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Okay, one of the reasons we set up this collective (in our own special way) was because we're tired of feeling like a secret society. We DO exist, and it seems like we're always fumbling around in the dark looking for each other. I'm not into secret handshakes, so we reckon its time we promoted some visibility.
I think the most important place to start is representing our views and our concerns to influential people - the media and the politicians for one. As a group, NIQYI has the very important quality of complete anonymity for all of our members, without relinquishing our right to a voice. Together we can write under the heading of the Northern Ireland Queer Youth Collective without giving any hints about who we are. This is not because we are ashamed of our sexualities, but because we don't feel we should be obliged to specify our sexualities just because they're not part of the status-quo.
Not all of us are out. Not all of us can sign a letter with our names. And not all of us want to. Why should we, after all? And who can say how the response is going to go? Yes, we live in a homophobic society. But thats not going to put us off. We're going to be careful, and effective at the same time.
The more of us there are, the more people we can write to, the louder our voice is. Help us, please, regardless of your sexual identity. There are a lot of homophobes and homoskeptics out there who need setting straight (queer girls love a good pun. And a bad one, evidently..) on a few issues, and we definately need more representation. If you want to contribute to letter writing or any other form of visiblity (have a particular skill? I havent got any! Give a moron a hand) please, please do contact us and we'll have a nice wee discussion over cybertea and cyberbiscuits.
Visibility can take many forms, with or without compromising your anonymity. If you're out and proud, holding hands is a good place to start. If you're in (but not necessarily unproud) you can email us a letter which we'll then attach to our collective identity. You can contribute to some of the many great queer clubs out there (we like Howl. Why not do a tour and find your place?) or better still, volunteer at a drop-in centre like the fab, newly reopened one in Cara friend.
Finally, support each other. Your sexual identity does not have to control your life. You can be as involved as you want. But remember that people can find this a very difficult experience and as human beings, never mind homos, we should be there for one another.
To get involved with some visibility-building activities, if you have suggestions or questions, just do the typical thing and email us; queeryouthni@yahoo.com
End rant.
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