The Fierce Flashmob

(DISCLAIMER: this is one of those hastily thrown together posts.  and it's also a touchy topic.  if i've said anything offensive in here, which i don't think i have but i guess you never know, someone tell me.  i also give a pretty simplified view of a very complex topic in this post, because i'm trying to get my thoughts out there quickly.  if you want to discuss it with me more, shoot me a message somewhere.)

an event by the name of The Fierce Flashmob happened in front of the Science Center today.  according to the emails that were circulated, its purpose was "to demonstrate the need for more LGBTQ resources at Harvard."  apparently, Harvard doesn't fund the Queer Resource Center on campus in any way--not even by paying its student staffers.

the issue of how to love the queer community on campus has come up quite a bit this semester--my Christian fellowship had a discussion about it a few weeks ago, and my friends and i have talked about it quite a bit.  so when i saw this event going on when I got out of class, it interested me.  a group of people stood on a fairly small patch of lawn, in a crudely roped-off area, holding rainbow-colored signs and moving to the music that was playing.  every time someone came to join them inside the roped-off area, they cheered and welcomed the person in.

i stood there watching them dance together, that colorful conglomerate, and i almost joined  them.

i've learned this semester that i should redefine the way i talk about same-sex attraction.  i've had one view put to me since i was little, and while i've chosen not to abandon that, i have chosen to be a bit more open.  

what i mean is simply this: no matter if we agree or disagree, we must remember that the people who identify with the queer community are just that--people.  by denying anyone access to housing or funding or whatever else because of your hangups about their sexual preference, you are treating him or her as less than human, and treating yourself as better than they are.*  and no matter what your stance is, you should agree that this is not ok.    

looking back over this post, and back over this topic and how i feel about it now, i realize that i should have had no problem with being a part of the Flashmob.  it would have been an act of love.

*things get a bit hairier when you discuss these things in relation to the church (as usual).  feel free to bounce ideas and opinions off me, but try not to get too technical because i'm not too well versed in the intellectual side of things.