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November 02, 2004
*Letter to the Editor* Thumb up to allies, thumb in nose toward drag show and "the Gay Agenda"
For those curious, this letter is written in response to Coming Out Week, the drag show, and Andrew Cole’s Oct. 12 "Gay Agenda" article. Now, before I get started, I want it known that I am not considered a very PC or nice person. I make rude and derogatory comments, normally aimed at minorities and underprivileged people. That’s the kind of person I am. And considering how I normally am, I felt it was important to speak my mind on this past week.
Coming Out Week seemed to begin with the sidewalk chalking. There were the normal things written that I’ve gotten used to and there were a few new ones as well. Then came the drag show. I’d never been to a drag show before and frankly had a dismal outlook about it. That was not something I’d like to see. But I went anyway, under duress from several people on campus.
When it started I was not enthused. Maxxi was doing her emcee thing and everyone was cheering and clapping, except for me. Unfortunately for me, she noticed and singled me out. Yup, that was me. The one that sassed her. But the show went on. Everyone did their thing, and though I thought Deelicious was a bit inappropriate, I stayed through the whole thing.
When the drag show was done, I did not have the reaction I thought I would have. My initial thoughts were that when it was done I would complain about it being a waste of time. But as I was leaving, my thoughts were elsewhere. For some reason unknown to me, I was actually impressed by what I had seen. I’m not saying it was done with a great amount of skill, but it was done with a great amount of heart.
I was touched. Touched by something that I thought could have no effect on me. It was, well, strange. It was about then that I found out that Spectrum at Hamline has never had any male allies and I then made up my mind that I would become one. If that much of themselves is put into a single drag show, I can’t imagine what else they can do, and that is what impresses me: how much they care about what they are doing.
Now, onto the less inspirational words. I read Andrew Cole’s column the Friday after the drag show, and frankly couldn’t understand what his line of thinking was. My understanding of Spectrum and Coming Out Week is to create a place for GLBTs to be comfortable and where they can be easier accepted. Yet in the column he makes statements about straight people being uncomfortable with their sexuality.
For the goal of understanding and mutual acceptance, those are just fighting words. I know many people who are very supportive of Coming Out Week and Spectrum. Or should I say I knew many people like that. Cole's words have alienated supporters. Next time, in the interest of the message of Spectrum, think before you speak, and the message might not actually fall on deaf ears.
Eric Binfet
CLA Student
Posted by msveum at November 2, 2004 12:41 PM
Comments
Mr. Binfet,
I appreciate and thank you for your kind remarks about enjoying the Drag Show. I especially like the fact that you pointed out the fact that those involved really did care about what they were doing and why. That is what most of coming out week is about, people standing up for eachother and celebrating the things that make us unique.
You were incorrect in saying that Spectrum has never had any male allies. There have been many straight men that have been involved with Spectrum throughout its exsistnce. There involvement with the organization has varried greatly. The currently aren't any active Spectrum members (by active I mean regularly attend meetings and help plan events) that I know to be straight and male identified. At Spectrum we don't ever ask people to tell the group their sexual orientation or gender identity so there could be straight male members that I don't know.
There are however many straight men that I would consider to be allies, like our Dean of Students who recently purchased a Table for 10 Spectrum members at the Coming Out Day luncheon, or Mike Pesko who has always been willing to help out and even dress and drag at 2 events. Though we are always hopping that our events will reach people and help us find new members. You said that the drag show affected you and I hope that you feel inclinded to attend meetings and events in the future.
Now onto what you called, "less inspirational words". The column I wrote was in response to the treatment of Spectrum and its members in the past because of out chalkings. 3 years ago he chalkings lead to campus wide discusions about hate speech and forums and editorials in the oracle that ran for weeks afterword. The fall out of this has effected many people and had greatly negative impact on Spectrum's membership. I wrote the article to address the issue before others could respond negatively to the chalkings. The column was meant to tease those who overreact on both sides of the issue, and used humor to soften the blow.
You assert that I made "statements about straight people being uncomfortable with their sexuality" I think you must be refering to when I wrote that "If you are so uncomfortable with your sexuality that you avoide the box marked "everybody who steps here is gay" you have bigger problems than chalk". I still stand by the statment as I think it is true on every level. I never asserted that all straight people are uncomfortable with their sexuality or that straight people are bad or that there is something wrong with not yet being comfortable about your sexuality. I simply made a statment that said that those who get worked up and react negatively to chalking sayings like "all the squirrels at Hamline are gay" should spend less time worrying about the chalkings and more time exploring why they have such reactions to them.
Eric, I have a lot more to say on this issues and would be willing to sit down and discuss it with you sometime...but for now I feel this post is too long. I glad you enjoyed the Drag Show, we enjoyed putting it on and were thrilled with the turnout for it. I'm sorry you took offense to my column, perhaps my writing skills are not yet at a level where every person can understand what I'm saying. But I'm not sorry for anything in the article, you accused me of thinking before speaking, which is unfounded...I spent a great deal of time on that article and solicited several people for input before sending it to the Oracle editors. Since it's publication professors, staff members and students of various sexual orientations (and even several straight males) have complimented me on it.
feel free to contact me if you wish to discuss this further.
Posted by: Andrew Cole at November 1, 2004 02:48 PM
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