Letters to the Editor - The gay version of ‘The Body Snatchers’

Letters to the Editor - The gay version of ‘The Body Snatchers’
Copyright by The Chicago Free Press

A reader was “appalled” that Red Eye requested “outrageous” photographs of summer events in Chicago, and in particular “The Gay Pride Parade.” His argument is that the paper is searching for stereotypical proof to “show that the gayÉcommunity is a fringe element of society.” Then the reader recommends that pictures of gay student groups, family and religious participants be the focus. Not to exclude the pictorial options of the two hours of waving politicians, smiling local celebrities and music-blaring business floats too. Egad.

At one time I would have agreed with the writer, but today I am not so certain. During recent years I have seen the heterofication of the gay community. It’s not complete yet, but “the hood” has begun to melt into nondescript normalcy. “Vanilla” is the street term. Hell, even Boystown is really a straight neighborhood with gay bars. I know that was the goal: sexual orientation to be as controversial as being either right-handed or left-handed, but did we have to be totally straight- like?

It was the historic “outrageousness” of the community that gave it its “in your face” uniqueness, unity of purpose, independence and strength. Symbols of defiance—dancing penises, open bottom leather chaps, “dykes on bikes,” guys as nuns and your elegant drag queens, shirtless bears and boys—made up a group of loving people that were considered, by those that currently clog the parade, as somewhere between the criminally perverted and the eternally damned.

That rejection was also used by family, friends and his/her god, and was felt at an early age. As a result, the gay community took care of its own. Why? Because those groups that now wrestle to be in front of the parade were not there when the “gay cancer” was killing or “gay liberation” was met with police batons and not thrown glittered ones. The gay bar was the meeting place, the community center, with its blacked windows and basement locations. A tour around the place would reveal what the “Dream” of a civil rights leader fulfilled: old and young, both genders, the rainbow of races, all religions, rich and poor together, discussing fear, politics, family, equality, AIDS. Here too was friendly bantering and maybe a stolen kiss or a hand held.

The reader is afraid that the photos would reveal “outlandish and outrageous freaks.” At one time that would have been a compliment. But the reader may have forgotten his history, and we old civil rights activists sit disenchanted with the success earned. The heterofication is at a point where a reader wants the gay parade to be represented by pictures of religious groups. Egad, again.

The gay version of the Invasion of “The Body Snatchers” is just about complete:

1) There is a Cubs game on the TV, instead of Broadway or movie scenes;

2) Guys are drinking beerÉfrom a bottle;

3) Suits are worn by the young on Friday night;

4) Bars seem to be more de facto segregated by place or time for the young, Lesbians, older, cultural, etc;

5) Politicians.

Ah, maybe you (the gay community) have just grown up, but I miss the kid—the “freaks.” I say post every photo proudly, and don’t worry what “other people” may think.


Bill “Bilbo” Borah