home again
I just this past weekend attended FORGE in Wisconsin. It was the first time I had ever in my life been to a conference. It was a great time. There were a lot of different people there. different in many ways, but the same in ways. It felt like another place, another country, or possibly another planet. It was one of the best feelings to look around and be surrounded by "my" people. What I mean by that is people that are accepting and open minded. Yes, there were heated discussions and different opinions, but after it all we were just people.
Coming home last night and going to work this morning was weird. I am back in the straight "normal" world. I think that I like to be in queer land more often and for longer than a few days. I don't care too much for normalcy. There were a number of great people and things happening there. It makes me want to be an activist. something that I have never really thought too much about.
I have never really been "in" to politics, but I know that it is time. Time to give to the cause...the cause of equality for everyone. I think that the thing that came to me most at the conference is that I, as well as others, should be using my "whiteness" and "privilege" to some good use. I have never liked the fact that whites get this and that. I think that minorities deserve just as much as the majority. then there wouldn't be all this racism and discrimination. Women should be treated just like men. There isn't a difference that is relevant to anything.
What you have in your pants or what you don't have in your pants does NOT determine how well you can do something. I had one of my bosses say that there are some things that do not matter when it comes to how well you do your job. those things are gender or lack thereof, age, sexual orientation, race, religion, etc.
I like people for who they are not what they are. If you, whomever you are, do something that wrongs me or hurts me then we have a problem. I don't like to judge or be judged. You probably don't really know me. I sometimes barely know myself.
At the conference I did a lot of listening. I am not a big talker in those group settings. I am more one on one or two or three, but not like 25. It makes me uncomfortable. it is the judging thing. it happens all the time.
I also had a great time building relationships and the conversations that I had with different people. My roommates were more than I could have asked for. They are two great guys and I would room with them again anytime.
I had a great time and I want to do another conference.
Coming home last night and going to work this morning was weird. I am back in the straight "normal" world. I think that I like to be in queer land more often and for longer than a few days. I don't care too much for normalcy. There were a number of great people and things happening there. It makes me want to be an activist. something that I have never really thought too much about.
I have never really been "in" to politics, but I know that it is time. Time to give to the cause...the cause of equality for everyone. I think that the thing that came to me most at the conference is that I, as well as others, should be using my "whiteness" and "privilege" to some good use. I have never liked the fact that whites get this and that. I think that minorities deserve just as much as the majority. then there wouldn't be all this racism and discrimination. Women should be treated just like men. There isn't a difference that is relevant to anything.
What you have in your pants or what you don't have in your pants does NOT determine how well you can do something. I had one of my bosses say that there are some things that do not matter when it comes to how well you do your job. those things are gender or lack thereof, age, sexual orientation, race, religion, etc.
I like people for who they are not what they are. If you, whomever you are, do something that wrongs me or hurts me then we have a problem. I don't like to judge or be judged. You probably don't really know me. I sometimes barely know myself.
At the conference I did a lot of listening. I am not a big talker in those group settings. I am more one on one or two or three, but not like 25. It makes me uncomfortable. it is the judging thing. it happens all the time.
I also had a great time building relationships and the conversations that I had with different people. My roommates were more than I could have asked for. They are two great guys and I would room with them again anytime.
I had a great time and I want to do another conference.