Today is Blog Against Heteronormativity Day so this is going to be a brief interruption in the knitting posts.

I was trying to think about the best way to blog against heternormativity on this blog. At first I wasn’t going to. This isn’t my livejournal, which is more personal, and people connected to my job read this blog.

Then I realized–that’s a perfect example of heteronormativity. I’m scared to blog something that might indicate I’m gay (for those of you wondering–I am) because someone I know might read it.

I can’t imagine a straight blogger ever facing that decision.

So, what exactly is heternormativity?

Think about this:

Have you ever:
–been afraid to hug your friends because they might think you are hitting on them?
–been afraid to mention your crush because people will think you’re shoving your sexuality in their face?
–wondered if it’s safe to hold hands with your significant other?
–lied about what you did over the weekend because you’re afraid you might be fired if your boss found out you were gay?
–had someone cross the street to get away from you?
–been afraid to ask someone out because you don’t know their sexual orientation and are afraid they will become offended, or even violent?
–been told you are deviant and consider yourself lucky you aren’t being lynched?
–been told by the US government that you are not worthy of marriage?
–had your family refer to your partner as your ‘friend’ or ‘roommate’?

If not, then guess what? You’re probably straight.

Have I had all of those things happen to me? No. Not the last two–yet. I haven’t been in a serious enough relationship for those two to happen.

The point of the post is this: if you’re reading this I ask you to do one thing. It’s small, it’s easy, and it doesn’t even cost anything.

For one day–just one day–I want you to think about what it would be like. To be conscious of all the little things that you do, all the times you mention your significant other, of every time you interact with them in public, of all the recognition your relationship gets without you having to ask for it.

Then imagine what it would be like if it all went away.