I feel like a proud mother. Although I’m sure it wasn’t because of me, I’ve been noticing way more individuality among the young fashionistas here on campus. Or should I say, fashionistos?
Praise gay boys! You guys are living evidence that style without UGGs is possible. I know I’ve UGG-bashed before, but I’m getting increasingly sick of seeing them—literally—everywhere I look.
Actually, gays in general tend to have a pretty sound sense of fashion. Most of us have had to deal with a situation or two in our coming-out experiences that ended up in a general “Fuck you, I’ll do what I want” mentality; take note of the irony as I thank the Lord for blessing gays with a backbone.
As “out” members of the LGBT community, we’ve pretty much kicked judgment’s ass. We’ve been through the most intense moments of self-doubt and insecurity that we don’t really give a shit about who approves of our lifestyles anymore, let alone our wardrobes.
Straight people just don’t get it. They get so scared of being judged about their style that they all blend together—hence, the UGGs epidemic. They’re afraid to even think about the same rejection we all lived (or still live) through daily. That’s my take, anyway.
I feel like I’m a stronger person because of the emotional trauma I went through while coming to terms with my sexuality. Not only do I feel like I’m stronger than I once was, but I feel like I’m stronger than anybody I make eye contact with every day. I’m not being cocky, I’m just proud. My history with coming out, although it ruined my high school experience, was relatively laid back; imagine what it was like for those of us who got disowned by families, thrown out of houses, shunned from public places.
And don’t downplay it, either; just because it’s 2010 doesn’t mean everyone’s into the gay scene. People will continue to hate, whether we like it or not.
Hate works in funny ways, though. Almost counterproductively, if you think about it: The more that someone hates or judges you, the stronger you’ll eventually become. Take that, Catholicism.
Disclaimer: I’m not saying that every straight person has a terrible fashion sense, or that all straight people are weak. But I am saying that every gay person who has dealt with our judgmental society is stronger and acts more confident than the average John Doe.
And we look damn good doing it.
