IDAHO 2009
Today is International Day Against Homophobia, which I really wish was Int'l Day Against Heterosexism but that's probably a little too much to ask for.
Comic is in French but I liked it a lot: Superman contre l'homophobie. Some of the other comics I saw were a little problematic imho, but I like the message in this one.
I also like the style of Djou's original post on the topic and most of the idea behind it (sorry - still in French), I love the thought of getting more people to blog about IDAHO that wouldn't have done it otherwise. But again, I think we should really focus more on how we all play into the heteronormative system than be content with pointing fingers to the ones who show overt hatred. Plus, so what if The Gays are growing in numbers? What if becoming more accepting about homosexuality also makes us question other random moral barriers? I get the normalizing urge, I'm a pretty boring person too, but seeking to be seen as normal, it's ensuring that other people continue to be seen as abnormal. It tends to create the "right" gays and the "wrong" ones and anyone who's been in the gay community knows it's already there.
I find it a little painful sometimes how in the course of speaking up for IDAHO, we end up reinforcing some of the heterosexist mechanisms that make homophobia intelligible in the first place.
So for just a moment I'd like the Day Against Homophobia not to be about how gay people are just like everyone else. It's not about becoming more normal. It's about asking why 'normal' is always exclusive. It's our system that has a problem, not just the "homophobic" individuals in it, so let's think about that instead.
(Sorry - wish I could be more articulate and expand, but my brain has 4% battery remaining).
PS. IDAHO is also supposed to be about transphobia - something we're often not as comfortable talking about - and well, it wouldn't hurt to give biphobia a thought, either.
Comic is in French but I liked it a lot: Superman contre l'homophobie. Some of the other comics I saw were a little problematic imho, but I like the message in this one.
I also like the style of Djou's original post on the topic and most of the idea behind it (sorry - still in French), I love the thought of getting more people to blog about IDAHO that wouldn't have done it otherwise. But again, I think we should really focus more on how we all play into the heteronormative system than be content with pointing fingers to the ones who show overt hatred. Plus, so what if The Gays are growing in numbers? What if becoming more accepting about homosexuality also makes us question other random moral barriers? I get the normalizing urge, I'm a pretty boring person too, but seeking to be seen as normal, it's ensuring that other people continue to be seen as abnormal. It tends to create the "right" gays and the "wrong" ones and anyone who's been in the gay community knows it's already there.
I find it a little painful sometimes how in the course of speaking up for IDAHO, we end up reinforcing some of the heterosexist mechanisms that make homophobia intelligible in the first place.
So for just a moment I'd like the Day Against Homophobia not to be about how gay people are just like everyone else. It's not about becoming more normal. It's about asking why 'normal' is always exclusive. It's our system that has a problem, not just the "homophobic" individuals in it, so let's think about that instead.
(Sorry - wish I could be more articulate and expand, but my brain has 4% battery remaining).
PS. IDAHO is also supposed to be about transphobia - something we're often not as comfortable talking about - and well, it wouldn't hurt to give biphobia a thought, either.