Alliances Through Geekdom

by adminwp in Gay Geeks | 0 comments

So, geeky ones, I spent part of Valentine’s Weekend at BYU.

I will now pause to let you all get the cackling and shrieking out of your systems.

While BYU is home to a number of undesirable things including anti-gay policies and the Cougars — who, as a U of U alum, I’m contractually obligated to disparage — it is also the host of one of the most fun and all-around most professional conventions out there: Life, the Universe, and Everything.

I’ve been an LTUEr for four years now, and an LTUE panelist for just as many. The con is heavily focused on books and features a ton of writing and topics relevant to writers’ interests, like space exploration, abnormal psychology, and how to create believable climates. It’s also a pretty tight-knit and friendly and accepting group. For example? The con organizers know I’m a big, raging queer and I’m pretty sure most of the regulars do, too — mostly because I sell my books there (all but one of which have queer content) and because I don’t exactly hide the fact when I talk about my girlfriend as casually as other con-goers talk about their heterosexual spouses. While we haven’t entered into any serious discussions bout Proposition 8, or Common Ground, or any other such important issues of our time, I think this is mainly because we’ve been distracted by discussing new anime series, book deals and military history (yes, I’m a huge geek about Italian troop  movements in World War II; the More You Know… ). You know, geeky things like that.

But geeks or not, and whether we like it or not, politics define all of our lives — especially if we’re gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender. And lately political discussions among our community have touched upon the importance of coalition building — that is, networking with organizations from other oppressed communities and populations including groups promoting greater rights for women, immigrants, people of color and people with disabilities.

This is a great idea, and something that I think we should all be doing to the best of our ability, not only because it’s politically advantageous, but because it’s also the just thing to do. I also think that we’ve missed another, less-obvious group in these discussions — not one that is socially and politically discriminated against, but one that could be great allies nonetheless.

I’m talking, of course, about LDS geeks.

Yes, I’m usually pretty facetious in this column, but for once I’m being completely serious.

Here’s how I see it: A lot of LDS folks are big old geeks. A lot of queer folks are big old geeks. This means, right off the bat, that we have a lot of things in common: We can argue about which Star Trek captain is the best; we can recommend books and anime to devour and books and anime to avoid; we acknowledge Joss Whedon as our master, unless we think he’s overrated and way past his prime (it’s apparently impossible to be lukewarm about his body of work — I know for I have done experiments). And geeks tend to form very tight-knit friendships with those who share our interests — friendships that often withstand strong differences of opinion and inspire great loyalty in both parties. In my experience, the majority of geeks are also, if not always up to date on social justice politics, exceptionally generous and kind people. To keep a long but no less touching story short, I will just say that I have witnessed hundreds of geeks raise thousands of dollars to save the houses and health of perfect strangers multiple times in the last year alone — including Haitians displaced by January’s earthquake.

In other words, geekdom is often a good environment not only to be out, but to talk about the issues that affect you as a queer person. This is true of geeks of all races, sexes, orientations and religions — and I believe it is true of many LDS geeks, too.

I don’t know what effect, if any, my being out at LTUE has had on attendees who might otherwise not know any out gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender people. I like to think, however, that it has at least given them something to think about when they read or see a news story on our struggles for full political equality, and that maybe it is the first step in making them allies if they aren’t already. And if you, queer geeky ones, aren’t out already in your gaming groups, your book clubs, your online SF forums or your 501st Legion garrison, maybe just coming out would be helpful in our struggle for rights. At the very least, it might be a load off your mind.

If science fiction and fantasy have taught me anything at all, it’s the importance of allies, and more importantly friends. Frodo Baggins couldn’t have destroyed the One Ring without Sam Gamgee, Harry Potter couldn’t have defeated Voldemort without Hermione and Ron; and the Rebel Alliance couldn’t have toppled the Galactic Empire without the Ewoks — even if they were irritating as all hell and a blatant excuse to market stuffed toys. So, geeky ones, when writing down your list of friends, family and colleagues to talk about the things that matter to you this Legislative Session, don’t forget your geeky friends — even and especially if they’re LDS.

And be sure to check out LTUE next year, whatever you do. Otherwise, who else is going to laugh at BYU’s stupid mascot with me?