Monday night, I attended the vigil/Stonewall Democrat-sponsored rally that sprawled the blocks surrounding the historic Stonewall Inn to process and mourn Saturday night’s massacre at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida, with my NYC queer community.
I want to first thank the organizers of this event for reading the names of every identified victim of the mass shooting at the end of our 90 minutes spent in community together. However — I am angry, as are many in my queer family — about a number of things that happened at the event which felt more like a political rally than a vigil.
But the most sour taste I can’t seem to wash out of my mouth is the introduction of straight pop star Nick Jonas as one of the evening’s speakers (he was only one of a few straight speakers).
For months now, Jonas has engaged in what is colloquially referred to as “queerbaiting” — marketing himself, and his sex appeal, to gay men during the lead up to the release of his new album which came out last Friday...
I don’t want to draw too many conclusions about Jonas’ and his team’s intention with this aggressive “queerbaiting.” But one thing is certain: this is not a time for straight allies to take up space — especially if you’re an ally who just dropped an album three days ago.
Now is a time when we, as a community, are mourning the loss of 49 queer and trans brothers and sisters, many of them people of color. The media and public are largely already trying to erase the sexuality and gender identity of the victims. Seeing a straight, white man on stage addressing the mourning queer community only intensified the pain of our grief...
I want to first thank the organizers of this event for reading the names of every identified victim of the mass shooting at the end of our 90 minutes spent in community together. However — I am angry, as are many in my queer family — about a number of things that happened at the event which felt more like a political rally than a vigil.
But the most sour taste I can’t seem to wash out of my mouth is the introduction of straight pop star Nick Jonas as one of the evening’s speakers (he was only one of a few straight speakers).
For months now, Jonas has engaged in what is colloquially referred to as “queerbaiting” — marketing himself, and his sex appeal, to gay men during the lead up to the release of his new album which came out last Friday...
I don’t want to draw too many conclusions about Jonas’ and his team’s intention with this aggressive “queerbaiting.” But one thing is certain: this is not a time for straight allies to take up space — especially if you’re an ally who just dropped an album three days ago.
Now is a time when we, as a community, are mourning the loss of 49 queer and trans brothers and sisters, many of them people of color. The media and public are largely already trying to erase the sexuality and gender identity of the victims. Seeing a straight, white man on stage addressing the mourning queer community only intensified the pain of our grief...
JamesMichael Nichols, Dear Nick Jonas, There’s A Way To Be A Straight Ally. That Wasn’t It, HuffPost Queer Voices.
Speechless.
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