GSCENE 57
KEITH’S
CORNER
BY KEITH STEWART
WHAT HAS QUEER GOT TO DO WITH ME?
Maybe I can't start to write about queer because it's not an
important thing now. Nelson Mandela has died and is at peace.
It has overshadowed Tom Daley’s half coming out parade. The
media have more important things at hand now.
It’s a good time for governments to announce bad news.
What has queer got to do with me?
And it's time for Xmas shopping. Words can't hurt me. As a noncamp man I am a “good gay man”. As a black man I have lived
through words and actions aimed to hurt and destroy me.
But still I rise. Because I am not the word and more than that.
I will not let you pigeon hole me because you don't know who
YOU are. I know who I am, so I can define my life and the
important things in it for myself.
Settling into my new job. I am a trainer - excellent one by the
way. Caring for my mum - I am a Son, a Brother, Uncle, Great
Uncle, Good Friend, neighbour, work colleague, friend, Big Bang
theory fan and many more things. Those are the words and
descriptors I choose.
Some days you have to say I am more than that word and what
it means. Especially if it had a negative history attached.
Onwards and upwards.
So Tom is gay but likes girls still - really? If it's no big thing,
why has he and others made it such a big thing. Queer, gay,
whatever I am not wrong, broken or bad.
Words don't matter.
I am stuck waiting for the train because the rail company are
tossers and not because of my sexuality. The delay affects me
now. In my day to day world. L.G.B.T.or Q - don’t matter if I
can't get home. To sleep, to rise refreshed for work to pay the
train fare.
Thank you Nelson Mandela those are words that matter.