Does 'LGBTI' celebrate diversity or cement division?
Recently, I expressed a concern around the use of the term 'Straight Ally' in reference to people who are 'friends' or 'supporters of' the LGBTI+ 'community'. It worries me that we are creating an 'us' and 'them' mentality when sexual and gender liberalism is something we should all be campaigning for whatever our sexual or gender identities and that nobody, or group, has a monopoly on this.
It also feels to me that, in creating the term 'Straight Ally', we are creating clear distinctions around all those who fight for freedom of sexual and gender expression. Demarkations being drawn between those who are either in the fight and those who are not in the fight, but supportive of those who fight it. But the fight is everyone's - whether gay, straight, bi, trans, intersex, cis or otherwise.
It was pointed out to me that "if you extrapolate that logic, haven't you just talked yourself out of a job? Surely the existence of an LBGT radio station also contributes to the perpetuation of the very thing you want to see gone?" (i.e. the creation of distinctions between one group, particularly along sexuality/gender lines, and others).
When I first expressed my concern around the term "straight ally" I had considered that someone may raise this point and ask the questions. Indeed, I have asked myself these sorts of questions many times, particularly in the early stages of the development of the radio station that I established in order that I clarify, in my own, mind why an I motivated to establish it and what really am I creating?
Officially, Xpress Radio Scotland identifies itself as 'diversity' station. In all our literature, we make it clear that our focus is the Scottish LGBTI 'community', but we are not limited to that in either our output or recruitment. We exclude no-one and never ask anyone how they choose to identify themselves.
On a personal level, I am comfortable with none of those terms - 'diversity', 'LGBTI (or any of its other hybrids) , or even 'community' (for what constitutes it really?), but they are buzz words/terms which are current and, by and large, understood. Although, I must say 'diversity' is, even in my mind, a rather generic term for simply anything and everything. In creating a brand and a concept, it must be understood who its key target audience is and where its focus lies, but this is not to the exclusion of anyone, and nor do, just because the terms used are more easily understood, any of them really summarise what the motives of the station are or what it seeks to attempt to achieve.
initially, I wanted the station slogan to be 'Your non-heterocentric station', but was advised against this as it is too wordy and a confusing term for many (we're trying to get people to tune in, not turn them off!). But that statement summarises best the intent of the station.
Many people who know little about me but the basics, may well assume that I am both 'straight' and 'cis'. I am not someone who adheres to labels - I class myself as neither L, nor G, nor B, nor T nor I nor even S (straight) for that matter. Yes, I have a girlfriend now and have publicly worked in the 'heterosexual' adult entertainment industry. I have also publicly worked in the 'gay' community as a performer and contributor for many years too and, privately, my life adheres to that more of a 'B' than anything else, but (as previous posts have described) I find labels unnecessary and unhelpful for the human species to recognise the complexity of its own sexuality that should not and, I would argue, cannot, simply be pigeon-holed into neatly compartmented segments that suit society for ease of its own self-understanding.
In my arguments around the natural pliability of human sexuality, and all our capacities to fall in love, have strong physical and/or sexual feelings for anyone, irrespective of gender, I'm often accused of, through my apparent logic, claiming that homosexuality is therefore a 'choice' because we all have the capacity to love both genders, but they 'choose' to love only people of the same gender. At no point do I ever claim there is ever a choice. But we fall for individuals not genitals. You fall in love with Person A because they are Person A, not because of what does, or does not, hang between their legs and, it is possible, that, one day, you may just find that you fall in love with someone that does not have something hanging between their legs. There is no choice who you fall in love with. But the stress on the lack of choice should be on the person with whom those feelings develop, not on the penis or vagina they may possess. Labels do not help humanity to come to terms with this possibility. A possibility which occurs to greater and lesser extents in some individuals, but occurs nonetheless. Labels do create unnecessary divisions, in the minds of others and, even, in our own when attempting to self-define and find a place to fit in society.
Having said that, and despite my own belief in the counter-productiveness and lack of necessity for labels, it is not up to me to tell you what you are or what you are not. I believe it is up to individuals to choose whatever labels they wish to identify themselves with. This could be limited to one, spread over many or, indeed, be none.
For many years I have campaigned and spoken passionately about human sex, sexuality, sex work and related issues in the media and in academic institutions. What drives me is a passion to change our attitude to sex, to fight for everyone's freedom to express themselves sexually how they wish, to identify their gender however they so choose and to fall in love with whoever they desire. My concern is not any more for the rights of LGBTI people as it is for EVERYONE to be able to live in a world where they can be who they want to be and live their lives to the fullest, regardless of who or what they are and who they love or have sex with.
Xpress Radio Scotland is about celebrating the diverse nature of human sexual and gender expression without the assumption that heterosexuality is the norm or using it as the reference point from which to refer to others. Therefore, the concept of 'allies' is completely irrelevant.
But its also about recognising the status quo. Xpress Radio Scotland exists as a response to the current social, cultural and political situation. I would dearly wish there was not the need for a radio station like mine. Not because we are attempting in any way to create further division (because we are not), but because I wish all media did not continue to treat other sexual and gender identities that are not either heterosexual or cis as abnormal, strange or debased either in their coverage or in the opportunities they offer.
Rather than erecting walls, I would argue that this 'LGBTI'(or whatever acronym you wish to employ to recognise EVERYONE who does not fall into the heterosexual and/or cis bracket)-focused organisation is attempting to build bridges across the sexual and gender 'identities' and to create a more inclusive example for the rest of the media industry (and other sectors) to take a lead from.
