Class Consciousness Discussion: Intersections of Class and LGBTQ Identity

For Pride Week I attended the Thursday afternoon event on the intersections of the LGBTQ identity and class. I chose to go to this event because the topic was something that I had never thought about before. I have these days where I intend to only listen- as sometimes my mouth and thoughts run away with me- these days are my attempting to create my own filter. Eventually, I hope to espouse the quote "To listen well is as powerful a means of communication and influence as to talk well"-one day after many "listening" days. Anyway, when I entered I knew that I would not be doing any talking, no matter how many opinions that I had, so I sat on the floor and looked at the people around me. The room was completely filled, with a lot of women and a few men. At first, I thought that the discussion was being led by the Women and Gender Studies' director, Suzanne Scott. After a couple of minutes, I realized that the room appeared to consist of familiar supporters and friends of the two women that were the actual leaders of the discussion. As everyone threw in their comments about inequalities between the impoverished and the LGBTQ community. It was interesting to hear everyone's thoughts about the topic at hand, especially since I had not thought about it before.

The one aspect that I took away from this discussion is one of personal matters. As my partner and I have planned for the past couple of years, we are attempting to leave for the Peace Corps, together. This has always seemed natural to me- some people are surprised when they ask and I tell them about our goal, but the idea of going together is the best possible situation. However, when sitting amongst those who were recognizing social injustices, I realized I am plopped in the midst of one without even noticing.

-I am married to a man

-I want to join the Peace Corps

- Married couples are allowed to apply to join the Peace Corps together, when they have been married for a calender year.

But... under the law, a married couple consists of a man and a woman. Obviously, it hit me like a ton of bricks, as I hope it did you when you realize the same thing. I looked around the room taking notice that some of these people are giving their lives to helping this and other causes. They volunteer and work to end all kinds of repression but would be unable to volunteer abroad with their own partners in the Peace Corps. If two of those women were romantically involved and chose to serve their country in one of the best ways possible, unless by some crazy occurrence- it would be very unlikely that they would be placed together. I would consider the institution of marriage to be very flexible- poor, rich, middle-class, any person in those categories can marry. Short, fat, tall, skinny, black or white- all of those people can marry. Inside, outside, destination, small or big- it doesn't matter the way or how. But somehow, in our modern world that always seems to work towards helping one cause or another- there are still injustices that treat people as though they are inferior in some way- as if they are a lower class, and how that was being perpetuated just as women weren't allowed to vote and African-Americans weren't allowed to drink at the same water fountain. The very discussion that was happening right in front of me. Don't policy-makers realize, just as they did with the struggle to fight "Don't Ask, Don't Tell", that all of these oppressive acts are very similar? That by looking back into history, they are very much alike? One could argue right now, that yes, they do have similarities but are not relatable. And to that I would respond- obviously, you need a listening day too.