The New Queer Conscience (Pocket Change Collective)

by Adam Eli

Queerness only exists in opposition to what’s perceived as “normal.” When it comes to gender and sexuality, our society’s “normal” is defined by one cisgender man and one cisgender woman who experience opposite-sex attraction and live comfortably in their gender roles.

One of the reasons being in the closet is so painful is that it seems like you’re the only person in the world feeling what you’re feeling. How are you supposed to know that something is normal if you can’t talk about it or don’t hear about it from other people?

We feel this sense of isolation because we live outside of society’s norms. There are systems in place to keep us apart.

Heritage most often refers to a person’s cultural traditions, histories, and lore passed down from their parents. It can be biological, but it doesn’t have to be.

Heritage can also be something you grow into and find on your own. I’d like for you to take a second and identify your heritage. It can be ethnic, religious, geographic, political, or more as long as it makes sense to you.

In every single culture throughout history, there is evidence of people experiencing same-sex love, being born intersex, and expressing nonbinary genders and other aspects of queerness. Queerness is a human trait like no other: ever present, inerasable, and entirely invincible.

Allow me to introduce the platinum rule: Treat everyone how you want your best friend to be treated.

The first step is looking inward and recognizing our own privilege. I’ve found that this is when things start to go awry. Usually, people have two reactions when they realize their own privilege. The first reaction is denial, and the second is guilt, both of which are ultimately a waste of time.

It is imperative that we pool our resources and strength behind queer groups that are most vulnerable today.

The freer we are, the more responsibility we have.

Deciding to help a group of people without their input can be dangerous. We already have enough misinformation and misrepresentation to fight.

You can offer advice and resources, but ultimately, only someone who has directly experienced an issue can be in the best position to provide a solution.

We do not qualify, deny, or question a person’s belonging to the queer community. No one queer experience is more valid than another.

Showing up for other marginalized groups by going to protests, donating money, and sharing resources is not a selfless act or charity. It is the key to our continued survival.

It is important to note that a key tool of oppression is turning marginalized groups against one another or against themselves. It is easier to encourage people to tear themselves apart than to tear them apart yourself.