Queer Excursion: Tracks -Sydney Monahan

          In an effort to immerse myself into a queer place, I decided to go to the local gay club, called Tracks. It wasn’t a battle to have my straight friends tag along, they all loved Tracks too, I mean it has better music and free entry for college students so what isn’t there to like?I had been there once before, but this time would be different. This would be my first time going to the club after coming out. Reflecting on it now, the two experiences were like night and day. This time felt very different because I more fully became a part of a community I had not yet been a part of. I went from being able to see that all of these queer people felt safe in a space together, to feeling safe myself.  Experiencing a place like that is truly surreal, and special. Although the drag queens, dancers, lights, and music are all fun, but the community is what makes Tracks an important asset to the larger community. Observing the space and seeing that even my straight friends felt comfortable, made me really proud to be a part of a loving and accepting community. 

       Getting to participate in such a fun gay community gathering, also reminded me of how privileged I am. Not all people who come out are loved and accepted by their families or friends  and can celebrate their sexuality. The fear that comes along with being queer is still so real. I am very grateful of my situation and am also conscious of those who have fought to make our world a more accepting place. Coming out for me wasn’t even that scary because there was a path that had been forged by those who came out before me. 

      Thinking about the privilege I have now to feel safe at a gay bar I think back to Rupp’s Becoming a People, and how many lesbian bars were unsafe. Rupp states, “Yet lesbian bars were not safe from the incursion of straight men, who might try to pick up a fem, or start a fight with a butch” (Rupp 152). There was a lot of discrimination that was faced by those before me, and the hatred towards queer people still exists today. The fight for justice for queer people is an ongoing battle, but places like Tracks give me hope that our society is learning how to accept everyone for who they are. 

       I am glad to have gone out into the world and been open to a new experience because it really solidified my decision to come out. The longing for community and human connection is not something that changes with sexuality. I also feel grateful to know more about queer history, so I can be appreciative and also learn from those who fought this battle before me. I know I will be returning to Tracks in the future and will be eternally grateful that I know I have a place I can feel totally loved and accepted.