Elgin's my Black Friend!
Yesterday was my first counseling appointment in several weeks, since Dr. Laster's mother died recently and she's been away. I mentioned that I'd gone to the Pride Festival by myself, since it was cool that I managed to do that and stuff. And she went off on that "are you sure you're not gay" thing like she did last time this came up. I swear, I've had enough of this whole thing. She wants to know if I'm gay. I say, no, I'm straight. She wants to know how I know. I say, because I think guys are hot. She says, okaaaay, are you sure? I mean, seriously, she won't fucking take my word for it. It's not like I would have a problem with being gay, but I'm just not attracted to women. Seems straightforward enough to me, anyway.
The next conversation is one I've had with several people, and it always makes me want to roll my eyes. You know what I mean. The Some-Of-My-Best-Friends-Are-Gay Conversation. The subject of homosexuality has come up, so it's necessary to list the two whole gay people you are acquainted with to indicate that....I guess that it doesn't bother you? I don't know. But it makes it seem like their gayness is a huge factor in your being friends with them. Or maybe she was still sure I'm seekritly gay and was trying to make me comfortable enough to come out. God. I'm still trying to put into words what it is about this conversation that annoys me. I guess it's a kind of Othering of gay people. You could do the same thing for any minority. It makes a big giant deal about their minority status and makes it seem like the only reason you're their friend is so that you can have a Gay Friend, or a Black Friend, or a Handicapped Friend or whatever.
The next conversation is one I've had with several people, and it always makes me want to roll my eyes. You know what I mean. The Some-Of-My-Best-Friends-Are-Gay Conversation. The subject of homosexuality has come up, so it's necessary to list the two whole gay people you are acquainted with to indicate that....I guess that it doesn't bother you? I don't know. But it makes it seem like their gayness is a huge factor in your being friends with them. Or maybe she was still sure I'm seekritly gay and was trying to make me comfortable enough to come out. God. I'm still trying to put into words what it is about this conversation that annoys me. I guess it's a kind of Othering of gay people. You could do the same thing for any minority. It makes a big giant deal about their minority status and makes it seem like the only reason you're their friend is so that you can have a Gay Friend, or a Black Friend, or a Handicapped Friend or whatever.