Harmful Cultural Appropriation
There’s an excellent blog post up over at Cecilia Tan’s web site titled, Appropriation Versus Diversity Glossary. I’m linking to it partly because I know it’s there and I can reference it whenever I need to in the future, and partly because I think it’s important information to understand in the most basic sense nowadays.
It’s actually a simple glossary with complicated topics we all see constantly. I already know what they are, but I don’t think most people do and they’re missing out because they don’t even know what they’re talking about half the time. To give an example as it might relate to this blog, to gay fiction, and to the overall Big Gay Story, I think harmful cultural appropriation is important to understand. I did not title this blog The Big Gay Story by accident.
Cultural appropriation: “cultural appropriation typically involves members of a dominant group exploiting the culture of less privileged groups–often with little understanding of the latter’s history, experience and traditions.” (http://racerelations.about.com/od/diversitymatters/fl/What-Is-Cultural-Appropriation-and-Why-Is-It-Wrong.htm) Make no mistake: cultural appropriation is harm.
With respect to the LGBTI community, I see this happen time and again and people don’t even realize how harmful or insulting it is. It means that unless you’re actually part of the LGBTI group you will not know what it’s like to be LGBTI, not even on your best day, after you’ve researched all things gay and quizzed all your gay friends. It’s one thing to support a group, and to help a group, and to fight for equality with that group, but it’s a completely different thing to claim you know and understand how they feel and where they are coming from. And when you do, you run the risk of harm and the worst kind of exploitation and discrimination there is. You also look ill-informed, uneducated, and arrogant in a clueless way. I’m noticing more and more that exploitation and support seem to be running hand in hand, especially when there’s money involved.
In any event, you can read the rest here. As I said, it’s a fundamental glossary of terms all writers (and some readers) should know and understand in the most basic sense. In other words, it will enlighten you.
Charles Manson Weds
I guess most people would think there’s nothing too significant about this article. But seriously. CHARLES MANSON IS GETTING MARRIED IN PRISON AND GAYS STILL AREN’T LEGAL IN MANY US STATES.
The 80-year-old inmate, convicted of conspiracy to commit multiple murders, has obtained a license to wed Afton Elaine Burton, 26, who as a teenager moved to California to be near him and has visited him for seven years. According to records with the Kings County Clerk-Recorder, Manson and Burton applied for the marriage license Nov. 7.
You can read the rest here. Again, Charles Manson, convicted 80 year old killer, can get a marriage license to wed a 26 year old woman, in prison, and gay couples who’ve never committed one single crime in their lives and who’ve been together for decades still can’t count on legalized federal same sex marriage across the board.
That’s some interesting WTF-ery.
Gay Cop Kisses Criminal
Imagine being in a deli when a hot gay cop runs in and arrests a criminal he’s been chasing all over town. And, as the male criminal arches his back and submits to the cop, they share a long, deep kiss. That’s exactly what happened in NY, but there’s a catch.
OK, we’re busted. It’s just a clever promo for Adult Swim’s The Eric Andre Show. And let’s be honest, this video is all about the reaction of the woman in red behind the counter. She obviously likes what she sees.
You can see the video here. And, I’m posting about my .99 e-book, Bury It Officer, below. It’s a story about a gay cop who does a lot more than kiss a criminal and they live happily ever after in my story.
Oprah’s Oscar-Bait Movie
Evidently, Oprah was doing the Castro recently to promote her new film, Selma. They refer to it as “Oscar Bait,” which we all know is most likely the case.
But I don’t think she was with her best friend, Gayle.
Nothing huge to report here other than a link to an amusing video...and a few other stories about gay happenings.
Anti-Hunk Male Nude Calendar
In yet another attempt for the race to the finish with nude male calendars, this one kind of surprised me because it’s being promoted as “Babes of Bushwick” anti-hunk calendar. I thought I’d find guys who aren’t all that fit and trim parodying the muscle boy calendars…kind of Seth Rogen type guys.
However, what I found were photos of really hot guys…who are NOT considered hunks because they aren’t bulging with fake steroidal muscle tone. That same muscle tone that’s become about as cliche as too much plastic surgery and Lisa Rinna’s lips.
And in Bushwick, the hipsterific and gentrifying Brooklyn neighborhood, what constitutes a calendar pinup is a little different than in most parts of the world. Bulging muscles? Not so much. A guy with a soft spot for kittens? Definitely.
You can see what I’m talking about here. These guys are anything but anti-hunk. And the comments seem to agree with me.
