Preoccupation and Pride

Some people accuse me of being preoccupied with my sexuality. Being preoccupied with being gay. They may be right. On reflection, straight people aren’t overtly proud of being straight. They don’t have a parade for it, or a flag for that matter.

But then, they also don’t have to go through the awkwardness of realisation, the agony of ‘coming out’, and the persecution that may follow.

Someone once told me that gay people are strong people. Not that it’s just in our genes or something, but because we’ve learnt to be strong. She believed we knew more of ourselves because of our battle with ourselves. And to a certain extent I agree.

Being straight is something you don’t have to think of – you are brought up that way. Have you ever heard of someone coming out to their parents because they realised they are a heterosexual? They have never needed to hide their sexuality. They have never needed to lie about things as seemingly insignificant as friends and partners. Heterosexuality is the norm, a desired quality if you will.

So stuff convention, and because people will frown upon it – be proud. Be preoccupied.