“A” & Queer Blogerros

You know that “A” in LGBTIA? That A is me.

A member of a privileged group who takes a stand against oppression. For example, a white person who speaks out against racism, a straight person who works to end heterosexism/homophobia. An ally works to become part of social change rather than part of oppression.

A friend of mine a few years ago started a support group for students at OSU dealing with comming out. She asked me to come to the meeting. I explained that I didn’t feel comfortable coming to the meeting. Why would queer students want someone who identified as straight in a support group for LGBTIs? That made as much sense to me has having a white male sit on a support group for women of color? She explained that she wanted an ally there because some of the students were having trouble believing that there were accepting heterosexuals. She wanted an ally who was supportive and educated on the issues. And she asked me to be that ally. I was honored (still am) that I was asked to sit in with the support group.

I thought I was really progressive. I thought I was really understanding of LGBTI issues. I’d soon find out I wasn’t. Maybe a year or so after I first started going to the support group my roommate came out to me. She didn’t come out as gay as she had been out as a Lesbian for years, but she came out in a way I had never expected. She was going to be transitioning from female to male. She was going to be be taking hormones, she was asking to be referred to by a different gender pronoun and even a different name. It was too much for me. When she told me about the transitioning I hugged her and told her that if this is what she wanted I supported her. Then I went to my room and I cried. I didn’t understand. Why would anyone want to be a man? I asked my boyfriend, “Why doesn’t she just stay a lesbian, being a lesbian is a beautiful thing, but being a man?” I am not embaressed by my reaction but I do chuckle at it. I didn’t get it.

I still don’t get it completely. Lukily my roomate and I had a friend of her’s staying with us who was also transgender. He was great and answered all my questions. What was hormone thearpy going to be like? Was it okay if I occasionally forgot to use “he” instead of “she” (you’d be amazed how often I messed up that one)? How did he pee? What bathroom did he use? What could I do to make sure that my friend knew I loved her even though I was on a sharp learning curve for understanding.

I still have a lot to learn in terms of being a good ally. And luckily I have some great Queer Latino blogs to read. I want to share these links with you.

Across the Brooklyn Bridge: Not an activist. Not a journalist. Observations & photos from a Colombian Palestinian American living in New York. [EN]

Aztlanisapen: Aztlan es una pluma, debajo de mis uñas y palabras. Aztlan is a pen, beneath my nails and words. A student at UIUC. Young writer. Aspiring activist, educator, community organizer. [EN]

Being Gay & Latino: These are just my personal opinions and views as a young Dominican male living my life in NYC. My experiences made me who I am today and sharing this may help someone see everyday situations a bit differently. [EN]

Blabbeando: Thoughts of a Latino gay dude in Nueva York

A Boy of a Different Gender…:my name is jordan triston. i’m a 22 year old tranny boy from san diego. i’m also a budding anarchist, drag king, and ex-athlete. i love hip hop, tapas, radicals, and shiraz. i hate easy mac, ‘fake progressives,’ transphobes, and drama (which apparently i have a lot of:-p). i’m also scared of lj, so be nice:) [EN]

Crankings, Pulsings, and Total Internal Reflection: The Physics of Queer and Conscious Ed’d [EN]

Creative Xicana…yes with an X: Luna’s my name and art’s my game…not really though…I live in Ontario, CA. I curate art/spoken word shows on the side. I love the lesbian performance art scene…I have been known to be a ‘ride or die femme’ [EN]

Ethnoqueer: A Queer Desi-Latino Weblog [EN]

I’m Queer, Latino, Liberal, Abstract Random, and Artsy- and Fucking Proud of It! [EN]

The Insufficient Blog: Nico is many things, including Gay, Latino, Male, Unsingle, and Cranky. Yup…Cranky. With a capital C. [EN]

The Insufficient Homosexual: Stories of a man who fails to meet mass media expectations of what it means to be gay: white, frivolous, over sexed yet sexless, shrill, single, clown, stylish, unimportant, et al [EN]

Lorcaloca: is the Love Child of Robert Hayden and Federico Garcia Lorca [EN]

Seyd: Journal of a Queer Chicano. [EN][ES]

Tortillas Duras: Sirenahood el Sexo Surviva. A queer Chicana writer/ musicmaker/ diva & her adventures far from home [EN]

Trucha (slang, mexican): to watch out. Be Ready. cuentos verdes/ green stories [EN] [ES] [ESP]

With all due Respect…Rants, Raves, Reviews and Creative Writings from an outspoken Puerto Rican, lesbian lawyer. English and Spanish are spoken here! Topics include Local Politics (US-PR), LGBT Issues, Personal Challenges, Gadgets, and more… [EN] [ES]

Xicana’s Journal: Trying to be Dyke and Chicana [EN]