Quick gay rant

Okay, I don't go on many feminist or gay rants, so stay with me, it's important!

I'm currently taking LGBT History, and I just really need to take some time to give credit and thanks to all of the gay men, lesbians, members of the trans community, etc. who were activists in the fight against homophobia way before I was even considering wearing a rainbow bracelet in high school. The fight against homophobia has been going on... well, for a long fucking time, but I would like to give a special shout out to the members of the butch/femme communities across the country in the forties and fifties. As a member of the lesbian community of today, I am lucky enough to attend basically the most accepting school in the country. I do not have to fight to protect my sexual identity every day or defend who I choose to love. It is not this way in many areas of our society, but things are are changing- and the past members of the community need to be recognized for risking their lives every day fighting to defend who they loved and wanted to sleep with. I don't have to do this! I mean, kind of, but only in a girl drama kind of way.

While butch lesbians were going out every weekend in men's clothing just to be physically attacked by men on the sidewalk or police, they did it to feel comfortable in their identities and for the strength of the community. Here at Smith, I can go out every day of the week wearing an article of clothing that was not designed for women and feel completely safe about it- other than a few potential teasing comments from my friends about being too gay. But hey, it's safe.

Our house parties. Well, where to even begin. Gay and lesbians bars were constantly shut down or raided by police. Violence everywhere led to riots and the constant fight to be accepted in public for anyone who wished to participate in a non-heteronormative weekend environment. Still, men and women went. They danced with members of the same sex. They were arrested, they were attacked. Today, we throw house parties where girls are all up on each other dancing and hooking up. No one says anything! In fact, it's encouraged. There is actual social status awarded here for being gay. And I think that's awesome! Not only because I am gay, but because it shows that there is a desire in the community here to WANT to have more members, to accept more people, to fuck with the hetero environment that surrounds us in the rest of the world.

Anyway, I just needed to put all that out there. I truly do think it is important to recognize that people fought to create the safe spaces we can share today. Hell, if the butch/femme community of Buffalo from the fifties could see Smith college today, I'm sure they would all be so proud and excited for us. This is not to say that everything is perfect, not at all, the fight continues. But it is tremendously important to look back on the work that has been done before us.

Okay, gay rant over.