I admire kids now for just giving less of a fuck about the gender binary. I wish I’d been half as smart back when I was in high school in the early 2000s - I might’ve beaten myself up less and not imposed limits on myself. It breaks my heart that we still can’t let kids (or adults) be themselves.
I’m a new subscriber and I love reading you in this format- I came across one of your blog posts in like, 2014 when I had just moved to a new country and was going through a terrible breakup and it resonated with so much of what I was feeling at the time, I’ve never forgotten it. Have followed you in instagram since, but you really shine in longer form.
Outstanding essay. One of your superpowers now is manifested by your (sort of) tongue in cheek pronouncements of “yup, I’m gay” which in some respects is the ultimate diss on the whole masc vs femme spectrum cos it’s says that shit doesn’t matter. I’m 61 yrs old and probably was 50 before I was comfortable saying that in EVERY setting from social to professional.
I loved KFOG. I spent a significant amount of my youth in June Lake, which is just east of Yosemite. My dad would have that station on non stop. I grew up in the LA area so when we were in JL I felt so worldly and NorCal having access to the Bay Area stations. I miss those days.
So glad you mentioned David Bowie – I always think of him as such a chameleon but still always "him." Anywho, he's been on my mind lately whenever I see nasty comments online about John deBary wearing lipstick on Food52's drinks channel, for example. I wonder, did you see Ziggy Stardust's makeup? What about the serious eyeliner on glam rockers of the 80s? I realize these are celebrities, and I was too little to understand what regular people thought about this, but did we regress in our attitudes about gender in the 90s and aughts? Curious what other people think about this. I am glad that young people today seem to enjoy experimenting with style regardless of what gender it represents. I try to believe that history bends towards progress even if it's not a linear trajectory.
Another KFOG and Chronicle person here. (Hometown was Fremont, in Alameda County). I'm bewildered at the way things currently are in this country, with regard to misogyny and gender issues... it certainly does feel like we have moved backwards in some ways.
After the funnies, the best thing about the Sunday Chronicle to me was the pink section! All the arts and music and things to do in the gayest city in the world--of course it was printed on pink paper.
Great writing Orlando. So much of this was helpful for my conversations with those who are LGBTQ phobic. Thank you for helping me condense and clarify what was floating around in my brain.
I (cis-mostly-het girl born in 70s Catholic Ireland) was just so oblivious to everything beyond the binary when I was a teenager. The newer generations of kids really do give me hope though. Oh, we definitely had cartoons rather than funnies, though.
I admire kids now for just giving less of a fuck about the gender binary. I wish I’d been half as smart back when I was in high school in the early 2000s - I might’ve beaten myself up less and not imposed limits on myself. It breaks my heart that we still can’t let kids (or adults) be themselves.
I’m a new subscriber and I love reading you in this format- I came across one of your blog posts in like, 2014 when I had just moved to a new country and was going through a terrible breakup and it resonated with so much of what I was feeling at the time, I’ve never forgotten it. Have followed you in instagram since, but you really shine in longer form.
Yes, but< I feel bad I didn't want you to get that wig!
Outstanding essay. One of your superpowers now is manifested by your (sort of) tongue in cheek pronouncements of “yup, I’m gay” which in some respects is the ultimate diss on the whole masc vs femme spectrum cos it’s says that shit doesn’t matter. I’m 61 yrs old and probably was 50 before I was comfortable saying that in EVERY setting from social to professional.
I loved KFOG. I spent a significant amount of my youth in June Lake, which is just east of Yosemite. My dad would have that station on non stop. I grew up in the LA area so when we were in JL I felt so worldly and NorCal having access to the Bay Area stations. I miss those days.
So glad you mentioned David Bowie – I always think of him as such a chameleon but still always "him." Anywho, he's been on my mind lately whenever I see nasty comments online about John deBary wearing lipstick on Food52's drinks channel, for example. I wonder, did you see Ziggy Stardust's makeup? What about the serious eyeliner on glam rockers of the 80s? I realize these are celebrities, and I was too little to understand what regular people thought about this, but did we regress in our attitudes about gender in the 90s and aughts? Curious what other people think about this. I am glad that young people today seem to enjoy experimenting with style regardless of what gender it represents. I try to believe that history bends towards progress even if it's not a linear trajectory.
Another KFOG and Chronicle person here. (Hometown was Fremont, in Alameda County). I'm bewildered at the way things currently are in this country, with regard to misogyny and gender issues... it certainly does feel like we have moved backwards in some ways.
After the funnies, the best thing about the Sunday Chronicle to me was the pink section! All the arts and music and things to do in the gayest city in the world--of course it was printed on pink paper.
You can mansplain to me any day: sexy people get a free pass :)
Great writing Orlando. So much of this was helpful for my conversations with those who are LGBTQ phobic. Thank you for helping me condense and clarify what was floating around in my brain.
I (cis-mostly-het girl born in 70s Catholic Ireland) was just so oblivious to everything beyond the binary when I was a teenager. The newer generations of kids really do give me hope though. Oh, we definitely had cartoons rather than funnies, though.