[ Golden Gater Online - October 23, 1997 ]
by Donald Dirks
Gawkers unite.
Yes, your favorite event of the year is back -- the Exotic Erotic Halloween Ball. It's time to go see those scantily-dressed women and men, the transgenders, bisexuals, lesbians, gays and naked people. You know ... all <italic> those <end italic> ' freaks.'
Recently, I've been hearing bits and pieces of conversations
among people talking about going to Saturday night's event just to see the so-called freaks. Many are women being coerced by their boyfriends, but others are sexually frustrated, testosterone-driven men who hide behind the excuse of "I just want to go see the freaks."
There's a simple reason why more than 10,000 people pay over $40 for the annual fetish ball. It's the same reason why the Sexual Variations class here at SF State is arguably the most popular class among students or why the two newspapers here on campus seemingly always choose the sexually explicit pictures over the more substantial ones.
It's because we're human. And, for that matter, we like sex. But some people don't want to admit it and make fun of others who do.
Look at the interest in the variations class. Each semester, thousands sign up to hear guest speakers talk about subjects such as S&M, group sex and transgenders.
Some people take the class to learn of alternatives to sexual norms. Others, however, are not open enough to accept those who are different from the norm. This was true recently when a small group of students heckled some transgendered speakers about what type of sexual organs they had. It reminds me of elementary school when I looked at my first pornography magazine with some friends. We giggled and made fun of the girls because we didn't know how else to deal with it.
In my two years of attending the Exotic Erotic Ball, that's what it's like. There are those who are free with themselves. They're easy to pick out -- the naked man walking around in his own world or the bondage couple pulling each other by a chain attached to a sexual part.
Then, there are those who go to see the freaks. They're easy to pick out as well. Huddled in a corner, they're like a bunch of scared teenagers at a school dance. They drink beer and watch as a 'freak' crosses their path. One gawker will say something to the person, and the whole group will join in for a laugh.
Some people just never grow up.
The behavior isn't limited to Exotic Erotic gawkers. It's the same behavior by those who make fun of others because of the color of their hair or because they don't fit into the social norm. It's discrimination.
If you're going to the Exotic Erotic, ask yourself why you're going. you really going to see the freaks? There might be something more that you're not telling people. You don't pay over $40 just to see freaks.
My question is: Who are the real freaks? Is it those that dareto blur the lines of definition? Or is it those that stand on thesidelines, watching the others?
[ Golden Gater - October 23, 1997 ]