Seeking or intended to subvert an established system or institution.

Disruptive. Agitational. Revolutionary. Rebellious. Underground.

Once upon a time, to be queer was to be subversive. We were underground. We were disruptive. We
were rebellious. We subverted gender stereotypes. We rebelled against heteronormative ideals. Civil
rights sit-ins of the 60s became the die-ins of ACT UP in the 80s and 90s. Stonewall itself is often seen as
revolutionary, creating a visible moment for queer America to begin the push to being out and part of
public discourse.

So what happened?

Somewhere over the long history of queer America – starting long before Stonewall – we’ve managed to
go from being subversive to being mainstream. We’ve gone from standing out to fitting in. We’ve gone
from protesting in the streets for our rights to acting like the straights and their culture we were
rebelling against. We’ve gone from tragic figure to gay best friend. We’ve assimilated.

Granted, having job and housing protection, having a family, and enjoying the benefits of being legally
married are things many of us would not give up given the choice. I was tempted to divorce my husband
shortly after gay marriage was passed so we could remarry in Texas. Having the State of Texas on my
marriage license felt like the perfect middle finger. But we would get remarried.

Except are we doing ourselves a disservice by not remembering what we fought for and why that was
important? By letting ourselves get comfortable?

I was struck by a comment from Andy Kelly, a writer for Star Observer in Australia, where he noted his
own feelings around Pride:

So, as I stand on the edge of Pride season, it feels as if Pride is too comfortable for me right now.
I feel grateful sure, but also robbed – I want to riot in the street – I want to burn down a church –
I need somewhere to put this generationally acquired queer rage passed down to me from my
queer ancestors. I refuse to simply be complacent, and just forgive.

As Republicans are becoming more emboldened in moving queer liberation backwards, perhaps this is
what we need to remember. To not be complacent. To call out the bullshit being espoused about the
queer community – the trans community in particular as of late – instead of thinking how that doesn’t
apply to all of us. Because repression starts somewhere, and if one group can be cowed and denied their
existence, so can the rest of us.

But the current generation of young queers probably doesn’t have the experience with generational
queer rage. They were born at a time where saying “I’m gay” wasn’t subversive. It’s just who they are.
They haven’t experienced denial based solely on the fact they are queer. They haven’t had to march and
protest. But will they?

As the Tangerine Palpatine and other legislators continue to push anti-queer legislation, they may not
have a choice. We may have to rekindle the thought of being subversive. Of being disruptive and
rebellious. We have the tech now to organize quicker and connect to a broader queer community. A
protest in one city can easily become two, then four, ten, etc. We can despise Mark Zuckerberg, but he’s
given us the tools to throw a wrench into what is happening.g.

We have the tech now to organize quicker and connect to a broader queer community. A
protest in one city can easily become two, then four, ten, etc. We can despise Mark Zuckerberg, but he’s
given us the tools to throw a wrench into what is happening.

Once upon a time, we were subversive. We were social deviants. then socially acceptable. Perhaps the
time is now for the pendulum to start swinging back to deviant. Back to standing out and up in the face
of anti-queer sentiment. Back to being subversive.