Politics
Youth empowerment
Community service
Civil rights
Socioeconomic status
Defying stereotypes
Sexuality
Latinidad
Mestizaje
Human rights
Buddhism
Music
Mind
Law
Immigration
Transgenderism
Transsexualism
Gender-Neutrality
Psychology
Respect
Networking
Transcending
LGBTQ-focused documentaries
Social Activism
HIV/AIDS education & prevention
Enlightenment
Edification
Cross-communication
Sociology
The World
Humanity
L'italiano
Music I Like:
Aaliyah, Aleks Syntek, Alicia Keyes, Alicia Villarrea, Amy Winehouse, Ana Barbara, Ashanti, Basshunter, Belanova, Belinda, Black Eyed Peas, Boyz 2 Men, Brandy, Brian McKnight, Cascada, Cassie, Christina Aguilera, David Guetta, Dirty Vegas, DJ Tiesto, Dru Hill, Enur, En Vogue, Evanescence, Ferry Corsten, Flyleaf, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Goldfrapp, Grupo Limite, India, Intocable, Ivy Queen, Janet Jackson, Jennifer Lopez, Jennifer PeÃÂña, Jesse and Joy, Kelly Clarkson, Keyshia Cole, Lady GaGaLa Oreja de Van Gogh, Laura Pausini, Lauren Hill, Los Angeles Azules, Los Angeles de Charly, Los Palominos, Los Temerarios, Luis Fonsi, Macy Gray Madonna, Mariah Carey, Marvin Gaye, Mary J Blige, Monica, Monifah, Natasha Bedingfeld, No Doubt, Paramore, Rakim y Ken Y, RBD, Real McCoyReik, Rihanna, Robin S, Robyn, RÃÂöyksopp, RuPaul, Selena, September, Sugababes, SWV, The Temptations, The Supremes, Tina Turner, TLC, Toni Braxton, TuPac, Whitney Houston
Films I Like:
Adventures of Priscilla, Amarte Duele, American History X, American Me, Amores Perros, Billy Elliot, Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss, Bowling for Columbine, Brother to Brother, But I'm A Cheerleader, El Cantante, Erin Brockovich, In Her Shoes, Into the WildKill Bill Volume 1, La Bamba, Latin Boys Go to Hell, Made in America, Manufacturing Consent, My Best Friend's Wedding, Paris is Burning, Planet of the Apes (original), Prom Night (1980), Saving Face, Selena, Sicko, Soul Food, Stonewall, Ten Things I Hate About You, The Laramie Project, Too Wong Foo Thanks For Everything Julie Newmar, The Deep End, Transamerica, Victor/ Victoria, Volver, Walkout
Literature I Like:
Native Son, The Awakening, The Chosen, Black Like Me, The Chicano Manifesto, On Self-Reliance, Uses of Great Men, 1984, Canto y Grito Mi Liberacion: The Liberation of a Chicano Mind, Bless Me Ultima, The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man, Invisible Man, Out of the Past
TV Shows I Like:
Desperate Housewives, Gossip Girl, Meet the Press, Noah's Arc, Queer as Folk, Rebelde, The L Word, The Twilight Zone, Transamerican Love Story, Transgeneration, Wisecrack
When it comes to the world of gay men, I honestly do not know where I should place myself. Only a year has elapsed since I made the decision to "come out of the closet," and yet I have been immersed in the deepest waters of the gay world. This experiences of this previous year have brought me closer to an understanding of my sexuality than I have ever been able to attain. They have removed from me the fears that kept me bound to the psychological and physical closet of compulsory heterosexuality for eight years of my young life. My year as an out queer person, however, has presented me with new challenges, new questions and new insights into the world that until recently would have never crossed my mind.
Before coming out as a queer person, I was as most persons are: I gripped onto the rigid definitions of masculinity impressed upon cysgendered boys and attempted to live my life accordingly. I framed my world within the spheres of "what a boy should do" and "what a boy should not do." Little did I realize that these spheres are the same ones by which this society attempted to suppress and repress my homosexuality. As I situate my being in the world of queer men (and all LGBTQA individuals), I notice that many of us queer persons reinforce the same definitions of masculinity and femininity that attempt to repress homoerotic attractions as "deviance." I find myself not at ease with our community when I see phrases such as "masc seeking masc", "no femmes" and "straight-acting."
After I came out, I approached a queer friend of mine and asked him if he wanted to be called "seÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂñor" or "seÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂñora," "sir" or "ma'am" respectively. For me, this reflects the misconceptions implicated by the rigid societal definitions of masculinity (which is always is synonymous with heterosexuality). Another friend was quick to inform me of my error. What this experience did was compel me to question the very elements present in the community of queer men.
Many of us will go to the gym and work out to attain that "desirable body of hardened muscle"; many of us will claim that we do not like femmes because, after all, "we are gay because we like men"; many of us meticulously craft a set of standards by which we judge all queer men that approach us (standards that operate along the lines of weight, race, age, muscle mass, penis size, hair color, and eye color). What many of us do not realize is that we fragment our community ever more by creating these subterfuges.
Well, I guess I should also fill this space with some information more about myself. I am a second year at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and I absolutely love it. The campus is amazing and I cannot satiate my desires to learn more. I am very involved in the queer community on campus, especially in an organization for queer persons of color.
I am eighteen, a fact about which I often forget. I guess I understand what is meant by the phrase "age ain't nothin' but a number" (thanks to aaliyah my gurl). I abhor ignorant categories and labels, so please do not refer to me as a "twink." I only ask for the respect I will surely give to you as another human being.
I am not seeking out a relationship at the moment, but I do not rule out that one can and could develop within the next year. Either way, a relationship is not an objective of mine.
I am particularly interested in psychology, specifically the conflation and confluence of gender, psychology and society. I have already declared psychology as one of my concentrations. I am also passionate about exploring the intersectionality of racism, heterosexism and androsexism. Unto this end, I am designing one of my own concentrations under the phrase "Queer Race Studies".
Para los que estan interesados, hablo espanol. Si desea, podemos chatear.
I fucking LOVE your 'about me'. It's so refreshing to hear someone who talks about issues not involving themselves ENTIRELY.
Although I'm CLEARLY guilty of this sin (hahaha) I applaud you for your detailed inquiries on the perceptions of humans as they pertain to homosexuals.
That seriously just made you ridiculously attractive.
Hello Robby. How goes it? I think I saw you at Necto this past Friday, but I was not sure if it was you, so I did not say anything. Anyway, how are you doing? P.S. Just out of random curiosity, what is your major here at UM? Later.
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