In which the Negress issues a sexual spectrum manifesto of sorts
March 4, 2013Apparently, there’s a group of people in London who have decided the LGBT acronym needs to be replaced with – wait for it — GSD, which stands for Gender and Sexual Diversity. The story is on the Huffington Post website if you want to take a look (the Negress will link to Huffington Post the day they start paying writers for the contributions. Look for pigs being airborne and windchill factors being announced for hell when that happens) Frankly, as marriage equality approaches here in Illinois and, with any luck, nationally and internationally, it is time for a change in the discussion but not a change in the initial misgivings the Negress has about the very notion that there is an actual LGBT community. The Negress does want the DSM to get up to speed since healthcare for the tribe is often meted out based on this book. She’s very happy that “gender dysphoria” is included, but she hopes that this entry will lead to positive help for those who want to transition as opposed to more pathologization of sexual behavior . She doesn’t care about the initials slapped on this fragile coalition. Notice the Negress didn’t say community.” That word implies equal respect for all concerns of all who are part of it. Bisexual and trans folks have very little role in the “LGBT community” except to ride at the back of the train. Back there, we swallow our anger as our concerns and rights are “managed” for us by gay men and lesbians for the most part. Bi and trans issues are becoming more visible but that’s taken a very long time within organizations that focus mostly on gay and lesbian concerns.
Two women, one cis, one not, enjoying a cocktail fueled Halloween
One person in a discussion group the Negress wanders by occasionally offered that GSD would alleviate “confusion among straight people.” Boy, the Negress wants to found that nonprofit right away and see who signs up. Talk about a cricket symphony. Also, for anyone who cannot wrap their minds around any of this, here’s the Negress’ manifesto of what matters. There’s gender identity (not binary but if you’re born in the wrong container it sucks and can make you do all sorts of stupid things until you figure it out), sexual orientation (also more fluid than most people think, but being “oriented towards minors” makes you a criminal as well as a fool) and sexual expression (equipment, number of consenting adults involved, need for chains, whips, stuffed animals, balloons etc.) How you combine the triad of gender, orientation and expression with other consenting adults is not really anyone’s concern, but please keep kids and animals out of it and try to only wear chaps with no underwear if your butt has some alluring qualities. Oh yeah, and don’t take my job, home, family (biological or chosen) or healthcare away from me because of any of it.
As the Negress climbs down off the soapbox with her creaky titanium knees, she wants to link another member of her Baseball and Bi tribe (Wonder Woman, not her real name, is the president for now). Daron’s Guitar Chronicles, is some of the writing by Cecilia Tan, whom the Negress likes in spite of her affinity for the Yankees. Hey, as Joe E. Brown said at the end of “Some Like It Hot,” Nobody’s perfect.” However, the Blackhawks have come damn close of late.
P.S. In case you were wondering, wine resumes after Easter.
I will remind you that Ms. Tan is not the only person you like who has an “affinity for the Yankees”.
Yes but she is the one who fits the Baseball and Bi category. Unless there is something you neglected to tell me.
From the context, your original comment wasn’t toward her GSD affinities, solely her baseball affinities (or, rather, the Baseball aspect of her Baseball & Bi tribal membership).
In regards to me: as you say, orientation and expression can be fluid. Many people don’t score 0 or 6 on the Kinsey sexuality scale. At different times in my life I might score between 0 and 1 in expression, and 1 and 2 in orientation. But as my sometimes messy, too-public entanglements have led people to believe, it’s true that I only fall in love with women. And I would analogize this to baseball. I like, at times, all sorts of teams and manifestations of the sport. I only really love the Yankees.
So, as I can pitch my tent only on a tiny piece of LGBT turf, my final comments are those of an interested observer. To mix metaphors, I don’t have a horse in the race, but: I prefer “GSD” to “LGBT”. Somehow, listing the component communities seems to pander slightly. I prefer a tag that’s inclusive rather than a list of constituent members. Just as I’d prefer “Democratic” Party — I won’t even insist on “Social Democratic” or “Occupy” — rather than “FeministPeopleofColorMiddleandLowerClassLaborEnvironmentalistUniversal HealthcareInternationalist” Party.
My hope is eventually no need for labeling of the expressions of gender and sexuality. Perhaps we can go back to color-coded bandanas or something just so no hideous misunderstandings occur. As for political loyalties, I think most of the party or ideological identifications are inaccurate. But, being pragmatic and less a utopian dreamer, I’ll identify as a Democrat for now, but I’m also a pinko Christian who believes in evolution, civil rights scientific and technological advancement, eating meat, recycling and well-cooked. Talk about a party of one.
Changing from LGBT to GSD would be very confusing for some of us. In my circles, GSD means German Shepherd Dogs, a very different topic. There are a lot of LGBT people involved in dog sports, and it could get extremely difficult in online forums and email lists.