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[harborshore]

I wore purple today. Not because I think it'll solve the problem of gay teen bullying, or because I think easy-to-follow campaigns are the answer to all the most serious problems. No, my reasoning was very simple.

I wore purple today because visibility does mean something, because turning around and seeing ten purple shirts and a rainbow pin can make you feel like yes, they exist, I'm not alone. And that sounds cheesy and that sounds stupid, but only if you've never sat in a room and known without a doubt that you are the only one.

I have a straight friend who says she doesn't understand why queer people have to choose to stand out (not in reference to this campaign) because sex is a private thing, and I sighed before answering, because I'm tired of explaining just how exhausting it is to constantly have to say it or choose not to. Of course some people dress in a way that makes it obvious; being visible can be dangerous but it can also make things easier. Of course she doesn't understand, she's never had to think about it.

More seriously, the relief of seeing allies around you, that's the point of this campaign. To demonstrate that we are not alone and we can stand together, as stupid and cheesy as that sounds, it's a first step at remaking the visual makeup of the world. Things were a little less normative today.

Comments

[kickingrad.livejournal.com]

Because, you know, there's nothing visible about being straight, you never see straight people anywhere, ever.

I wore purple today because visibility does mean something, because turning around and seeing ten purple shirts and a rainbow pin can make you feel like yes, they exist, I'm not alone. And that sounds cheesy and that sounds stupid, but only if you've never sat in a room and known without a doubt that you are the only one.

Yes. times a million.

&you;

[harborshore.livejournal.com]

NOPE. And she doesn't visually come across as straight, not at all.

&you; my darling.

[harborshore.livejournal.com]

&you; I was very tired when I wrote this, I'm glad it came together coherently. I just--allies, yes. That's all, and that is so much.

[romanticalgirl.livejournal.com]

I wore purple today and a necklace that I got from the Holocaust museum in D.C. that has the "chaim" symbol on a rainbow ribbon. I'm straight, but the way I see it, we're all in this together - gay, straight, sideways, upside down, whatever. Bullying is horrible for anyone for any reason, and if we stand together, in every color, then we'll all make it through somehow.

[harborshore.livejournal.com]

Allies all around, yes. Exactly. ♥

[sansets]

I wore purple today because visibility does mean something, because turning around and seeing ten purple shirts and a rainbow pin can make you feel like yes, they exist, I'm not alone. And that sounds cheesy and that sounds stupid, but only if you've never sat in a room and known without a doubt that you are the only one.

God, THIS. And I'm not sure anyone at work noticed or cared, but there were two girls holding hands and totally decked out in purple who walked by me on the way to the bus stop and we all shared a really nice smile. That moment of connection is the part that I just wish I could bottle up and send to all the nay-sayers, because it isn't for awareness, it really is for solidarity. ♥

[harborshore.livejournal.com]

Yes--just this once, it was easy to see. Not many people did it here, but I work in an area of the city where there are a fair amount of queer-friendly establishments, and so I saw people doing it, and it was awesome. ♥

[iamsupernova.livejournal.com]

♥

[harborshore.livejournal.com]

♥

[delphinapterus.livejournal.com]

Very elegantly put.♥

[harborshore.livejournal.com]

Ah, it was tiresome, what people were saying--and really, it's all so very simple. ♥

[nahemaraxe.livejournal.com]

This is a good post and you should feel good. ♥

[harborshore.livejournal.com]

I just wanted to make it clear how simple it was. ♥

[redbrickrose.livejournal.com]

More seriously, the relief of seeing allies around you, that's the point of this campaign. To demonstrate that we are not alone and we can stand together, as stupid and cheesy as that sounds, it's a first step at remaking the visual makeup of the world. Things were a little less normative today.

So much this. ♥

[harborshore.livejournal.com]

People miss the point by miles, sometimes, you know? ♥