MY OWN SYNTAX

What might make a poem “gay”?

Yr. Thoughts?

http://bit.ly/90WpMr

with this review of the winner of the 2010 Thom Gunn Award for Gay Poetry — http://bit.ly/90WpMr

I READ SO MANY tumblrs and blogs. I witness so many photos of women, natural & beautiful. Or of life. And let me tell you this: men can be this, too. Men are. Let me tell you: it is so hard to find men, particularly men of color, even still black men—it’s so hard to find these men in photos where they are in, what I call, a queer moment of grace. This does not necessarily mean two men kissing or embracing (though certainly that wouldn’t be discouraged) and this doesn’t necessarily suggest men in what is often understood as “feminine” pose or garb (but, again … ). But it does mean photos of men expressing some sort of openness (some call this a vulnerability, but that word is not always true: there is a strength to being open and free with one’s self). They express a kind of sincerity, a gentleness and calm (as if a sea, before or just after the wind strikes it… ). And even while they may be physically attractive they turn away ( … somehow … mysteriously …) from being objects of objectification and/or exotification. This is especially important, if I do declare, in regard to men of color, in regard to black men, who have had their sexed cut off because it was less terrifying between a lid and jar than between his legs (Baldwin, Baldwin) … So, with this blog, I’m attempting something: let me tell you I am attempting to create an archive of such photos. ‘Cause I have to.

1. What do you think caused your heterosexuality?
2. When and how did you first decide you were a heterosexual?
3. Is it possible that your heterosexuality is just a phase that you will grow out of?
4. Is it possible that your heterosexuality stems from a neurotic fear of people of the same sex? Maybe you just need a positive gay experience?
5. Heterosexuals have histories of failures in gay relationships. Do you think you may have turned heterosexual out of fear of rejection?
6. If you never slept with a person of the same sex, how do you know you wouldn’t prefer that?
7. If heterosexuality is normal, why are disproportionate numbers of mental patients heterosexual?
8. To whom have you disclosed your heterosexual tendencies? How did they react?
9. Your heterosexuality doesn’t offend me as long as you leave me alone, but why do so many heterosexuals try to seduce others into that orientation?
10. If you should choose to nurture children, would you want them to be heterosexual, knowing the problems they would face?

- from OUT/LOOK 1991 issue.

tag: queer, history