May 17th every year is the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia and Transphobia, otherwise known as IDAHOBIT. It used to be known as simply IDAHO, but as our understanding has grown, so has the day to raise awareness not just against homophobia, but against discrimination towards our companions in the other named groups too. It shows progress, but at the same time shows there is still much work to do, as there shouldn’t need to be a day to raise awareness of discrimination as it just shouldn’t exist. I mean, come on now, it’s the 21st Century, after all! In an era where we can put ships and stations into space, put automated scientific equipment on another planet, land on the moon, engineer genetics, build enormous skyscrapers, communicate instantly over huge distances and any other human achievement you can think of, why are we still trying to trample on each other or deny each other basic rights and equality? There’s certainly no reason I can think of.
The date of May 17th was chosen as the date for IDAHOBIT as it’s fairly significant in the fight for LGBTQIA+ rights. It’s the date that the World Health Organisation officially removed homosexuality as a mental illness. We are not a disease or a condition. We are human. Therefore, this date is something to celebrate as well as an excuse to raise awareness. There have been huge strides in many countries, but there’s still large parts of the world where the battle still hasn’t been won. There are still countries where LGBTQIA+ people can be arrested or even killed, completely in line with the law. There are countries and cultures where the shame and stigma of an LGBTQIA+ family member is enough to lead them to ‘honour killings’ in the belief that it’s somehow right and preserves the family honour. There can never be anything honourable in that. It may seem crazy to us, but it’s out there and it’s happening and we can only change it if we work together.
As a Drag Queen with a little social media presence, I always do a post or two to celebrate IDAHOBIT or to share something inspirational or educational. It’s part of what we do. Drag isn’t just about putting on a wig and heels and singing other peoples songs or lip syncing or making people laugh. Drag is so much more than that. It’s about reaching out, challenging stereotypes, raising awareness, bringing people together and, one of my favourites, working with charities and other good causes to make the world just a little bit better. Drag isn’t just makeup. Drag is a legacy. Some of the first people at the Stonewall Riots were drag performers, there were drag performers at the first Pride marches. I’m proud to be part of that legacy and I’m proud to continue it. To instil all the true values of drag and its history (or ‘herstory’) into the next generation of queens, as there are some who think it’s just about being ‘sickening’. When you work as a queen, you’re given a platform and it’s your duty to use that - no it just to bring smiles to as many faces as possible, but to educate, share your truth and make things better. Go forth and do some good. Trust me, you’ll love it!
So, there I was on Monday Lunchtime, putting together my first post of the day about IDAHOBIT. I’d come out of work at lunchtime and the sun was shining, there was a light breeze – it was a beautiful day. And as I looked across the car park, proudly waving in the breeze at the top of the flagpole of the local authority building and police station in the small town, there it was… The Rainbow Flag! The local authorities have been flying it more and more over the past few years, but it’s still a beautiful sight to see. The scared teenager I remember being couldn’t have dreamed of this just a few years ago. In our small island, there was once an uneasy relationship between the LGBTQIA+ community and the Police, but it’s got so much better and things are improving all the time. We feel safer than we’ve ever felt before and we feel more seen than ever before, so to see them flying the rainbow flag for IDAHOBIT is huge.
So, I posted the picture with a little something about IDAHOBIT. Like you do. Then, within a couple of minutes, I noticed some comments from a name I didn’t recognise. I hasten to add that this was NOT on this site, as an overwhelming majority of the community here are fabulous and are aware that this sort of behaviour simply doesn’t fly here. Naturally, I took a look. Then there it was in its poorly written glory. “Fuck LGBT” followed by a little rainbow flag emoji (bless him for finding it) and then a middle finger emoji. Someone thinking they’re funny or really intelligent, while what they were actually doing was just underlining the purpose behind today. Ironic? I think so. Tragic? Most definitely. Sir, nobody’s laughing WITH you, we’re definitely laughing AT you here. So, naturally, I reported it for being abusive, but of course I checked out the profile first. Bless him and all zero of his followers, proving that his hate is just as irrelevant as his social media presence.
The thing is, this guy has actively gone looking for a post he doesn’t like and then actually taken time out of his day to make stupid little comments. Notice I said ‘comments’ plural? That’s because they kept coming. Eventually the profile disappeared and was replaced with another with the same picture. And that’s what I love about social media: anyone can have it, but the people who abuse it aren’t even that bright. Same picture, same poor lingual skills. So tell me, who’s the real winner here. Spoiler alert: It’s not the troll. Like, he’s been bothered enough to seek someone else out and make crappy comments and even take the time to make a brand new profile to continue. And for what? Just to be hateful. It’s actually quite amusing.
A profile hiding behind a profile picture that wasn’t even them, but a sketch of some historical figure. And he had the audacity to comment on my face with his “Haha look at your face, you will never be women”. Well, at least I’m not afraid to show mine. He also doesn’t seem to understand the concept of ‘drag queen’. Then he showed off a lovely bit of transphobia. I’m not trans, but I have very close friends who are and I’m fiercely defensive of them and if I were as strong as them, I’d be proud. So I put him straight (so to speak) and told him “No, I’m a Queen, you simpleton. Now remove yourself from my court , you hideous troll.”
Slightly childish, I know, but never come for a queen. Especially on a Monday. The point is, this behaviour must be challenged. It cannot be allowed to slide, lest it become normalised. And that can never happen again. So, as the barrage continued while I waited for the second profile to be removed after reporting it, another “fuck LGBT” post came in, this time with several middle finger emojis after it, so I made a little observation…
“That’s a lot of fingers you’re trying to slip us there. Something you want to tell us?” Because a guy offering THAT many fingers to a drag queen is just a tiny bit gay.
I’d had my fun and entertained a few people but were left with a couple of thoughts for those who oppose equality to consider: Firstly, if you’re afraid of others getting equality, what you’re really afraid of is people being able to call you out for treating people poorly, so whichever way you look at it, the problem is you.
Secondly, if people talking about equality bothers you, maybe try not standing in the way of equality. That way, we won’t need to talk about it. Pretty simple.
So, until next time, spread a little love, don’t feed the trolls (leave it to the professionals), be yourself, read up on IDAHOBIT, keep being brilliant and as always, stay safe, stay sane and stay… Vidalicious! X
