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[ Thursday, March 29, 2007 ]

Letter to the Editor
Pride Week rally members not looking for validation

I'm writing in response to Dennis Jordan's letter to the editor yesterday "Rally participants missed opportunity to educate." Honey, you missed the point. The last thing we flaming queers at Willard wanted was validation or respect from people who think we should be polite and quiet. In fact, I would argue that quite a lot of education went on. Many a passerby learned that there is a visible and vibrant queer community who refuse to conform to society's "normality." It's our society too, after all. There are many opportunities for dialogue and education on race, gender, sexuality and socioeconomic class that can manifest themselves in various ways. Queer and ally leadership chose to strike a balance between edgy, artistic presence and acknowledgement of both positive and oppressive aspects of our history through the aesthetic of camp. We weren't looking to make you feel warm and fuzzy. Furthermore, what goes on in the bedrooms of queer people is not just their business. It's your business, it's the Supreme Court's business, it's your mom's business, and it's even the Willard Preacher's business. What we think is private is actually excruciatingly public. I hope you all enjoy the spectacle that is Pride Week.

Michael Balkenhol
senior - geography
 



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