It may not be obvious, but I'm the member of a few of minorities. To anyone who meets me in everyday life, the odds are they will simply see an overweight, middle aged white man who dresses in a style best described as quirky-frumpled. They might assume I'm a married heterosexual male if they notice my wedding ring or see me with my wife. Living in the South, they would likely assume I'm a christian. I doubt there would be any consensus of what my profession was just by looking at me... academics don't have a standard uniform.
If they were to strike up a casual conversation while we stand in line at the local store, after admiring (and probably petting without permission) my wife's service animal, they would likely ask the ubiquitous "where do you go to church," the answer to which might inform them we aren't members of the local majority faith, but most Christians aren't aware that
Unitarian Universalism isn't a Christian Religion. Most don't notice the silver knotwork pentacle ring on my right hand, or recognize what it symbolizes if they do.
Unless I'm in an expansive mood, most people don't realize anything of my sexual orientation, gender identity, spirituality, or political leanings. I'm seemingly so very average and unremarkable... at least until I let my attitude show. I haven't been in the closet, whether the water closet or the broom closet, since my teens. I don't wear a sign identifying me as a "liberal, intellectual,
bisexual,
pagan," but I don't hide who and what I am either. Historically, I believed that unless you are a potential political ally, academic peer, intimate partner, or spiritual soulmate, none of that information is any of your damn business. However, in the wake of the 2016 Elections my attitude about putting my political, professional, sexual and spiritual identity out on display has changed. For many people, fear of the new political and social climate will drive them back into their closets. For me, it has made me realize the "tunnel" through monotheistic, misogynistic, racist, hetero-normative bigotry to diversity equality is a lot longer and darker than I'd realized. As a recent meme I saw floating about my social media feeds proclaimed, "I got tired waiting for the light at the end of the tunnel, so I'm lighting this bitch up!"
With the support and encouragement of my wife we've joined the
ACLU and become involved in local, grassroots efforts for social justice. I am involving myself more in the
Clemson Alumni for Equality (CASE) and
Clemson University Sexuality & Gender Alliance (CU SAGA). We walked in the
Tri-County Women's March in Clemson and attended our first meeting of the
ACLU of South Carolina this month.
I never wanted to make an issue of my spiritual beliefs, my gender identity, my sexual orientation, or any of the rest of it. I just wanted to be treated with respect, and feel secure that my rights as a human being would be honored and protected. But that isn't the world I live in... it really never was, but like many centrist-liberals and non-obvious minorities I lived with blinders on. Those blinders were ripped off by the political train-wreck we called the United States Presidential Election of 2016. I worry that "they will come for us," or our friends... the "they" are the people who support bigotry and hate who have now been validated and empowered by the rhetoric of fear and hate that was used so effectively by the GOP candidate (now the President of the United States). But I refuse to let the very real possibility that my fears may become reality to paralyze me, steal my voice, and deprive me of my rights. So I will speak out. I will act out. I will live OUT.
Even if I were inclined to return to it, I've outgrown my closet... in fact, I'm looking through it to see what else I can pull out of it next!
