Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Word of the Gay: "Queer Nationalism"

"Queer Nationalism" - The movement/dream for a homeland for LGBTQ people. Australian activists declared the Cato Islands the "Gay and Lesbian Kingdom of the Coral Sea" in 2004. Organizations such as the Gay and Lesbian Commonwealth Kingdom, Unified Gay Tribe, and Gay Homeland Foundation embrace the idea of a Queer nation state. The premise is that Queers have a right to a safe and national homeland to embrace their identities freely and grow their culture. They also want recognition by the United Nations and a country where LGBTQ people have all the rights that are not afforded to them in other countries around the world.

*Photo courtesy of proggie off of creative commons

5 comments:

Jackson Howa said...

Sounds dangerously Israeli to me...

Anonymous said...

uh-huh. Why would anyone want to? I have non-gay friends and family and I would much rather have equal rights right here at home rather than move halfway across the world in order to closet myself in a commune.

J said...

No, thanks; separate but equal is not for me.

Anonymous said...

I'm coming late to this party, but here it goes.
I think that this is a great opportunity for us to push international human (i.e. gay) rights.
Currently there are several African and Far East countries that overtly abusing gays and lesbians within their boards. A Queer Nation set at the UN table would give us a voice and vote, and this just might be one way to go about it.
Admittedly, we don't necessarily need a National Homeland. Gypsies have a seat at the UN, but have no 'real' country. On the flip side, have you ever heard of the Country of Vatica? No, of course you haven't, yet the Vatican has several 'embassies' around the world.

Queers United said...

Dan - That is interesting and a great point. A seat at the U.N. without a homeland might be feasible and would be awesome. I wonder if there is any movement to have that done?

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