A Slice of My Life

In my work day I deal with queer politics from the sarcastic to the heart-rending.



Part One: the handwritten letter on notebook paper.



A letter from Indiana written out in black pen on one side of narrow-rule notebook paper sent to my organization (an international queer human rights org) seeking lifestyle guidance. Like anyone here has a clue how anyone gets a lifestyle. We're like the squatters outside the ivory tower, intellectuals who spend weekends writing theory papers and action statements to support Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence sex parties which we never attend. Meantime, my handwriting analysis tells me that this kid is maybe 17, and pretty damn gay, and pretty damn alone.

To Whom It May Concern



To start with would like to thank you for putting your company and address in the books that myself and others may read would love it if you would be kind to look and see if you could see if you would have any more info on the gay life style fore in my town their are very few gay people here that would be glad to say that their gay but for me it does not matter what they say about me because they need to look at their life before they look at mine like i said in the first part of this letter would you pleace look and see if you have any info that i could read and help to understand why that as a gay man they look at me like a dead flower or something so if you have anything if would make me very happy so until i here from you thank you once again.



Will wate until i here from you until then have a good week or weekend which ever it is when you get this letter thank you.

I have found two nearly identical letters from him sent to two different organizations which somehow made their ways to me. In the other letter he adds: "I will die saying I'm happy being gay." In my heart I'm writing back: Dear kid, it's the same everywhere. You're a miracle. Don't die unless you have to. Keep writing.



Part Two: the other end of the spectrum-- a brilliant culture jamming love song highlighting the homoerotic nature of war alliances.



It speaks/ sings for itself. I suppose people might call it homophobic but - people! not all homoeroticism is wholesome! That kid in Indiana, he is wholesome! Pecker centered global politics is not!



The Oily Shrub and the British Lap Dog singing the duet Endless Love.