"Letting Go Of 'No Labels'"

Jaa · Feb 23, 2016

Lately, many have said or implied that they don't label themselves regarding certain personal matters. This seems to occur most often in reference to sexual, like Frank Ocean's ambiguous letter or Jussie Smollett's "If I fall in love with a woman..." Out interview quote, or racial matters like when "nu-blacks" such as Raven-Symone say they don't see color. This writer argues that labels can be powerful and helpful. Excerpts and link to the article below:

Clearly, “No Labels” isn’t a malicious attempt to erase the LGBT community from the public discourse. Its promotion of it may be but the people who feel as though they are apart of it are just trying to fit into a space of sexuality fluidity that already opens itself up to a variety of spectrums. Currently, there’s an array of titles including pansexuality, omnisexuality and asexuality.

What’s also not recognized is that all of these labels are also powerful.

Labels don’t seem powerful on the surface. There’s a long withstanding attack on Blackness and homosexuality, especially when they are combined. There are expectations and perceptions that society enacts on us like large stone boulders on our back that we carry as young children into maturation. But once we are able to accept ourselves, the boulders – the label – affixed on us becomes our strength and our gold. Wanna know why gays are so talented and can make ugly things look so beautiful? It’s all the shit we’ve been through.

While Hollywood may appear to be a progressive world, for a Black gay kid in the suburbs, there’s no place for “no labels.” The title of being “gay” is slapped on you before you even know what it truly means. The amount of oppression faced cannot be removed with some progressive, new age terms or hopes that people’s perceptions will change based on you being straight-acting. It’s a constant battle.
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As a community who is largely looked at monolithically, a lot of us aim to separate ourselves from the pack and be our own individuals. But we weren’t actually put on Earth to do such. We’re so similar in nature with so much common ground. Yes, our experiences are different but the foundations of it aren’t. Imagine not being able to communicate with someone who is similar to you. Imagine Jack’d with no filters and even more people since we’d all be “no labels.” Our ability to connect and influence would be empty. We need to be recognized ourselves as who we are and not what they believe we are and who we think we should be because of how they perceive us.

My hope is that with the next Black gay actor, they stand firmly in being Black and gay. They don’t remove the label but help to re-define it as being more than anyone’s expectations. If they are attracted to the same sex, they recognize that as bisexuality or pansexuality. If they want to star in an action film, they recognize themselves as being a Black gay action star and not just an action star who happens to like the same sex. It is up to us to redefine and break down the stigmas that persecute us. Not run from the shadows of a closet.
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[FRESHLY SERVED] Letting Go Of “No Labels” | Seekers of Unity Love & Equality

Dante · Feb 23, 2016

I agree with the essence of what he is saying 1000%. Own your shit and the smell that comes with it, especially when it comes to sexuality. Creating an identification to "safeguard" yourself is a blatant cop out. Live in your truth, not in the pseudo truth you have chosen to create.

grownman · Feb 23, 2016

I couldn't agree more. Nothing left to say.

Cyrus-Brooks · Feb 24, 2016

The whole "no labels" thing gay men particularly those in media is nothing more than a way to weasel out of identifying as a homosexual man. It's a way to try to appease the straight world. Which to me is a fruitless endeavor since those who are homophobic won't accept them anyway.

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"Letting Go Of 'No Labels'"

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"Letting Go Of 'No Labels'"

Jaa The 100 Daps Club

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Jaa
The 100 Daps Club

Dante https://www.gofundme.com/qv7v5dw
The Great Debater The 1000 Daps Club

grownman
The 100 Daps Club Supporter

Cyrus-Brooks The Black Vulcan
Squad Leader Best Site Comments The 1000 Daps Club