- We need to talk about the sexualization
of LGBTQ plus people.
So since I was last making videos,
Kevin Spacey has been outed as both a sexual predator
and as gay and for some reason, that second one
seems to be much more interesting
to a lot of the papers who were first reporting it.
Sexual identity and sexual assault are not the same thing
and yet Spacey decided to address them in the same statement
and I am pissed, make no mistake,
spacey know exactly what he's doing.
He's feeding into those homophobic ideas
to shift the focus off of his crimes.
By addressing rumours about his sexuality
and the accusation that he sexually pursued a minor,
he is linking those two things together
even implicitly and he knows it.
The connecting of our identities
with an innate perversion is something
which is still present today and has a long history.
Even from my own experiences,
from the moment I came out,
the perceptions around my sexuality
have been vastly apparent.
People have asked me, in my school,
at my work, in the street, how do you fuck,
do you use dildos, how do you get each other off,
can I watch?
And from a lot of guys, can I join in?
But this sexualization goes far beyond
harassing comments from curious fuckboys,
this is something which is entrenched in our history
and in our society.
Looks like Anita Bryant from the Save Our Children campaign
which was a campaign about how gay people
were corrupting or recruiting children.
It looks like the wave of parents saying
we couldn't have a gay character in a kid's show,
it's not appropriate, as there's literally
a prince and a princess kissing on the television
in the background.
And it's my high school only a few years ago
telling me that no teachers could be
openly friendly towards LGBT people
in case inappropriate relationships started.
As if just supporting gay rights
would make you a paedophile.
You see it in every argument that is going on today
around trans people not being able to use
the bathrooms that they want to because of the fear
that if they did, they would just rape any woman
or child that they found there.
The equating of sexuality and sexual abuse
keeps people in the closet, destroys any hope
of cohesive queer communities.
And stops LGBTQ plus survivors
of sexual assault speaking out.
It keeps people in the closet because it makes
being LGBTQ plus feel like something that's dirty,
something to be ashamed of.
It contributes to this dangerous self loathing
that people can have in the closet
and when they're out of it.
As I said it also destroys any hope
of us having meaningful, intergenerational communities.
I've seen some incredible videos that have gone viral
of, you know, women volunteering at brownie groups
or girl guides and helping girls younger than themselves
believe in themselves.
I've seen videos about kids chilling in old people's homes
keeping them company, giving them some joy in their lives.
I've seen videos about young African American boys
going to things like a mixed martial arts class
where they have a sense of community
and foster support from other black men.
The intergenerational community relationships
in all communities are so important,
but I know that if we had a video
about how a middle aged gay man
was spending time in any way with underage boys,
it would be something that people would perceive
as totally different even though it isn't.
We don't have the ability to form these connections,
because it's always seen as something sinister.
And it means that we are so disconnected from each other.
It is directly isolating for queer youth
who have nowhere else to turn to
for information that the internet and comment places
which is the very places that are telling them
that they're wrong.
And thirdly as I said it keeps LGBT survivors
of these crimes from speaking out,
because it feels like if they do,
they're gonna contribute to exactly what Spacey has
a vindication for bigots.
The feeling of if I speak about my individual experiences
it will be used so ammunition against my people.
It is a horrendous choice that so many survivors
feel like they have to make.
Which is why the focus needs to be on supporting
these survivors, purging abusers from our community
and stopping the completion of the two.
We need a change in policy and a change in attitude
to educate kids and adults about the history
and reality of LGBT people.
Because only then can we look forward to a day
when we are seen as a fully respected community,
where our youth can learn from our elders
and not be protected from them.
So hopefully you enjoyed that video.
Please leave all your thoughts in this topic in the comments
if you'd like to help support me make these videos,
I'm gonna leave a link to my Patreon in the description
along with links to all my other social media
so you can follow me all over the internet.
And until I see you next time, bye.