I'm Not That Kind of Gay

"I am not that kind of gay."

A statement that I think to myself a lot and one that I have to remind myself over and over again. What does it mean you might ask? The sentence itself is very loaded with meaning, sensitivity, ideals, hopes, dreams, stereotypes, breaking ground etc.

I am not that gay that stereotypical gay. But again, that statement is loaded with an go a manner of ways. So let me break it down for you. I am not that gay male that wants to live in a Gay Ghetto, exclude myself from the majority, perpetuate the promiscuous gay and so forth.

I believe, as with any other movement, that we (the Gay Community) must interact with the majority of American Society to bring forth the rights that we deserve as human beings. How do we except others to understand us and the way we think about rights if we choose not to integrate and communicate with others who may not have the same viewpoints as ourselves.

In the recent movie "Milk" starring Sean Penn this was the key to getting a key proposition in California defeated. Harvey Milk did not lock himself up in San Francisco but went to hostile places such as Orange County and tried to share his viewpoint of the issue. Though it looked like a lost cause Orange County ended up voting against the proposition.

It is this style of thinking and leadership I think the Gay Community needs to go back to and embrace. I will not live in Capital Hill my whole life or any other Gay Ghetto but live in places not defined by sexual orientation, religion or racial boundaries but choice a place that will help foster the well being of my life and the family I hope I will have someday.

It is only when gay males and females integrate and show the majority heterosexual American mainstream that we are as diverse as them but yet share that American Dream of the pursuit of happiness that we can push for equal rights such as marriage.

But this notion does not mean we have to forget or chastise the parts our the gay community that want to live in the Gay Ghettos. For again, we are diverse as any other grouping of American Society. Instead of dividing let us unite.

I refuse to be defined by my sexual orientation though it makes up who I am it is only a small piece in the puzzle that is me.

So I conclude with this:

I'm not that kind of gay.