The core of identity politics is helping other people make the right choices by raising their consciousness about where they diverge from proper thought.
The core of queer is helping other people make bold unique and individual choices by encouraging them to trust their mind and heart.
The goal of identity politics is to make other people more like other enlightened group members.
The goal of queer is to empower other people to be more like themselves.
The challenge of identity politics is making sure that you stay in line with the rest of the group, remaining popular and accepted.
The challenge of queer is supporting other people as they make choices you would never, ever make for yourself, including choices that make you uncomfortable and afraid.
Standing for identity politics means standing for separation, for group identity, for enforcing walls between us and them.
Standing for queer means standing for connection, for individual freedom, for removing barriers between humans.
Identity politics intends to keep you safe by keeping you well centred within the group, allowing you to surrender your individual identity for the comfort of group identity.
Queer intends to keep you safe by supporting your individual expression, allowing you to operate on your own uniqueness while being supported in the comfort of continuous common humanity.
The primary duality for humans is wild and tame. How can we be tame enough to assimilate well, be part of the group, and how can we be wild enough to be ourselves, bringing our special gifts to the world?
Everybody knows how to fit in, to follow the rules, to play along. We learn that early, almost without thinking about it. Everybody wants to be popular and liked.
Learning how to listen that still small voice inside of us, to stand up and stand out, can be much harder. Following our own heart, trusting that we know what we know and feel what we feel, requires being strong enough to move beyond fitting nicely into the group.
Identity politics says that our salvation lies in how we fit in, is in the ability to become part of the group.
Queer says that our salvation is lies in how we stand out, is in the ability to bring forward the unique gifts our creator placed within us.
Identity politics asks that we defend the walls, boundaries and prerogatives of the group.
Queer asks that we be a bridge between humans, strengthening networks and communities by strengthening where we stand between, opening pathways and empowering others.
Identity politics asks us to first evaluate choices on how they support the goals and intentions of the group, respecting binary choices.
Queer asks us to first evaluate choices on how they support a more connected and diverse world, respecting dualities across a spectrum of humanity.
Identity politics assumes that the best choices and outcomes are already known and just need to be enforced better.
Queer assumes that we will always be surprised by new views and possibilities and need to be open to those surprises, present in the moment and connected to our own growth.
Identity politics assumes that people like us are the people who can help us most, bringing tradition and consistency.
Queer assumes that people different than us are the people who can help us most, bringing a different viewpoint and strengths to our relationships.
Identity politics suggests that there is one right answer, the one we chose for ourselves, and people who don’t come to that answer are missing the point.
Queer suggests that there are many ways to come to a satisfactory solution, and the one that works for the individual is the correct answer for them.
Identity politics demands we play the game of satisfying group members with our compliance to norms in order to stay liked and popular.
Queer demands we challenge ourselves to make the best choices we can, even if they are unconventional, in order to respect others and ourselves.
Identity politics asks us to police our choices so that we stay in compliance, not standing out or asking others to tolerate our clear differences.
Queer asks us to take responsibility for our choices so that we always act with pride and integrity, even if that means challenging other people’s assumptions or expectations.
Identity politics is designed to be comforting, giving us clear rules and expectations. If we comply with them, we can expect to be accepted into the group.
Queer is designed to be dynamic, asking us to always be searching for new and better ways to do things. If we learn to respect and cooperate with other people, we can create strong bonds and organizations which leverage our diverse, unique skills and strengths.
Identity politics lives in the answers, playing the “or” game.
Queer lives in the questions, playing the “and” game.
Identity politics looks for others to blame, rallying around common enemies.
Queer looks for people to take responsibility, rallying around common challenges.
Identity politics asks us to be interchangeable and invisible, allowing us to blend in with the group. We follow the leader.
Queer asks us to be unique and visible, standing proud with our own power and voice. We are a leader.
Callan 