Scenes are for Fucktards - Part 1

There is the "gay scene." There is the "goth scene". There is the "leather scene." There is the "2(x)=10 scene." Name anything that you might be interested in, whether it be sports, games, genres of music, what have you. There is more than likely a "scene" devoted to the subject. The "scene" as a concept has been the source of discussion and (sometimes) outrage, depending on who you are talking to.

Guys who create ads on online dating services like to acknowledge in their profiles the fact that they are not into the gay "scene." I have been aware for as long as I have been out of the closet (and probably even before I came out) that there is this thing called the "gay scene." But, what exactly is this concept known as the "scene" really about? Why is this concept viewed with such negativity for some people? Could it be because it pigeonholes people into a certain category when sometimes things defy categorization? Could it be because it isolates individuals who do fall into the descriptive confines of those who partake in a given "scene"?

I do not fit into this concept known as the "gay scene." I've never been a scenester. I've observed members of this gay "scene," and have seen that I just simply do not fit in. My interests are different than most members of the "gay scene." I don't inhabit the gay bars 4 to 7 days of the week. Fuck, I don't even own a damn Cher album. Ooops, maybe I am stereotyping here. But, from what I can tell of the "scene," if you don't fit a certain look, you are more often than not excluded from infiltrating the "scene."

My favorite place to go have a beer at is The Eagle here in Seattle. I do not like to run around in my tighty whiteys (I prefer black boxer briefs anyway) in public. I don't care to piss into a Mason Jar and then hand it off to Leather Daddy Charlie standing next to me. I don't own any leather in my wardrobe, nor do I wear military uniforms. Don't get me wrong, I like the look of military uniforms on younger, buff men and leather on a really hot older man. Anyway, I enjoy having a drink at The Eagle because I find that the people are friendlier and the music is a lot better. They have been even trying to incorporate different music themes into their regular repertoire. But, lately, I've been feeling more and more isolated from other Eagle-ites. It has been becoming more and more like its own "scene." Again, because I do not necessary partake in yellow hanky night nor do I dress in leather or military, I sometimes feel excluded. I never had this problem before. If I ever felt that way, I've been able to brush it off.

But, I digress. At least, I still think the Eagle is far superior to the other gay bars in Seattle anyway. I go for the music and the beer. There is nothing wrong with that. Part of my deal in general is that I need to be more outgoing. Regardless of where I hang out at, I need to smile more and chat more. That might be the solution.

Interestingly enough, I was not looking to write about the "gay scene." So, I don't have a clue as to why I went off on that tangent. Lest, I continue.

I think that a community like the GLBT community really needs to be more respectful of the diversity of its members. As we face increased scrutiny because of gay marriage and of Bush's desire to be a fucktard, we need to stick together and fight for each other and our civil rights. We have come too far in GLBT rights to just let it all fall apart. We need to be indivisible. We just have too. We need an all-inclusive community, not an exclusive "scene." That is what it will take for our community to survive in this day and age.