h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

One of the nice things about this week is I'm getting a lot of reading done and some of it is really thought-provoking. Today I came across this:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/nov/02/gay-marry-man

Ignoring the click-bait title, it's about a guy who no longer feels being gay is an essential part of his identity: he's in a long-term, happy relationship with another bloke and he doesn't feel the need to be public in his sexuality. I don't agree with his sentiments but it's an interesting look at sexuality versus identity.

The history of gay activism is a fascinating one and particularly the schism between the assimilationists, who believed the route to equality was acting like straights, and the liberationists, who rejected the structures of straight society and believed equality would come via activism. One particularly interesting point is that assimilationists postulated an 'end of gay history' when equality and acceptance was achieved and people would become 'post-gay' - no longer needing to define themselves as gay, because being gay becomes an uncontroversial issue. People like the author of the article, and some of my RL friends, make me think we are rapidly approaching that point.

We're not there yet though, and this is where the authors point falls down. Gay people may want to describe themselves as post-gay, but the laws aren't there yet and opponents of gay equality still hold the power to define gay people legally. A post-gay can't fight this: only way to fight it is to accept the label the law gives us and fight on their turf, which is why being gay is an important part of my identity. We're not at the end of gay history yet.

Still, I think the assimilationists got it wrong: even when we reach the end of gay history (and I think with gay marriage we will pretty much be there) we will need gay folk, not just post-gay folk because it doesn't stop. People talk about coming out as if it's one event, whereas the truth is I've lost count of the number of times I'm come out: it's something you have to do time and time again. Same goes for gay history: people will keep on figuring they're gay and some of them will want/need a sense of what that means, a sense of who that makes them. Gay history is fascinating and that needs passing down lest we forget what we've learned and the struggle for gay rights can/will inform the next human rights battle. Gay history may be mostly written but I think bi and trans history is only just hitting its stride.

Although I consider myself an assimilationist and want nothing more than a 'normal' life, I don't think I'll ever be post-gay: I want to be one of those people who keeps gay history going because its lessons and battles need remembering and the kids (and adults - I know blokes who only figured their sexuality out in their thirties/forties) who are only just realising who they are need access to their heritage.

[Amy P]

Interesting article. I remember Morris taking that case to the European Court. And I wondered what became of him.

Z

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