And He Shall From Time to Time...

The quiet minority usually reflects the reality of any social grouping. The truth and fact of the matter is that, thanks to this repackaging of homosexuality, that's exactly what gay boys are turning into; bitchy accessories who's thoughts and motivations seem to be about as substantive as a bite of cotton candy.  
 
We have parades and marches and protests where we demand to be "Accepted for who we are!" You know what? Most of the time I don't see myself represented at all. Gay men go to the most extreme frontiers of behavior (wearing, saying, doing all manner of things) and say "Accept me! I'm just like you!" Well, apparently that’s just what happened. The 9-5, bill paying, college-bound, I-am-pretty-much-like-everyone else gay boys are… just like everyone else. They can’t really make a TV show about that can they?  
 
Well I'm not like that. I buy my clothes from the Gap. I spend my weekends doing home work and hanging out with friends, watching movies, listening to music, writing and trying desperately to find out where I belong in the world. I don't own a pink suit or a leather g-string. I don't get super plastered and head to clubs every single weekend. And it is by gay people that I am accosted! "You're not proud of who you are!" "You don't support the cause!" "It's guys like you who are holding the movement back!"  
 
It's ridiculous. If this new image of the 'user friendly fag' bothers us then maybe it's time we made sure that it isn't absolutely false by not subscribing to the stereotypes they're promoting when Jack screeches about someone’s hair style or when Carson says something about 'a boys right to shoes.'  
 
I'm 20 years old. I'm a democrat, I'm liberal, and I'm all about the youth taking a stand and shouting it's voice at the top of its lungs. But why does it have to be sexual for it to be realistic? Why does it have to center on who I have sex with to be of substance? I want the movement towards equality to continue on until we stand shoulder to shoulder with everyone else. But instead of blaming the media, the bible bangers, the conservatives and President Bush's Administration, I'm not afraid to say that our participation in the image might be to blame as well. 

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