A Poem: Dear Russians, Americans, Gays

In honor of the 3X reigning champions of the Finley Experience International Views Contest and in response to the recent news regarding the Russian government illegalizing a segment of its population. Stand strong Russian Gay Community. There is nothing wrong with you. There is something wrong with your government. I say this knowing that there is something wrong with my own government which has various laws against me. The fuck they say. From one "second-class citizen" to another: human rights belong to human beings. Love who you will. This is for the fags, dykes, and trannies who face death legislation and possible murder by homophobes. This is for you, my dear queers. No matter where you are, or, what your nationalities. Self-truth and self-preservation! You will survive! We will survive! Vale!

Dear Russians, Americans, Gays

I.                   Debate

It is not time to debate the merits of homosexuality.

It’s time to debate the merits of illegalizing people.

I once talked to a Muslim girl who told me no Muslim is gay.

Years later, I met a gay Muslim. Who was I to tell him he wasn’t?

It is not time to debate the merits of heterosexuality.

It’s time to debate the merits of illegalizing people.

I once talked to a Christian boy who told me no Christian is gay.

Years later, I met a bunch of gay Christians. Who was I to tell them they weren’t?

It is not time to debate the merits of transexuality.

It’s time to debate the merits of illegalizing people.

I once watched a country falter on its principles, telling citizens no one is gay.

Years later, I attended rainbow parades. Who was I to be one of them?

It is not time to debate the merits of pansexuality.

It’s time to debate the merits of illegalizing people.

I’m watching countries falter on their principles, telling citizens they’re not gay.

Years from now, we’ll dance at rainbow parties. Who are they, but the fetish-closeted?

II.                Reason

The true global calamity in this age of technological superiority is nothing more or less than the internet’s very own international intelligence agencies increasing the Iron Curtain tactics used on their own netizenry. As home of the original Iron Curtain, Russians know of government misinformation and subjecting the masses to rationing while Kremlin Kings kick back making Dynasty look like a weak Western attempt at luxury. One group staring at HD screens, asses growing larger by the second; the other group dictating what should be stared at and how many re-runs should air until the propaganda hits home and the subject can be changed, just slightly to keep the suspense building. Buck ass naked survivor, anyone?

But it’s not solely a national issue, it’s humanity's big problem. The iron in that age old curtain is how the oldest triangular structures became emblematic of something that has always been and always will be, the dictator’s goal: absolute control. Be fickle. You’re human. That’s the one piece of chaos in this fractal equation. Every redoubling effort has the quantum effect when human unpredictability is factored. And, usually, we forget to factor for the ingenuity of the human element, regardless of history that testament to prior experience. Let us, break it down:

III.             And Gradation

First, they attend our secret bars.

They love the shows, the drag kings

and queens and the songs they sing.

Then, they tell us it’s a lifestyle.

They love-fuck us, the hated queers

and dykes and all our peers.

So, we rise up, the beaten down.

The fags and their hags wielding high heels
while butches march with bears and their steel.  

Afterwards: “We Will Survive”

echoes through streets on mp4 players

and all dance to expose corruption's layers.

(*Side note: There’s nothing I find more

hypocritical than a homophobic homosexual

that becomes a politician to vote heterosexual.)

~Monique Finley
6-11-2013