Writer's Workbook #19

#19 What makes you proud to be an American?

America is home of the free and land of the brave. Free rights are offered to all-unless you’re different. Excuse me while I break the fourth wall, but are you a cis, heterosexual person? Congratulations, you don’t have to receive any backlash as to your identity. I happen to be a queer person, who identifies a little differently. I have to deal with issues such as: transphobia, bigotry, and misogyny. I’ve been lucky enough to come out to a large number of my peers and have them be accepting, but there are many people who still refuse to call me by my correct name and pronouns. Names aren’t so hard (though some still insist on calling me by my birth name), but for some reason pronouns are a tricky subject. I use they pronouns, and have been told, and I quote, “You are one person, and that is plural”. Singular they has, in fact, been used since the fourteenth century by playrite artists such as Shakespeare. It is a valid pronoun to use for one person, so the argument that it is solely for plural use is incorrect.

Bigotry isn’t exactly a hard issue to correct, if the bigot is willing to listen. Sometimes bigotry is ignorance and education is a a very simple way to fix that. However, there are some people that still refuse to acknowledge any identity they don’t like. Excuse me, but my lack of attraction is none of your business, and you do not get a say in whether asexuality exists or not.

Despite being nonbinary, I still have to deal with the day-to-day effects of misogyny. Sexist comments from students and having to see objectifying images are virtually inescapable. The hatred against femininity can be overwhelming at times (who needs a woman in a skimpy bikini to sell a hamburger?) and it can affect men as well, with the expectations that they cannot be feminine and have to be Mr. Macho Man. I am just plain sick and tired of having to see half naked people in every single advertisement. I am far too asexual for this.

I am proud to be an American because America is a beautiful country with wonderful

landmarks and a rich history (though it does involve the slaughter of many other races), but the overwhelming inequality makes me ashamed.