Monday, October 31, 2011

Halloween Edition - Remembering Our Dead

It is just like me to somehow wind up at midnight on Halloween in a dark park by myself which I wouldn't be surprised if it was once a burial ground. See Halloween is much more then a fun holiday where people get to dress up. It is also based upon ancient Celtic ceremonies for the New Year when it was believed that the land of the living was close to the land of the dead. We don't really know exactly what happened as the ancient Celts left few written records, but a time to remember the dead is certainly there. I hope you have gone out and had fun dressed up and, hopefully dressed up in a costume not a culture. If you don't get the reference there was a campaign started by students in the States to stop racist and cultural appropriating costumes. If you're wondering what I did Saturday I was a gothic Tuxedo Mask and today I was a sexy kitty.

Anyway back to the creepy park. I wound up in the park by accident due to bus trouble and found myself in it at midnight and contemplating the dead. I found a tree and tried to honour the Native ancestors of this land and my own by pulling out my bag of tobacco I carry with me and offering it. Earlier in the night I honoured my Grandfather, French-Canadian ancestry and all the Canadian soldiers whom have died by going to the grave of the Unknown Soldier at the War Memorial. I reflected on their sacrifice and then poured out a small bottle of alcohol by the grave. I hope he likes rum.

Now I reflect on my queer ancestors. Those who may not be of my blood but have died due to being queer or made large impacts on queer people's lives while they were alive. So tonight I will honour three people Jamie Hubley, Sylvia Rivera and Charlotte Whitton.

Jamie Hubley was a gay Ottawa youth whom committed suicide a few weeks ago. Many of the youth volunteers and clients at my work were friends with him or knew him. He has been honoured a lot already, but I feel the need to do so again. While alive he fought for a Rainbow Club in his school and was a wonderful Lady Gaga singing glee kid and figure skater. Unfortunately a combination of mental illness and bullying were too much for him and he took his own life.

Sylvia Rivera was one of the first people to start the famous Stonewall riots. Stonewall became coopted by white gay and lesbian activits, but it was started by latina and black trans women and Sylvia was right front and centre of it. After Stonewall she became a tireless GLBTQ advocate starting many queer organizations and constantly pressuring goverments to stop their bigotry. She died in 2002 from liver cancer.

Charlotte Whitton was the first woman mayor of a major Canadian city and she did so here in Ottawa. She was a whitty firebrand and a feminist. Famously the mayor of London asked "If I sniff your flower Madam would you blush?" to which she replied "If I were to pull your chains Sir would you flush?" as example of her character. We don't know for certain if she was a lesbian however, she never married and had a woman partner whom she lived with for many years and sent love letters. After her partner's death she wrote about her lonliness, but propelled herself further into politics.

Who are your queer ancestors?