Dear Diary,
Sometimes i want to smack liberal arts students. Good thing I am graduating in two weeks. There is this boy at my school that wears this t-shirt that says, "Gay? Fine by me." on the front. What I want to know is, what is he trying to accomplish by wearing this shirt? Like homosexuals are going to stop him on the street and say, "Hallelujah thank you so much for supporting my lifestyle! We need more people like you!!" Has no one ever said anything to him suggesting that this liberal and openminded statement on his shirt may in fact be offensive? I have seen him twice now and haven't said anything but I have been fuming about it for days. How about I wear a shirt that takes another marginalized group and openly expresses my support for it? I'm going to make a shirt that says, "Black? fine by me." and see how that goes over with the African American community. The thing is, for this boy to say that being gay is okay with him on the front of his shirt only emphasizes the fact that being gay is not okay with a lot of people. It assumes that he is a bastion of openmindedness surrounded by a sea of discrimination, further perpetuating the idea that gays are a group that should be differentiated from everyone else. A shirt that says "Gay film fesival 1996" or "Elton John is my homeboy" would make the exact same statement he is trying to accomplish- that he appreciates the gay community, without making him look like such a dumbass. what do you think?
Love,
Diana