Reply #36: Love your icon!

[Bluenorthwest]

For my part, I was not saying 'it's a phase' I was saying that it is not new. This is a recurring discussion historically. I am a radical and I am 47. How's that? The point is that what is seen as radical or mainstream within our community differs from moment to moment. The personal part is about the person, how the 'others' see those actions is what I am talking about.
Ok now, as an 'older queer' who is disabled, who has been involved in issues ranging from Choice to electing Jerry Brown to increased police oversight, medical marijuana, the rights of farm workers and other Union members (I'm a Union member) to raising money for animal rights and literacy in this country as well as in Canada and the United Kingdom, I'm very glad younger people are also taking up broad issues. But it is nothing new. It is how I and my friends have always been.Oh and let's not forget the Democratic Party. To think that the younger people are blazing a new highway in that regard is not accurate at all. Older people are not only involved in what you are doing, we built the system in which you are working, and the culture, and we did it for you! And those before my time did the same for me. Thank God, as my generation had to bury people each week while building from zero the entire network of AIDS support and research groups. Out of nothing. In like two years. Just saying, there was a crisis and we met it full on. For quite some time there, those of us with money to spend were paying for Meds and mortgages, being meals on wheels, organizers, thearpists, and bankers. While we mourned. Us older gay people have been doing everything under the sun, for many many years. I for one am estatic to see some of the younger generation finally get up and do something. Long time coming, to be honest.

In terms of knowing history, age is not an excuse. There are books to read, films to watch and elders to speak with. I know all about many facets of histroy that happened prior to the birth of the United States of America. By not knowing your roots, you miss out on so much. You miss out. No one else.
In closing I'd like to point out a comment upthread. Someone says 'older people are upset because there has been so little progress in the last 50 years'...that is simply insane. In 1957, before I was born, being gay was illegal. They arrested us for gathering. The last 50 years has been almost nothing but progress for queerfolk. Hard won under some extreme conditions, but progress none the less. I was the first gay person many of my elders ever met who had never been in the closet. I was in showbiz and everyone was gay or gay friendly and yet no one was out. Anyone who thinks it has been 50 years of no progress is massivley uninformed and is also taking for granted things that were won with blood and spit.
Political times shift and so does what is seen as the norm or the radical thing. That which is seen as radical varies from time to time. Being political at all while being gay was not very cool to many for a long time. Capitulation to the hetro hirearchy, it was. I still know people who are very upset that gay has welcomed any element of monogomy and they are older, and they think we are and always should remain outlaws and outsiders. The very rights and place in society that I seek and live as if I already have, they see as poison and the very opposite of being gay.
Nothing new under the sun, and the choice to remain ignorant of the facts is in itself a luxery you were given by those who went before you. My generation, we had no time to bother with that, no time to worry about which age group was right, we had life or death situations to contend with, our community was at stake, our friends too. We got stuff done. Needle exchange? That was us too. It goes on and on. Very sad that you think your liberties have always been. Gay liberty like that of all other groups was won by actual people. If it were not for the older people-older than me even- we could both go to jail for having this exchange. Just saying.