By Emily Breakell, Former SGA Co-President

 

I’m still mad because people I don’t know think it’s okay to ask me how same-gender sex works. I’m still mad because when we talk about “majority students” on this campus, we’re talking about white kids, not recognizing that an even more overwhelming majority on campus is straight/cis kids. I’m still mad because for all of my white, cis privilege, I’ve still been called a “f*g,” so what BS does a nonbinary/lgbtq+ student of color have do deal with on this campus? I’m still mad because people don’t think that queer students feel silenced on this campus. I’m still mad because a lot of people are still afraid to come out at Holy Cross. I’m still mad because people are afraid to be themselves at Holy Cross. I’m still mad because I still hear people using “gay” and “homo” as an insult. I’m still mad because my people’s marginalization isn’t taken as seriously as other forms of marginalization. I’m still mad because we’re a minority among minoritized groups on campus, and that makes it harder to build community. I’m still mad because the Office of Multicultural Education rarely gestures towards the existence of lgbtqiap+ students and their struggle. I’m still mad because I have more faculty than peer allies. I’m still mad because people still see my identity as a threat to their religious traditions. I’m still mad because lgbtqiap+ students–in and out of the closet–are still plagued with loneliness. I’m still mad because we don’t talk about intersectionality enough. I’m still mad because the Drag Show has to be “educational” to be approved by the College. I’m still mad because lgbtqiap+ students still feel pressure to pass as straight and cis. I’m still mad because y’all steal from queer culture without accepting us (e.g., hipster style is just queer style, “queen,” “yas”). I’m still mad because you’re demanding that I be your ally when you’re not being an ally to me. I’m still mad because only 10 people came to debrief the visibility project. I’m still mad because where the HELL was the broad-based, intersectional support for the amazing event on campus, “Breaking the Closet?” I’m still mad because people still assume I am dating my close friends. I’m still mad because people don’t think I “look queer.” I’m still mad because we should be people for and with other people. I’m still mad because I’m trying to be forthcoming about my identity so that other students might feel okay with theirs, but you still ask me why I “talk about being queer so much.” I’m still mad because y’all don’t know what it’s like to be queer on this campus, and you don’t care, and you don’t ask more. But most of all, I’m still mad because y’all MAKE me mad.

Photo courtesy of CRW Flags, Inc.