friend was lifted off my chest.

Shortly after, we texted for a while about it, and some of what he actually said was, "Its your sexuality, you cant control whether you like dudes or girls. im completely open to people being gay", "I'm not gonna look at you any differently and i think its cool you told me because that shows some kind of trust with me. we are still gonna be friends and that wont change", and "if you ever need to talk to me about anything ill be here and listen to you dude".

These simple words (among others of his) had such a deep impact on me. I knew that I had made the right choice in telling him that I'm gay, because we are best friends, and we value each other for who we are. I realized that I was wrong to ever doubt this. I still say that coming out to him was the best thing to happen to me in a long, long time. It brought us so much closer, as well as relieving the tension from keeping it secret. I never told him about my feelings for him, and I have no idea if he knows anyway. I still do love him, and I still do think about him every waking hour. Yet even though it still causes me a lot of pain, it's something I know I can put off, at least for a while. In the meantime, I can relish the fact that we are still friends, and that I can truly confide in him with anything (well, except one thing). Such a friendship outweighs any pain.


So, that's my 'coming out' story.. It's a lot longer than I thought it would be. Regardless of how far you are on your path towards leaving the closet - whether it's currently locked tight or open wide - I hope my story might provide some insight. Maybe it can give hope to those who have the same fears of losing friends as I had - and still do, to be honest. Or perhaps it can revive a sense of relief and self-gratitude to those who have already overcome those fears.

One of the most cliched phrases pertaining to this situation (and many like it) is that 'if your friend doesn't accept you, then he/she's not really your friend'. Until recently, I viewed this popular saying in a cynical manner. I used to think it meant that my friends will not accept me, and that I should be happy to be rid of people who 'weren't really my friends'. But that is not its meaning; what this phrase is actually saying is that your friends will accept you, because they are true friends. It's conveying that you don't have anything to fear in coming out to those you trust, because they will not push you away. Your true friends will accept you, as mine did, and your relationships will be better off because of it.

I can't tell you to come out to your friends, family, or dog, because that's a decision you must make on your own. But if your inhibitions of it are due to the delusional and irrational fears of unacceptance from those who have already shown to value and care about you, then forget them. Understand that friendship transcends something as truly petty as sexuality.

Regardless, I know that coming out is intimidating; it usually requires planning and forethought. Pick a time and setting that both you and the person you're coming out to are comfortable in. Think carefully about what you want to say. I wouldn't advise memorizing a script, because you can't predict how it will occur, though I think it's important to remember key points. For example, it would be good to explain that you are still the same person, and that you won't act any differently. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, you must prepare yourself for a negative reaction; not all people are utterly open to the idea, and you must allow them time to process the fact that you're gay, or bi, or whatever. Even if they do reject you initially, give them some time to fully digest it and come around to acceptance - as any true friend will.


Still, it goes without saying that there are more and greater fears associated with coming out than lost friendships. The fear of ostracization, insult, bullying, assault - even death - are all problems that continue to intensely antagonize the gay community, and are justifiably avoided.  While coming out to accepting friends and family is a source of relief, it's necessary to keep it mind the environment you're coming out into.  I, or anyone else, couldn't possibly know the circumstances of your life, so you have to be the judge of whether it's safe to disclose your sexuality.  

Maybe there will be a day when posts like these are far from necessary, and when "coming out" is equally unremarkable. Until then, however, I hope this post shows that those who are in the closet aren't alone or without friends.



04 March 2013

How many gay fish are there in the sea?



One of the largest and most obvious problems that hidden homosexuality creates is the unawareness of those around you that share your attractions - you don't know who's really gay.  This leads to other problems of feeling alone or secluded, especially within the dating world.  If you can't distinguish who's a homo, then it's going to be incredibly hard to find one to date or interact with on a fully mutually-aware basis.

I definitely don't have any tips on solving this issue; I can count the number of people I know (disregarding online) to be gay on just one hand, and I don't know any of them, not even as acquaintances. Still, thinking about this problem got me wondering about statistics - just how many people around me are gay?


In answer to this question, I researched a little online to find out about official statistics, and found a few sources on it.

According to the most popular study on this, conducted by the Williams Institute of the UCLA Law School in 2011, 3.5% of Americans identify as gay, lesbian, or bisexual. This is equivalent to roughly 11 million people.

Dashiell Bennet of the Atlantic Wire explained that this survey, asking the question: "Do you, personally, identify as lesbian, gay bisexual, or transgender?" was conducted in all fifty states with 200,000 respondents - a relatively large sample. The results were also remarkably consistent; all of the state polls average to 3.5%.

Ramon Johnson from About.com Gay Life explained, however, that these statistics aren't far from subjective, as the study itself - especially the nature of the question being asked - and participants' answers aren't entirely reliable.  These surveys count on people to self-identify, which is complicated by individuals' denial or reluctance to admit their sexualities, or that their sexualities aren't able to be defined by "LGBT". He provided the widely accepted statistics of 1 in 10 to 1 in 20 Americans identifying as LGB.


Still, even though the total average for all Americans is 3.5%, it still came to my mind that a clearer and more accurate demographic picture might be possible.  Such as that there's a difference in LGB population according to different ages.  A different study conducted by the American Foundation for Equal Rights, on gallup.com, found (among the very similar total percentage of Americans that are LGBT) there is a differing proportion by age; i.e. younger Americans are more likely to be gay.





Here's the, essentially copy and pasted, data from the Wikipedia page, based on 2000 data of the American Community Survey.  This gives a better picture for for the top ten LGB populations of certain cities and states.


BY CITY


Top Cities Ranked by Population
Rank City Percentage
of City
Population
GLB Population
population
1 New York 4.5% 272,493
2 Los Angeles 5.6% 154,270
3 Chicago 5.7% 114,449
4 San Francisco 15.4% 94,234
5 Phoenix 6.4% 63,222
6 Houston 4.4% 61,976
7 San Diego 6.8% 61,945
8 Dallas 7.0% 58,473
9 Seattle 12.9% 57,993
10 Boston 12.3% 50,540


Top Cities Ranked by Percentage
Rank City Percentage
of City
Population
GLB Population
population
1 San Francisco 15.4% 94,234
2 Seattle 12.9% 57,993
3 Atlanta 12.8% 39,805
4 Minneapolis 12.5% 34,295
5 Boston 12.3% 50,540
6 Sacramento 9.8% 32,108
7 Portland 8.8% 35,413
8 Denver 8.2% 33,698
9 Washington 8.1% 32,599
10 Orlando 7.7% 12,508



_______________________

BY STATE

Top States Ranked by Population
Rank State Percentage
of State
Population
GLB Population
population
1 California 5.2% 1,338,164
2 Florida 4.6% 609,219
3 New York 4.2% 592,337
4 Texas 3.6% 579,968
5 Illinois 3.8% 345,395
6 Ohio 4.0% 335,110
7 Pennsylvania 3.5% 323,454
8 Georgia 4.3% 278,943
9 Massachusetts 5.7% 269,074
10 Washington 5.7% 266,983


Top States Ranked by Percentage
Rank State GLB Population
Percentage
of State
Population
population
1 District of Columbia 8.1% 47,651
2 New Hampshire 6.6% 81,561
3 Washington 5.7% 335,964
4 Massachusetts 5.7% 361,898
5 Maine 5.2% 66,295
6 California 5.2% 1,895,792
7 Colorado 5.1% 219,364
8 Vermont 5.1% 31,050
9 New Mexico 4.9% 99,085
10 Minnesota 4.7% 231,215

 

   ___________________________

BY METROPOLITAN AREA


Top Metropolitan Areas Ranked by Percentage
Rank Metro Area Percentage
of Metro
Population
GLB Population
population rank
1 San Francisco 8.2% 256,313 4
2 Seattle 6.5% 154,835 11
3 Boston 6.2% 201,344 5
4 Portland 6.1% 94,027 21
5 Tampa 5.9% 119,044 16
6 Austin 5.9% 61,732 29
7 Denver 5.8% 99,027 19
8 Minneapolis 5.7% 130,472 15
9 Orlando 5.7% 81,272 24
10 Hartford 5.6% 49,000 33



All this data allows for a clearer picture of LGB demographics. Urbanity and youth are typical characteristics of a gay person... though I would be remiss without mentioning that that's just a statistical generalization - not a stereotype. If you live in a small-town city, or even one that just wasn't listed above, it doesn't mean that there's no hope for finding any gay friends (or lovers) around you; I live just outside of Minneapolis and I was still surprised as to how much of the population in the metro area is LGB. As I mentioned earlier, I don't even know any other gay people.

So if it helps anyone, know that it's more than likely that you're not alone. If your sexuality is a secret, then at least be comforted by the fact that there are other people around who you share that secret as well.


I plan on editing and adding to the statistics on this post over time and as new data comes out.  


19 February 2013

Pride


What does it mean to have pride in oneself?

I posed on my earlier post, "Labels", the question: 'why would someone proclaim their pride in being gay any more than they would proclaim their pride in being human?'

What I rhetorically meant by this was that being gay is just fundamentally part of who I am, without my ability or desire to change. This is equivalent to any other aspect of my being, and of my humanity; what I truly intended to convey was that there should be no reason to be any "prouder" in my sexuality than I would be in my ability to breathe or think. They are each parts of myself - they are what make me human. And just as there is nothing abnormal or remarkable with breathing and thinking, there is nothing abnormal or remarkable with being gay. It is simply a fact that I am, and nothing more.

What I especially want to clarify is that being gay is not what makes me unique. Would you say that your ability to breathe makes you unique? Is what makes you interesting? I don't think so. Similarly, one's sexuality shouldn't be what's interesting about oneself - its not a talent, or a skill, or a hobby; it's just what you are. The fact that I'm gay will never define who I am. It never can define my personality - how could it? Could you distinguish my interests, my hobbies, my mannerisms, or any aspect of who I am from my ability to breathe? No! Until a gay man or a gay woman can walk down the street without having to hide their sexuality, and without someone giving them a second glance or stopping to consciously recognize their homosexuality, then society will always have a skewed - and thus wrong - position towards it.

What I see as important is the acceptance of our human characteristics. We must accept our - and others' - sexuality for the simple reason that it is as inherent, natural, and non-harmful as breathing is - and that's how we should be advocating it, I think (though perhaps not as redundantly as I with the "breathing" example). What I find the most ideal fulfillment of this is the idea of never even mentioning your sexuality - straight people have no necessity to explain that they're straight, and it should be the same for all sexualities. I should be able to live my life without anyone giving a second thought to whom I'm attracted to.

Imagine a world in which there is not even the concept of separate sexualities; in which the ideas of "gay" and "straight" don't even exist - because they don't matter. Where people simply have sex and fall in love with whoever they want to without the fear of even being recognized as 'different'. Yes, I know that this is incredibly idealistic and improbable.. but isn't this social evolution what we ought to be striving for anyway?

I think that the means to progressing the societal position of homosexuals is to realize that we aren't different because of our sexualities. We're all human, and the advocation of equality - not uniqueness - is what I feel is what will be most beneficial to spreading acceptance.


I'm not trying to condescend to the 'gay pride' movement or imply that it's advocating the wrong message. Yet an analogy that I've considered before is the difference between the black Civil Rights movement in the USA, and the militant members of the Black Panthers. We, as gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transsexuals, are all seeking civil acceptance and tolerance, as were the countless others who fought for the same for African Americans. Some of those in the gay community, however, seek acknowledgement along the lines of militancy, gaudiness, or exclusivity as were many members of the Black Panthers. LGBT people ought to seek inclusion in society, and not segregation or contempt of it, nor pity or different treatment from it. Some are only seeking civil acceptance (which I support), yet others of the gay pride movement would desire the meretricious egotism and conflict that some of the Black Panthers wished for blacks. I'm not even necessarily condemning these types of gay activists; I only condemn the practice of them claiming to represent all gays.


Perhaps my disturbance at the term "gay pride" simply results from the word; I've explained, from my perspective, that one should not feel prideful over an inherent, human characteristic (at least, not to the extent of declaring a distinct pride in it). One should ACCEPT oneself, not declare oneself. In my eyes, the term should be along the lines of "gay acceptance", and not "gay pride".

A good friend of mine once said to me, "gay seems to be all-defining, and it's hard to push into the background sometimes. If you're not proud and up-front about it, then you have to be ashamed. There's no middle ground with people. Hopefully there will be more gay people like us... where it's just something about us, and not the only thing about us. I really think that's the key for the gay community moving forward... not pride parades."

I've mentioned pride parades earlier, and that I felt they were the epitome of false labeling - due to the flamboyance and ostentatiousness associated with them. Though, I'd like to make it clear that I do strongly agree that a pride parade is a place where gays can be themselves and enjoy "a sense of belonging and community that one doesn't normally feel." I do strongly agree that these are very important and beneficial aspects to pride parades, and I do strongly agree that these are aspects that should be continued. However, when the "up-front", flamboyant, and ostentatious acting out of certain members (comparative to the Black Panthers) becomes the symbol and/or image of gay pride, I feel it does become detrimental; I feel that it does promote the idea that homosexuality is to be recognized as something apart from normality. Something to have a separate necessity to be "proud" in. And this is detrimental. 



Yet I do honestly feel this is the true aim and motive of the "pride" movement, and that I am not speaking out against it. I understand that 'pride' is simply meant as the opposition of 'shame', which I hope I've made obvious that I oppose as well - though with 'acceptance' rather than 'pride'. Yet, I think that this motivation for the pride movement does sometimes get muddled in the commonly carnivalesque attitude to and of it.

Trust me, I strongly support those who would courageously follow the examples of MLK Jr, Medgar Evers, Ghandi, Richard Adams, David Kato, Harvey Milk, and countless heroes who have given their lives to seek equality and fight prejudice, because that is yet to be fully achieved for the LGBT community. Regardless, it goes without saying that it should always be kept in mind why and how we ought to seek acceptance. Should it not be because we are not different from "normal" society? Is it not because we are normal?

I don't have pride in calling myself gay. What I would have pride in is the ability to withstand - and ultimately, overcome - the struggle of social nonacceptance. But that's not unique to being gay, is it? People have been ostracized for all reasons: skin color, belief, ethnicity. All of these are parts of the fight for human rights, and all - including sexuality - are part of simply being human.

17 February 2013

Hypocrisy?


I want to acknowledge that a lot of what I've said as advice or comfort - and will most likely say in the future - seems to have a slightly hypocritical aspect to it, I feel.

What I mean is that I'm going through the problems, worries, and troubles of a closeted gay teen, so obviously I'm not too good at following any advice I write on here. It's one thing to say that everything will be fine, and another to believe it. What I'm asking you (anyone who wants my advice) is to understand that I mean what I say; but don't think I'm acting as if I've overcome the problems I write about. I'm on the path as well - which is why I wanted to offer a perspective that you could relate to.

I think the biggest problem with depression, cynicism, or just pessimism, is that it creates an overwhelmingly nihilistic apathy in oneself. It makes us too apathetic to even believe the rationality that's required for happiness - happiness for the future, in my case. We can understand and agree with things that might be utterly rational and probable, such as that we will most likely find love, but depression (and I don't necessarily mean clinical depression) doesn't allow us to regard them as such.

Despite being completely rudimentary, an easy way for me to explain this is that my 'heart' and my 'brain' aren't agreeing with each other. My brain knows the comfort I try to give on here is true and, most likely, obvious. Yet my 'heart' is too apathetic to believe my brain's rationality. So this leads to the difficulty in overcoming emotional strains, and the sense of hypocrisy I feel when writing about them.

Still, it goes without saying that our brains' rational thoughts should be acknowledged, so maybe I'm not totally speaking out of my ass.