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Utopian Possibilities

Conceiving of a queer utopia is a daunting prospect.

The trouble with something imagined is that it is likely destined to stay somewhere ‘over there’, unrealised, in the realm of its own fantastic ideals. A grand and worthy ambition rendered out of reach, by virtue of its very definition, no matter how admirable, desirable and, above all, necessary its aspirations are.

But when the world feels like it is balancing on a knife edge, and as our community teeters on the tip of the blade, contemplating the notion of a queer utopia and considering its application to our queer here and now takes on a new urgency. There is a fresh potency to what’s possible.

Although a queer utopia might sit squarely and forever unmoving at some point on a far distant horizon, rather than just gazing longingly towards it, which feels both futile and indulgent, I feel compelled to take a running jump. And this is where I have found myself land.

A queer utopia can be hard to pin down; overwhelming for all its limitlessness, impenetrable in its vast potential, stretching as it can beyond this universe and the next, as far as we let it. But I believe it originates in the self, within the reflection we encounter everyday. Rather than a place or a moment, it is a way of seeing ourselves and the world, a state of mind, a way of being: a sensibility.

A queer utopia exists in each one of us, in this very instant and in this very breath. It is ours for the taking, ready to be grasped and held close. It rests on and is unlocked by the acceptance of a foundational truth. A truth that we, as queer people, can too often, too readily, forget or overlook: that we are worthy of love and belonging.

Many of us have embraced this truth, many of us have not. Many of us falter somewhere between those two poles. And who could blame us? But, by accepting that truth unconditionally, by seeing it drawn on the face that stares back at us in the mirror, so much can flow: vulnerability, compassion, healing, understanding and empathy, for ourselves and for those around us.

When we see ourselves as worthy of love and belonging, we become abundant in those resources, equipped to view our queer siblings through that same tinted lens, as equally worthy of those two precious things, without condition. If this sounds overly sentimental, it’s not. The sustainability and welfare of our queer community is contingent on it. We have never needed each other more.

There is instruction hidden in this truth of love and belonging. It asks us to acknowledge that some of us have been dealt a harder hand than you or I, while accepting that all struggle is relative. It asks that we keep sight of, and honour those central concerns of queerness: who is speaking and who is centred. To do so is to help cultivate love and belonging through the medium of inclusion, regardless of gender identity, gender expression, ethnicity, class, ability or HIV status.

Queerness is inherently collective, a powerful communion. It is deeply personal also. Sometimes, it can be gate-kept, an unnecessary hindrance to our queer potential. But by living by this truth, we can side-step that gatekeeper and free ourselves to live a life on our own terms: in how we move, how we talk, how we present, how we fuck, how we love, how we whatever. As messy, contradictory, changing or unreconciled as your queerness might be, just as mine might be, it is nonetheless legitimate and beautifully so.

To know that we are all worthy of love and belonging, to hold that truth close, to take it into the open, to live in and through it as queer people, untrammelled, is an intoxicating and joyful thought. Utopian, even. Not just for ourselves, but for anyone who feels licensed to follow our lead, to draw from our historical resilience, our traditional defiance, our overriding desire and deep seated intuition that tells us to strive to ‘do us’.

It is a truth with all the potential of a chain reaction. A loop of queer energy, diffuse and everywhere, reverberating far and wide, catalysing endlessly through kindness and authenticity. A bright and truthful light that reveals new parts of ourselves, that illuminates other ways of relating to each other and to the world, and that leads us from the straight and narrow into the queer expanse.

To pursue and nurture a sense of love and belonging within ourselves, and to encourage it in others, makes very possible a vision of a more equitable and shared queer here and now. In your reflection, see a portal into this queer dimension. Step into it. This is as close a thing to describing a queer utopia, and how it can be realised, as I can manage right now.

It feels possible and enough.

This article appears in 366

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From The Team
Welcome, dear reader, to our January 2021 issue!
Access to Health
When Catherine E Hug, a writer for GCN based in the United States, had to access healthcare suddenly, the experience and the stigma attached to it caused her to think about how others may struggle in accessing the care they need
2020 in numbers
It’s been quite the year for GCN. Simliar to the organisations around the world, the pandemic brought about huge changes in the way we deliver our services as your national LGBTQ+ press. For many months, we had to put pause to our beloved print edition of the magazine due to COVID-19 restrictions (so you can imagine how delighted we are knowing this issue is out in the world!) but, as with many others, we also found ways to thrive. Here are just a few of our own personal highlights
#2020 QueerVision
It’s been a memorable year for Ireland’s LGBTQ+ community. Here are just some of the highlights that took place across the country over the past 365 days
The Park
When a piece of queer art caused a childhood memory to come flooding back, Hannah Tiernan reflected on the hidden meaning public spaces once had for gay people, and how they were viewed by outsiders
A State of Silence
Those who have survived institutional human rights abuses in Ireland refer to the saying ‘deny until we die’ - where the State and Church keep enacting policies and barriers until the problem goes away. In light of the Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby Homes and certain related matters) Bill 2020, Oisin Kenny speaks with survivors and advocates about the ongoing tactics of silence and the need for accountability moving forward
Queer Utopia: Neave Alouf & Ollie Bell
Queer Utopia lives!
Queer Future:
Queer Utopia: Babs Daly & Stephen Moloney
Our second Queer Utopia team-up are the super talented duo, Babs Daly & Stephen Moloney
Utopian Possibilities
The trouble with something imagined is that it is likely
The Fight For Visibility
Empowering a multinational network of 21 organisations from across 10 countries, a new research project, Intersex - New Interdisciplinary Approaches, aims to shed light on the lived experiences of intersex people.
I Feel Zine
Expression and creativity outside the mainstream, targeting like-minds and fellow bold thinkers, zines are a blast of anarchic energy. With queer creations on the rise, Chris Rooke got the lowdown from some of the makers (who also kindly provided the images)
People MPower
The MPOWER team provide an essential service to gay and bisexual men and other MSM in Ireland, empowering them with sex-positive and judgement-free services and resources. Brendan Kelly Palenque spoke to some of the volunteers that make the service possible
Gold medal achievements
The past 12 months have been difficult for lovers of all things sport. While many LGBTQ+ inclusive clubs gathered for brief periods of training throughout the year, most of 2020 was spent apart. However, as Karina Muray describes, there were still a few notable events and 2021 will most definitely provide more opportunities for getting active!
Empathy, hope and queer joy will help us all to step boldly into 2021
As this unprecedented year comes to a close, Managing Editor Lisa Connell reflects on some of the lessons we have learned, and the role queer joy will play in the continuing fight for a better world for all of our diverse LGBTQ+ community
Looking for back issues?
Browse the Archive >

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