Great thread from Caelan Conrad, host of the Yesterqueer podcast:
Queer folks who say "I hate when queers make their sexuality the most important part of who they are", you're missing the point.
— Caelan Conrad (@CaelanConrad) June 15, 2017
The reason you feel like being queer isn't what defines you is because queer and trans people before you fought to make it that way.
— Caelan Conrad (@CaelanConrad) June 15, 2017
Without them fighting, dieing, and being loud and unapologetic about who they were, you wouldn't be able to see yourself as "normal"
— Caelan Conrad (@CaelanConrad) June 15, 2017
Because society wouldn't see you as normal. We could still be in the middle of an AIDS crisis. We wouldn't be allowed to marry.
— Caelan Conrad (@CaelanConrad) June 15, 2017
We wouldn't have whatever job protection we might have now. We wouldn't be represented in the media, we wouldn't be able to adopt.
— Caelan Conrad (@CaelanConrad) June 15, 2017
When you came out to your parents, they would have had no exposure to the fact that we're all just people, trying to be ourselves.
— Caelan Conrad (@CaelanConrad) June 15, 2017
It might have went very differently. Homelessness, abuse, death, conversion therapy torture, cut off financially.
— Caelan Conrad (@CaelanConrad) June 15, 2017
These things all still happen, but to a lesser extent because of the people that paved the way for your better life.
— Caelan Conrad (@CaelanConrad) June 15, 2017
When it comes to lgbtq rights; taking the rights that were earned -by others, for you- for granted isn't the way to do this.
— Caelan Conrad (@CaelanConrad) June 15, 2017
If you feel your sexuality doesn't need to be the most important part of who you are, that's fine. But acknowledge WHY you feel that way.
— Caelan Conrad (@CaelanConrad) June 15, 2017
And try to think about the people less fortunate than you, who have been defined BY OTHERS as nothing but a queer or trans person.
— Caelan Conrad (@CaelanConrad) June 15, 2017
When you've been told you're worthless, or at least worth less, because of a single trait you possess, that affects most people greatly.
— Caelan Conrad (@CaelanConrad) June 15, 2017
The rising up and rebelling against that oppression, and the feeling of pride you earned- by being who you are: that's not a negative trait.
— Caelan Conrad (@CaelanConrad) June 15, 2017
Everytime you see that "stereotypical" queer person who you think is putting on a show, so what if they are?
— Caelan Conrad (@CaelanConrad) June 15, 2017
Maybe that performance is an expression of their happiness at having the right to finally be themselves, regardless of the shame they felt.
— Caelan Conrad (@CaelanConrad) June 15, 2017
Maybe it's just who they are, and always have been. And now they get to show that to the world. Don't they deserve that opportunity?
— Caelan Conrad (@CaelanConrad) June 15, 2017
If you feel like you don't want to be part of the community because you'd rather just live your life; that's your right, and your choice.
— Caelan Conrad (@CaelanConrad) June 15, 2017
But remember you have this choice because other people refused to be anything BUT silent and unconnected.
— Caelan Conrad (@CaelanConrad) June 15, 2017
There's a lot of change that still needs to happen, and you don't have to take part in that, although you probably should.
— Caelan Conrad (@CaelanConrad) June 15, 2017
But don't start putting down other queer people to make yourself feel more "normal."
— Caelan Conrad (@CaelanConrad) June 15, 2017
And remember that trans people fought with us, tooth and nail, for our rights. The fight isn't over yet, and that means there's work to do.
— Caelan Conrad (@CaelanConrad) June 15, 2017
If you have an issue with your disconnected, comfortable queer existence being questioned, you need to examine why.
— Caelan Conrad (@CaelanConrad) June 15, 2017
Babashook.
— Caelan Conrad (@CaelanConrad) June 15, 2017
Remember: It was "weak" and "femme" hairdressers and ballet boys who made it safe for "musc" and "masc" professional athletes to come out and not the other way around.
