Identity
from the Editor
I have spent most of my life thinking about identity. Initially, my curiosity was self-centered: I wanted to understand myself. Over time, this interest evolved, leading me to ask larger questions about humanity and the ways we use categories to think about and define ourselves.
But what exactly is identity? What aspects of the human experience exist outside of it? How and where are these boundaries of definition located? And who among us gets to decide?
The pieces in this issue all take up these questions and explore them from different angles. In “A Night at Hamburger Mary’s”, Natalie Yeh opens this discussion with an examination of the relationship between reproductive sex and gender. Grounding her analysis in her own observations and experiences as a transgender woman living in the United States, she persuasively argues for the validation of trans identity while also acknowledging the pitfalls that can sometimes make such acceptance challenging. Central to her argument is the conviction that we should all embrace each of our past, present and future selves. In her case, Yeh asserts, doing so has been aided in large part by the thoughtful nuancing of differences between anatomy and what she poetically describes as her “feminine heart”.
Michael Bailey demonstrates a similar willingness to engage with controversial topics in his essay “Questioning Sexual Identities”. In it, he surveys his past research of people possessing a wide range of sexual proclivities, and describes some of the controversy that has bubbled up around it. Dispelling the notion that his work is motivated by malice or ill will, Bailey reveals his research as the product of a deep commitment to the pursuit of knowledge and good science. In order to service these goals, Bailey posits, activism and science must be done by two different sets of people, because those who are sincerely motivated to uncover scientific truths cannot go into the research with a predetermined outcome in mind.
A focus on individuals with diverse sexual interests is also at the heart of Rio Veradonir’s most recent piece, “Queerness is Universal”. Grounding his argument in the values of equality and individual liberty, Veradonir posits that the best way to promote increased acceptance of sexual diversity is by opening up the word “queer” to an even broader range of people. Recalling the original definition of the term, Veradonir makes the compelling case that, as the title of his essay clearly states, queerness really is universal.
In a similar manner, Mihlali Ntsabo presses for reconsideration of an entirely different popular concept in “The Future of Pan-Africanism”. After tracing the historical development of Pan-Africanist thought and acknowledging its many achievements, Ntsabo turns to address its philosophical limitations using a discussion of current LGBTI struggles on the continent. Arguing that these struggles are due in large part to the inherent unreliability of identity politics, Ntsabo attempts to map out a new way forward where the goals of Pan-Africanism are more successfully realized by everyone.
Our regular columns The In-between, Zach and the City and My Body and Other Adventures all have new identity-themed entries, and are accompanied by other personal takes on the matter penned by Damian Emba in “The Sum of Our Parts” and M. Christian in “Queer Like Me”. As usual, we include eight new Business of Sex Profiles for your reading enjoyment, along with six new Painted Stories.
Alongside this content, there are a few new features that we debut in this issue. I am very excited to introduce a cartoon section featuring the single-panel work of talented artist David Cohen. We will also be launching a newsletter next issue in response to numerous requests, and readers can now sign up for this feature to ensure they are always the first to know what is happening here at Queer Majority.
Published May 1, 2020
