While there has not been much talk or serious consideration among queer people to create a gay homeland, there has been some discussion whether joking or fantasy about the concept. A nation state owned and operated by LGBT people, where people are free to express their sexual orientation and gender identity, while being affirmed. A queer homeland would serve as a refuge for those who are discriminated against in other countries, and would bring an LGBT perspective to the United Nations delegation.
In 2004 Australian activists declared the Cato Islands the "Gay and Lesbian Kingdom of the Coral Sea" since this deserted island was not being utilized. While this was merely symbolic it once again brought up the discussion and perhaps dreams of many LGBT people. There are even organizations such as the Gay Homeland Foundation, Gay and Lesbian Commonwealth Kingdom, Unified Gay Tribe, and Gay Parallel Republic embrace the idea of a queer nation state although lack the funding, movement, or credibility to push forward their agenda.
What do you make of the concept of a queer homeland? Would it help create a safer world for LGBT people or only further segregate queer people from the populace? Would you support or even immigrate to such a country if it was created?
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Open Forum: The Concept of a Queer Nation
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8 comments:
We have to ensure equality everywhere. Not go into hiding! I don't think it would serve the LGBT community. Why should we have to enforce the notion that we have to segregate ourselves from society because we're not fit to be with everyone else? In my opinion that would be tantamount to opening a Gay colony much like the Leper Colonies. Its time for us, the LGBT community to be taken seriously and fight to be accepted into what is also our world. Not continue to be outcasts in it.
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I agree that we shouldn't go into hiding, nor create a nation where we discriminate non LGBTQ folks. But why not make the Chinese rumours about a lesbian town come true? We could start by buying old unused camp sites and thus create safe zones all over the globe. I've written a fantasy about that in my blog. http://www.genderswitch.net/2009/10/flash-forward-2-2014-visitor-reports-on.html
Caisa I love the idea of making safe queer places throughout the world, the problem is the federal government could root those villages out and violate rights, especially in countries where being queer is illegal. We do have gay villages around the globe, and while that helps advance queer culture, it doesn't really help us advance our rights, only local politics.
I love the idea of a queer nation, though ultimately I imagine it's a pipe dream. Where could we go? I wouldn't think of it as going into hiding or segregating ourselves so much as banding together to protect our mutual interests. The thing that makes us a minority can be a big factor in how we live our lives. For instance, homosexual couples need a third person to have children. The best that you can hope for is that it MIGHT not be a problem in SOME nations. If you're in America, you can get sperm or an egg. But it's not considered normal to do so, and it comes with a lot of stigma and potential complications. In other nations, it's just impossible. This is just one example. A queer nation would be specifically suited for our myriad of lifestyles and living situations. It would allow us to live our lives more fully and without as many obstacles.
What interests me more is that a queer nation could be radically different from any other modern nation. We've all suffered as a result of religion tangling itself in government and I think our nation wouldn't allow that to happen. Because of this, I think people would flock to a queer nation as a place where rational thought is held in high regard. I imagine sciences could excel in a queer nation. I imagine that media would be radically different when not trying to conform to heteronormative standards.
I think a geographical space where queer was the norm would be a radical and important step for humanity as a whole. I think there is enormous possibility in a queer nation. I would absolutely support and very possibly immigrate to a gay nation.
What I want to know is: is there even a remote possibility that it could ever happen? Is there any habitable land that isn't controlled by another nation, or is there any land that a nation is willing to give and/or sell?
I don't have a lot of optimism in the US for our rights to be recognized, especially federally. Seems like the gay community in the US is in large part the only mass grouping of people who respond to 'the check's in the mail' with 'oh, okay, we can keep waiting, take your time.'
Doug
I love the idea myself. I know I get sick and tired of fighting for rights which are actually ours by birth.
Unfortunately I am legally married to my wife. Does that make me heteronormative? I would love to see a place where we can all be ourselves...whatever that may be.
Merlyn I don't think being legally married makes you heteronormative at all, you are here, you are fighting with us and thats what matters.
What ultimately decides me against this idea is that it's pretty much the Israel paradigm. The geo-political entity that is Israel was created as a safe space for a group of people who were violently discriminated against based on their identity. In the past half-century it has developed into a largely successful and progressive society. But now this former nation of outsiders is constantly locked in strife with its own unwanted minority, not to mention its Middle Eastern neighbors who have deep-seated historical grudges with the Hebrew people / those identifying as Jewish. This state of affairs was by no means inevitable from the start, but a series of poor decisions, influenced by a history of persecution, has tarnished the country's image and spirit.
I fear it would be all too easy for a queer nation to find itself in a religious / cultural war with either its neighbors or nations dominated by intolerant religious ideologies who have the technological reach to mount military strikes. Furthermore, while the majority of the LGBTQ community are rational and empathetic people, we can't deny the vocal and active extreme minority who may one day get themselves in executive office and do to non-queer / religious minorities as Israel has done to the Palestinians. From a practical security standpoint, I think it would be nigh impossible to maintain stability.
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