*Alert: hypocrisy forthcoming!*
Let me let you in on a little secret: I detest PDA! Other people's PDA, that is. I'm that guy that screams in derision "get a room, for God's sake!" to the unsuspecting exhibitionists. Let me let you in on another secret: I love PDA! My own, that is. I love walking down the street holding my husband's hand. I love being able to give him a quick peck as we part, him off to the Apple store, me off to (the now bankrupt) Borders. I even love other gay couples' PDA. It's sweet. It's adorable. It makes me smile and feel *warm fuzzies* all over.
Later during the flight though, it dawned on me as he incessantly leaned over to kiss his significant other: it was the PDA. The thoughts running through my head ran something like this:
"Oh God. What is that, the 3rd time he's leaned in for a kiss? Now the 4th? Jesus! How the hell is she allowing this to happen to her? Is she not peeved by his neediness?! This is disgusting!"
And then it hit me. I was jealous. I was jealous that this young guy was able to so freely show natural affection and love to his lady, and vice versa. But every time I do it, I have to wonder if I'll turn around to meet a fist to my face, or a bullet to my head.
Straight people have no idea how lucky they are to be able to express themselves without fear of reproach or violence. They have no idea what it feels like to put up artificial walls with the ones they love so as to appear merely acquaintances when in fact you are lovers.
I hate that my society still forces me to pretend to be other than I am. And I want to know...when do *I* get to be affectionate, dammit?!
4 comments:
I won't forget walking in Vermont late that summer night after our time at the brewery and you and J holding hands and me and the BF holding hands and that car of young guys drove up. I thought for sure they would yell something but the one guy just looked out the window and gave us all a head nod.
You're right, it is comforting to be able to PDA in public without fear of looks, jeers, taunts, or violence!
As our country continues to legalize same sex marriage and civil unions, society is going to have to come along with their comfort level of seeing same sex couples show appropriate affection in public. It will take getting used to. Perhaps similar to getting used to interracial couples. It will happen in time, moreso in some plaves than others.
"what it feels like to put up artificial walls with the ones they love so as to appear merely acquaintances when in fact you are lovers"
Wow. That's what I've been meaning to say.
I'm crazy in love. Stipulations of my divorce agreement state that I can't reveal my sexual orientation or the nature of my relationship with my partner to my son...until he can drive (he's 4). My partner is a public school teacher...in Alabama. What really sucks is you get so good at pretending that sometimes the artificial walls begin to seem real.
@ Pomo - i do remember that! that's why i LOVE that part of VT. i feel so much freer there!
@ Jeff - yup, that's my assessment as well. i just hate waiting :)
@ trey - thanks for sharing (and coming to my blog!) i can imagine it must be even WORSE for you guys since you're in the Bible Belt South. i'm not sure i could live there, really. by the by, i've read around your blog a bit and WOW, what a story you have! i'm glad to e-know you :)
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