Let me tell you a story (thread). When I came out to my mom at 17, I wasn’t too sure I was gay. Neither was she. Popular media and public representation mirrored only one specific caricature, and both of us (in our own minds) thought I couldn’t be gay
Coupled with the fact that while growing up I 1) barely ever saw any representation of queer individuals in media and 2) if I did, they were all the butt of all jokes, the tireless “omg that’s a man in a dress” tropes, led me to believe that I couldn’t be queer. No sir not me
Hence, I went back in the closet, thinking since there is only one way to be gay I DEFINITELY cannot be gay. It was only about a year after that that I learnt and realized how ridiculous that notion was
So dear @bombaytimes - kudos for attempting to reiterate stereotypes, promoting internalized #homophobia and #transphobia in so many of us.
Not only does asking for a specific caricature of what we queers look like present a skewed picture of our community to the world, but it also affects countless young people out there who are trying to understand their own lives
On that note let me also make it clear - ALL expressions of sexuality are valid and should be celebrated. If someone is effeminate, likes drag, then it’s their bloody right to express it!
Caricaturizing that to encash on set tropes and reinforce stereotypes is repugnant.
Caricaturizing that to encash on set tropes and reinforce stereotypes is repugnant.
So dear @bombaytimes - there is no one way to be gay. Get with the times
