YOUNG AND OLD ALIKE                

by Michael Kirwan

There's a wealth of middle-aged and ancient faggots who have abandoned the "tribe" aesthetic in order to secure their own realm of "happiness". This whole idea of melding and merging with the general population, of imitating their wants and contentments (ie. the "dream house" syndrome, the distancing off from the grittier aspects of our identity, becoming oblivious to the possible impending danger to our very being) is very troubling to me. How can anyone enjoy their individual successes knowing that everything they have, own, believe, is imperiled by the insidious activities of religious fanatics who've infiltrated our government? Maybe it's because I grew up in New York, I am ever vigilant to the possible threats lurking in the shadows.

I watch the news not to find out what's going on but rather what we are being told. Here we have a thoroughly corrupt administration gutting our civil liberties, dismantling our constitutional protections, reshaping the the national timbre using fear and lies while the main media outlets (now controlled by the very corporations busily bribing elected officials) seem to be focused, actually obsessed, with the idea that cyber-predators are out to snatch the innocent, sacred, vulnerable children. Everyday, rather than cover the slowly unfolding tale of how this president and his cohorts have employed deceit, cronyism, incompetence and private retaliation to seize more power, the networks are hard at work instilling and reiterating the evils of technology, sexuality and personal privacy. I'm astounded that Americans have been so lulled by this constant drumbeat that they don't object to this blatant manipulation. AND QUEERS! Queer Republicans! Queer Christians! Queers who DEMAND assimilation! Ugh! Ugh!

I was in touch with Darren Dryden, that supremely gorgeous bartender from BARRACUDA, and he tells me he's opened his own bar called EASTERNBLOC on the East Side. I'm so glad to hear about those kind of developments from my buddies. With so many gay establishments shutting down and falling into the cultural abyss (I'm told there isn't a single leather bar left in New York City, the guys are now getting geared up to shop at IKEA in a group. UGH!) whenever I hear about a new queer venture I rejoice.

This rush to assimilate and "fit in" and be accepted (frankly, the day straight people tolerate/condone/recognize my existence is the day I know I'm not doing a good enough job of being a fag) by the younger generation of cocksuckers frightens me. They don't seem to understand that if we don't have our own culture, our own safe havens, that the general population can of their own choosing exile us from shared spaces. I's like the bookstores. As Gay-oriented bookstores shut down and disappear because BARNES & NOBLE and BORDERS are carrying our titles (although a considerably abridged variety) what happens if they are pressured by the religious nutbugs to discontinue the practice. These kids can't envision the possibility of being imperiled. They don't know about the historic banishment of queers from all facets of society, the way we can be erased as force of civilization. ...Bored? Hahaha!!!!

THE  END