It's been a while since I wrote in here and updated everyone on my activities. But something happened today that prompted more proactive gay action. Some egg at work was yammering about "that case in Wyoming" and was mixing up the facts with the James Byrd case in Texas, in which a black man was dragged by the head with a chain tied to running pick-up truck. Matthew SHepard was kidnapped and beaten to death and left tied to a fence. They are both horrible but I am surprise this egg couldn't tell the difference. He also referred to Shepard as "homosexual" rather than the usual "gay."
Now most of you might not know that I have a new job. A wonderful new job with a nice view of all of Manhattan. The problem, which even we out and open gay men here in Manhattan face, is "when do we come out at work?" Do I wait for the obligatory 90-day trial period to end?
No.
Because as well intentioned, friendly, and ignorant as some of my co-workers are, it is necessary for me that they realize I am gay. So, up went the Keith Haring postcard featuring the pink triangle over his classic line figures aping the "Hear No Evil, See No Evil, Speak No Evil" three monkeys stance. It's his version of Silence=Death.
So, up goes the triangle. It's nice that I have been offered a T&A calendar and I am affectionately approached with "Seth buddy" and other tell-tale signs whereby heterosexuality is presumed until proven otherwise.
I might appear straight. I might be wearing khaki pants and a blue-plaid shirt and Timberland boots, but I am only straight-appearing. I am still the shrill liberal moderate in conservative clothing who is straight-appearing, queer-acting, and gay-thinking. I hate to use my coming out as a weapon, but in the case of this particular egg, who is the classic Angry White Guy who I can tell feels completely disenfranchised (rather than figuring out what an annoying git he is), it's my pleasure to hit him over the head with my sexuality.
Next entry... Will There Ever Be a Rainbow?