Queer As In Fuck You
Morning Comrades.
Today is going to be a little different as I feel the need to rage and vent for a little while. Truthfully, I do not see nor feel the need to offer a measured, Marxist response to another deadly hate crime. Granted, there are many possible responses and yes, granted, for the last 6-7 years or so I have certainly made it my focus to systematically attack reality and its systemic tools of violence and oppression but that cannot and never will erase my 20 some years in direct action.
By now everyone is aware of the deadly attack in Colorado Springs a few days ago that left 5 comrades dead and scores more injured and even more so scared and traumatized. Again. Whilst our mainstream information for profit platforms will never dare to connect the dots in the century long violence against anyone not performing by heteronormative standards, let alone connect the dots of the re-appearing hate rhetoric that results in these deadly attacks it is absolutely vital to see this crime in a long line of such events.
A brief excursion into theory if you must; violence against minorities, all of them, that do not adhere to the white, christian, capitalist concept of heteronormativity, race and religion do not appear out of nowhere. They are generated by those in power at any time they feel their profits and/power challenged. It is the first rule in the fascist playbook to “other” any and all minorities to divert attention from their crimes and this is utilized in violence.
As sad and enraging as this is, this is nothing new. Queer people specifically have known this for as long as I remember and have mostly acted accordingly. Created, or at the very least, tried, safe spaces, language, act and symbolism to protect and support their kind. I have benefited from these and I would like to think have done ( and will continue to do so ) enough to create and protect these. Predominantly though, there are two issues at hand endangering the lives and safety of your queer comrades: the radicals committing the violence, albeit, technically a minority and more importantly, the centre mainstream that turns a blind eye.
Yes, there are people out there, no matter where in the world, that for a plethora of reasons that I am unwilling to engage in here or at this point, are willing and actively committing acts of violence. These people need to be dealt with in the most brutish and physical means. Sure, I am all for figuring out the structural and psychological reasons for hatred, and yes, violence does not solve all problems, but when the material reality is that you are being attacked, oppressed and possibly killed for simply being different, a conversation will not help you. No. Any and all violence, in whatever shape or form has to be countered immediately and in the most clearest of ways. I don’t have to spell this out for anyone reading this. The very clear reality that any and all violence by the oppressed against their oppressor is not only morally correct but justified is something I will stand by and act on for as long as I can.
Secondly, the turning away of the mainstream from this violence, that is intended, conscious and deliberate is the big elephant in the room. Again, there are scores of incredibly intelligent pieces written explaining this phenomena where the majority of people wilfuly ignore and play along with the violence of the fascists against any and all minorities. We here in Europe have centuries of history in that regard and still seemingly cannot break this reality. It has to be broken, of course, and I would argue the solution is equally material and psychological yet again, I am too pissed off to get into that one for the time being.
Yet, it has to be said though, that should you be in the position where you witness this wilful ignorance in face of violence, at the very least it is your job to step up and make these people aware of it. In my experience, it is predominately fear that stops the moral majority ( which it is neither ) to step up.
As to my queer comrades reading this, you know what to do. Organize, prepare and train in the face of violence facing us. This readership is too spread out around the globe for me to offer material help in the sense of sending you towards the right organisations but they exist, you are not alone and if there is anything I can do to help, I’m an email away.
Again, the reality is this, many many people exist outside of the norm that the capitalist hegemony assigned to all of us. This reality does not harm or take anything away from anyone, wanting to adhere to these roles and with that any and all violence, in whatever shape or form is not only rebukable but, as far as this old bear is concerned, will be, as always dealt with as effectively as possible.
Black Lodges was, is and will always be queer as in fuck you and I know that this 16 year strong, global community of people around the world, at the very least, have, are and will support this. I am not sure who needs to hear this right now, but you are not alone and this place and its people are here for you.
Yours,
V.