Gay Like Me

Gay Like Me

What is it that we, as human beings, fall in love with? Is it a look, a personality, a specific trait, or is it predetermined in us? Should we, as people, be singled out and subjected to stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination? If America is supposed to be the “land of the free” and “the melting pot”, then why throughout history does one or more group become singled out to be a scapegoat? It began with women and slaves. As time progresses, each group slowly gains more of an education and begins to realize that they aren’t being treated with the dignity and equality they deserve. It’s fuelled by the fear that a “non dominant” group will one day become dominant. Is it coincidence that the homosexual population is going through a civil rights movement now, after women, African Americans, and other groups have fought for hundreds of years for the natural human rights that were the reason this country was formed in the first place? Will homosexuals succeed more expeditiously where the other groups have failed? More importantly, there are similarities, parallels, between the Civil Rights Movements for homosexuals, African Americans, and women.

The Wizard of Oz has long since been considered a substantial icon for the gay community, not only for Judy Garland, as many already know, but because of the arduous journey that Dorothy and her diverse group of friends went through to get what they feel they needed in their lives. The misfits all pulled together in order to achieve one goal: to get to the wonderful Land of Oz. Oz, of course, signifies the unity and acceptance that will more than likely never happen in our lifetime. This film influenced the homosexual community so much that some of the terminology was adapted to homospeak. “Friend of Dorothy” is often used to refer to if someone is gay or not. Of course, this information is only known to those people who are currently included with this crowd.

Alfred Kinsey suggested in 1924 that...