Rite of Passage

I've been thinking a lot about culture--in general, my personal culture, and how the ways I carry my personal culture were brought to my attention when I moved to Olympia.

Thinking back now to the rejection and loneliness I felt when I was in community with those folks, not many of whom I interact with now, I realise there was a lot of queerer than thou bullshit going on (qtpoc policing and regulating the way the identity of 'queer' and its definitions), anti-Black racism, and internalised racism. It was hard and it hurt and I wouldn't wish that experience on anyone.

I think of it as a kind of hazing and I see it a lot in 'social jusitse' "communities"--the alienation and Othering that goes on by folks who are already in the community. It's a really warped, fucked up 'rite of passage' and I'm really over that kind of gate-keeping. Like, really really over it.

I spend a lot of time thinking about the ways I embody community and how the people I share community with embody the values of community--love, respect, safety, generosity--and how I, as a person who has been on both sides of the community hazing, can work toward tearing that fucked up shit down. It's not benefiting anyone and only serves to drive marginialsed communities further apart.

How can 'community' take on a truer representation in my world? How do I currently build community? How can I stretch myself and those around me more to be more open and vulnerable, with members of our community and those who want to be? How can we be compassionate and gentle with one another and while also being accountable?

After all, "we have to be careful with each other so we can be dangerous together."