Young, Gay, And In Mississippi

by Adam Lynch
May 4, 2005

For centuries the gay community has been forced into the dark back rooms of Western public society. Few of Western culture's most talented achievers, from artist Aubrey Beardsley to the possibility of Abraham Lincoln—according to some historians—flaunted their alternative sexual preferences. Going gay is rarely a matter of personal choice. Adopting the lifestyle still comes with too many inconveniences to be voluntary. Family ostracizing, community prejudice, sometimes upgraded to outright violence, make it a troublesome label to carry. Mississippi, in many ways, is less gay-friendly than other parts of the country, having been one of the many states to adopt a gay-marriage ban during the last national election. However, Young Gay America Magazine is looking to put a spotlight on gay society in the state, particularly in the cities of Jackson and Hattiesburg.

Young Gay America Magazine hit the streets in late 2004, and the staff in Nova Scotia and Rhode Island are looking to record interviews with gay Jacksonians May 9 for publication in the August or September edition of the magazine. The magazine may follow up with a documentary using footage from the same interviews in the next year or two, magazine editor Mike Glatze said.

The publication staff has made frequent tours throughout the country, to places such as New Orleans and Texas. The Mississippi tour will also be targeting northern Louisiana and Arkansas.
"We want to send a message to America that the South is not necessarily anti-gay, that gay people there are living good lives," Glatze said. "We want people to talk about issues that are important to them, and we may talk about religion and what that means to (gay) people. A lot of gay people don't want to give up on their religion, but they feel they have to for one reason or another."

Glatze said the South is just as prone to negative reaction against gays as just about any other spot in the U.S., but added that the good stories outnumber the bad.

"We hear about common struggles there, as anywhere else, but overwhelmingly we hear a lot of positive stuff," he said. "Overall, we just want to provide a voice for people, and we will take what people say and spread it out to the rest of the world as much as we can."

Matt Vieron, a founder of QYAN (Queer Young Adult Network) in Jackson said the visit is welcomed in an atmosphere that is generally chilly toward alternative lifestyles.

"We're excited because it's a chance for queer young people … to let everyone in the rest of the country know that down here in Mississippi, despite how we vote, there are a lot of young, gay people down here. And it's friendly, and it's fine to be openly gay in Jackson, Miss.," Vieron said, adding that he had met the magazine staff over the Internet and jumped at the chance to invite them.

Since the November election on the marriage amendment, Jackson has actually seen a coming together of many GLBT people. Angry at the state's strong affirmation that marriage is between a man and a woman, Vieron and other young GLBT began QYAN. Knol Aust and others also started Mississippi Unity, a GLBT group that is currently working on getting non-profit status and brought Jade Esteban Estrada's "Icons" show here earlier this year.

So YGA is coming at a good time.

"What we plan on doing is meeting, possibly out at the reservoir. It's exciting that we get to be spotlighted in their magazine," Vieron said.

Millsaps student and QYAN member Rachael Brown, 21, said she intends to join the get-together and added that the gay and lesbian community could use the cohesion offered by the magazine tour. She also said that Mississippi could still use some more progressive attitudes.

"I think it's really sad a lot of the attitudes of people here. Me and my girlfriend will be at Wal-Mart, and we've had people literally say 'Ewww,' out loud at us, or they'll ask 'aren't you too pretty to be a lesbian?' It makes me want to stay here because maybe my presence can make a difference," Brown said.

For inquiries or interview requests e-mail Mike Glatze at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

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