Yesterday’s post got me thinking about my online persona, in its many variations. A dear friend of mine once commented to me about the striking difference between how I write for my illustrations, versus how I write for my blog. The same could be said for how I present myself on the Float-E-Cast. For example: in the Float-E-Cast, I’m a big fat Homo. In real life, there is a teensy chance that my girlfriend would disagree with that. The reason that my podcast persona is gay is multilayered. One of the biggest reasons, is that I consider myself to be somewhat queer-identified,— in that the term “queer” and “gay” are  often considered to be two different things. While the word “gay” is typically used as a synonym for “homosexual”, the word “queer” is often used as an antonym for “heteronormative”. In the retarded spirit of reclaiming, I often refer to myself as a “straight fag”, as the term “fag” was aimed at me at least as much as any actual gay person I’ve ever known while I was growing up.  I am totally fine with owning the word “fag”, given my semi-girly nature. Also: just as I don’t overly identify with the term “man”, I don’t overly identify with the term “straight”. It does so happen that I tend to be attracted to women as a general rule, though I am not in theory opposed to the notion of a same-sex pairing—t just ainut done happint.

    Challenging heteronormative assumptions is something that I think is a valuable endeavor, given all of the efforts being bandied about to legitimize legal restrictions upon gay relationships, and other gender-restrictive legislation. I think it’s important for people who do not identify with what is considered to be the status quo, in regards to gender constructs, to take a stand for the betterment of humanity at large.

    My online persona is such a potential random wrecking ball that my girlfriend has opted to divest herself from it, due to concerns that being associated with it might in itself be a career-limiting move for her. She is a professional, and one day found herself growing concerned that the not-so-subtle, quite possibly offensive content that I put up on my Facebook page was too easily accessible to business associates and clients, which just might in turn, compromise those relationships. Consequently, she and I are not Facebook “friends”.  Nary a more prudent decision hath been made...

    My next blog entry is likely to be a lengthy one, as it deals with my involvement in the “Masons” that was mentioned in the Float-E-Cast, back in the day...