Box Turtle Bulletin
News and commentary about the anti-gay lobby“Now you must raise your children up in a world where that union of man and box turtle is on the same legal footing as man and wife…”
News and commentary about the anti-gay lobbyFebruary 18th, 2011
New York photographer Brandon Stanton is on a mission to take a photo of every interesting person in New York, and that was the (altered) title* of his post expressing his admiration for gay people: There comes a point in every out gay person’s life when he or she has to say, “I don’t give a f—!” And when Stanton traveled to Chicago recently, he found a great example of the kind of bravery that statement requires:
“It’s not true,” he said “What they say about drag queens.”
“What do they say about drag queens?” I asked.
“That we’re attention whores– just desperate for love.” I’d never heard that before. He went on: “But I’m happy just the way I am.” He wasn’t smiling. He reached for some bright blue lipstick and began putting it on. “But its hard.” (I know its hard, Robert.) “I’ll meet a gay man in a club, and they’ll like Robert. Then I’ll bring them here. And I’ll show them this.” He motioned toward the boxes of feathers and colors. “And they’ll see this, and they’ll be like, I didn’t sign up for this.” (That’s what you get for not giving a f—.) “It’s too much for them.” (You’re just too different.) I’m too much for them.” (Even me Robert. Even I’m a little uncomfortable. I don’t want to be. But I am.) “So I don’t know if I’ll be able to do this forever.” He stared into the mirror for a second, and then Cyon came back. He sat up straight in his chair. He leaned close into the mirror, admiring his handiwork. “But if they have a problem with me, that’s their problem. Because it’s who I was born to be. I am living my energy. And nothing could be more joyful.” (Or painful.) “Here,” he said, “come photograph me with this.”
*I really hate censoring words, especially when a word has such magnificent power as this one. But because we strive to give nanny-bots the fewest number of reasons possible to filter this blog out (yeah, I know, being a gay blog is reason enough for many of them), this is the trade-off we’re making. I’d rather all the young Cyons out there have access to this than risk getting block over a few words. But given the nature of the post, that makes the unhappy trade-off all the more ironic.
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Regan DuCasse
February 18th, 2011
Anyone that gives the world COLORS, flavors, spices and is motivated by BEAUTY is doing God’s work.
That is our world, it’s colors, it’s diversity, it’s why stars look so beautiful against a night sky and although they disappear at dawn, here comes the sunrise bearing blues, yellows and peach and magenta.
Our skins bear Earth tones and we are born to like sex, same sex, op sex, both genders, or no sex.
A harmless dish of variety in our sexuality, and happiness in who we find in the spice box.
This face, is the face of someone who embraces beauty, who paints his lips blue and wears the plumage of magnificent fire bird.
We don’t just live in one place, or speak one language or have one kind of music…we MAKE another world to live in all the time.
From flying across the world, to exploring the depths of it’s oceans, we are ALWAYS more than we were born to be, and in a comforting way, we are the same as we ever were.
Gay people are not strangers, and never have to be. The tragedy is because of those who refuse to know or understand that reality and respect that we were always born to be different, and born INTO a world of much of it.
It’s not bravery to know that, it’s bravery to express oneself so vividly and without fear, however hard and perhaps dangerous.
Without the cinnamon, pepper and sugar that this face is…who would those who don’t like it be without HIM?
Their world has less color,less courage, less curiosity, less compassion and grace for what’s different and what is yet to be explored.
Those who don’t accept people like this man, are people who want the rest of the world to be the dullest of cowards and without heart.
And about THEM…I don’t give a f**k either!
Candace
February 19th, 2011
He’s beautiful.
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