Hole in the Wall
A Quiet Southside Holigay Wish
RECEIVED Mon., Dec. 30, 2024
Dear Editor,
Living in a city where queer events merit separate discussion as in "What’s Your New Year’s Eve?" [Arts, Dec. 27] is a meaningful privilege, but the queer scene doesn't necessarily have room for everyone in practice. Our "letter" could be included on paper while other factors still exclude us. I'd sure like to go to more queer events in my community, yet much like my fellow trans autistic person Hannah Gadsby, I often find myself asking, "where do the quiet gays go?"
Plenty of queer people agree with this sentiment due to personality or vibe, and more power to them. However, many queer spaces are downright inaccessible to me as a disabled person, and yes, the loudness (or flashiness) is part of it. I was born that way, too.
This is a year-round grievance, although for NYE per se, I'm aware drinks and dancing (even the lone sober event is described as such) are standard festivities. And queer club and bar culture exists for historical reasons too nuanced to detail here. I don't begrudge people their good time. It's just not my idea of one, and it's not inherently something queer people like.
Hopefully, in 2025 proper, we'll see more variety in highlighted holigay events. And maybe – this is directed at potential event coordinators as much as anyone, but I do have to call the Chronicle out here – more queer events south of the river, please?
Living in a city where queer events merit separate discussion as in "What’s Your New Year’s Eve?" [Arts, Dec. 27] is a meaningful privilege, but the queer scene doesn't necessarily have room for everyone in practice. Our "letter" could be included on paper while other factors still exclude us. I'd sure like to go to more queer events in my community, yet much like my fellow trans autistic person Hannah Gadsby, I often find myself asking, "where do the quiet gays go?"
Plenty of queer people agree with this sentiment due to personality or vibe, and more power to them. However, many queer spaces are downright inaccessible to me as a disabled person, and yes, the loudness (or flashiness) is part of it. I was born that way, too.
This is a year-round grievance, although for NYE per se, I'm aware drinks and dancing (even the lone sober event is described as such) are standard festivities. And queer club and bar culture exists for historical reasons too nuanced to detail here. I don't begrudge people their good time. It's just not my idea of one, and it's not inherently something queer people like.
Hopefully, in 2025 proper, we'll see more variety in highlighted holigay events. And maybe – this is directed at potential event coordinators as much as anyone, but I do have to call the Chronicle out here – more queer events south of the river, please?
Innes Walker