Activism

from the Editor

I never really thought of myself as an activist. As a child, I saw activists as the people who made signs, marched, staged sit-ins, got arrested, stood outside grocery stores to gather signatures or raise money, and sacrificed themselves for the causes in which they believed. I have never done any of that. I have always admired the people who have, but could never quite muster the determination or dedication to become them. I wanted too many other things for my life. Plus, I hated confrontation.

When I sat down to put this issue together, I started with the most basic question: what is activism? Certainly, it can be all of these things I pictured during my childhood, but it can also be so much more. An incredibly touching Letter to the Editor that I received in early December further underscored this point in my mind, which helped me truly see my efforts to change hearts and minds through QM's content as a form of activism too.

The essays and images included in this edition of QM explore the full scope of activism, considering not only what it is, but also who does it, why they do it, what challenges they face and what problems they seek to address. Our goal is to expand current perceptions of the concept, both to validate individual efforts for the work already being done, and to encourage new energy and creativity that will expand future social engagement. Where necessary, we also push for a shift in practices and attitudes currently common to activist spaces surrounding sex and romance by illuminating the things that work and those that do not.

Damian Emba takes up this task in his two-part essay. Starting with “The Angry Activist,” he describes the role that anger frequently plays in activist spaces, and details the problems and limitations this approach often produces. He asserts that listening with empathy and a desire to find common ground are more conducive to social change, and cautions against the continued use of anger by highlighting its ties to violence and intolerance. In “What About Whitey?: The Angry Activist, Part II,” Emba builds on the notion of angry activism to critique the current hostility toward Whiteness found among some activists on the Left. Revealing the double-standard embedded in this hostility and the limitations it places on possibilities for change, he again underscores the belief that angry activism is unproductive, and that social movements would be better served if they did not frame people with different views as the enemy.

In “Liberalism and Queer Rights,” Rio Veradonir analyzes another troubling trend in activism: the renewed popularity of Marxism and fascism. Through a careful discussion of global economic trends, he maps the causes for this recent rise, and shows how it has influenced thinking on both the political Right and Left. Veradonir warns readers against the embrace of these trends, and argues that Liberalism still provides the best path forward in the pursuit of equal rights.

Calling attention to a specific trend in activism is also Kaylee Walker’s focus in her essay “The Paradox of Purple Washing,” where she describes her experiences as a bi activist and the inner conflict she feels when evaluating the current state of bi visibility. She notes that progress is often downplayed or overlooked when the end result is still imperfect, which leads to an overly negative assessment of the current state of social movements. Walker argues that instead, activists should work harder to acknowledge and celebrate all of their victories, because it will help inspire future activism and project a more positive attitude.

Zachary Zane takes up the concept of visibility too, in his essay “Is Visibility Enough?” In it, he explores the relationship between visibility and activism by considering his own life as a writer and speaker. Zane points out that visibility can often be the first step in creating social change, but that in order for it to fully qualify as activism it has to be combined with some other, more substantial, form of action.

Mihlali Ntsabo and M. Christian also bring their voices to this conversation. In “A Peculiar Kind of Haven,” Ntsabo considers the perception of South Africa as a safe haven for queer Africans from other countries, while Christian teases out two competing functions of activism in “Communities (F)or Change.” Readers will find new entries in The In-between and Zach and the City too, as well as a new set of professionals featured in the Business of Sex Profiles.

In this issue we also introduce a new series called “Painted Stories,” which is the artistic brainchild of mixed-media artist Karthik Aithal. Every issue will feature a new collection of original images, created to illustrate personal stories that Aithal has gathered around the magazine's chosen theme. These stories, as well as a brief explanation of their relationship to the image included in every entry, allow visitors new insight into the mélange of the human experience. In this first collection, Aithal illuminates the diversity of approaches to activism, serving to further underscore the through line of the issue.

Published Jan 1, 2020