IT'S HARD TO REMOVE THE "ASS" FROM "ASSIMILATION!"

One of the great things about getting older is that you care less about petty things like A-List approval or mainstream acceptance. That leads me to the topic that I wish to discuss - and ALL the issues connected to it.

ASSIMILATION.

Wikipedia online defines assimilation:
"Cultural assimilation is the adoption by an individual of some or all aspects of a dominant culture. Cultural assimilation is a process of socialization. It can be a voluntary process, but can also sometimes be the result of involuntary political decisions."

So, let's examine how assimilation has impacted LGBTQ culture, shall we? In fact, let's mention that the ovewhelming majority of the original LGBTQ activists were completely opposed to assimilating,"blending," or adopting some or all aspects of the dominant culture when the LGBTQ Rights Movement was first initiated to bring about liberation to our communities. Time has gone by, and we have been through years of Republican damage to America, AIDS, and a re-framing of what the original goals were as put forth by those LGBTQ pioneer leaders and activists of the time. In fact, there are many people who are now claiming that NOT standing out as part of an LGBTQ community and BLENDING with the dominant Hetero Affluent White Male Mainstream culture is a sign of "progress" and proof of the "success" of the LGBTQ liberation movement in America.

Allow me to clarify ONCE AND FOR ALL!

It was NEVER the intention or goal of of the overwhelming majority of the original LGBTQ Radical Activists to promote or condone assimilaton into the mainstream Affluent White Male Hetero Dominant culture of America - EVER! It was not the focus of ANY of the protests or activism that they were engaging in all over the country - EVER! Anyone falsely claiming that assimilation was a part of their agenda at the time is as incorrect as any fool trying to convince the world that the Black Panthers were about proving how acting more "White" was the way to Black liberation. NONSENSE!

The original focus within the LGBTQ communities was to support and promote the right to DARE TO BE DIFFERENT! Dare I say that word that has now become so avoided? Yes, I will say it. DIVERSITY was considered progressive and worth nurturing in order to support healthier perspectives in all communities. CHALLENGING the establishment, as opposed to becoming part of it for beneficial financial gain, was regularly practiced too. One of the foundations of "scientific thinking" is the willingness to aggressively question what is presented as "established" or "accepted" by the majority. Engaging in this questioing process, and encouraging others to do it, has historically produced discoveries and facilitated the evolution of advancement in societies all over the world. Reverting to following the lead of dominant norms simply maintains a stagnate "status quo" in communities and societies as a rule.

I am witnessing a tremendous stagnation in our current LGBTQ leaders, and in our LGBTQ media. The priorities are consistently about money while negating the significance of social issues that have a higher priority to them.

Prop 8 is a class A example on so many levels.

Yes, we deserve the right to marry. Yes, Prop 8 is institutionalized bigotry.But, it was passed for the same reasons that assimilation kills the importance of our communities. If you are trying to buy into the dominant culture on a financial level, there are always bound to be groups and organizations who will "keep you in your place" by using their financial advantage over you. It's a no-win situation. Furthermore, if you want to get down to the nitty-gritty, there are lots of communities out there (LGBTQ and otherwise) who are currently struggling with a lot more high-priority issues that actually threaten their survival like HIV/AIDS, unemployment, being attacked by police and homophobic bashers for being people of color or just looking "different," and discrimination in housing and employment. Seeing the LGBTQ community pour so much of their time and energy into the right to get married while neglecting even a fraction of the same amount of time and energy into addressing what are actually survival issues for many people in our communities is shameful.

The lack of attentiveness to effectively reaching out to non-White communities during the poorly run Prop 8 campaign also reflects the impact assimilation has had on our LGBTQ outreach. The "No on Prop 8 campaign" people did exactly what the mainstream does to all "minorities." It negated their significance, and in so doing, isolated them from identification with us while the "NO on PROP 8" campaign foolishly counted on inclusion with mainstream America. The formula failed. Assimilation does not work UNLESS you are COMPLETELY a part of the dominant culture on EVERY level - financially, gender-wise, sexually-orientation-wise, ethnically, etc. LGBTQ people who buy into the "assimilation" agenda are falling for a ruse that victimizes them and insults their communities as any Uncle Tom position is an insult to any individual who takes pride in their "difference."

There will always be those who cannot or simply do not wish to assimilate. So, do those who take on a pro-assimilationist stance simply discard or negate the value of these individuals? How does one respond to the proverbial, "everything in its time and place," comment.

Does that translate to creating isolated environments where, on special occassion, those "dangerous different folk" can gather without others having to be "bothered" by mingling with them? After all, Leather men ONLY like to be amongst other Leather men, Bears ONLY like to be amongst Bears, and Drag Queens ONLY mix well with - well - other Drags, etc., RIGHT??? I am wondering how truly terrifying would it be for one or more of these groups to actually co-habitate together for only ONE club evening a month? I mean, honestly, there will NEVER be a shortage of clubs where one group dominates regularly. So, why is it that the mere occurrence of ONE mixer a month should generate the same "there goes the neighborhood!" reaction that ONE Black family produces when they move into a White suburban neighborhood in Orange County?

And what exactly DOES keeping them "in their place" mean? Is that like sending Black people to the back of the bus? Is it like keeping Asians isolated safely from others in internment camps? Is it like keeping - I dunno - LGBTQ people hidden away in underground clubs where they flash the light off and on to warn us when cops are raiding the joint?

I am seeing more sexism, homophobia, racism, classism, anti-sex moral finger-pointing, and exclusivity within my own LGBQ communities than in a lot of other communities outside of our own. I deliberately left the "T" out of that list because I think that a lot of us coud learn more about confronting our own gender and sexual orientation issues by mixing more with a lot of the Transgender communities out there. Don't worry. The Transgender people that I have met from all races don't mind if you are not one of them.

Something to think about.