Jameson Currier SEPTEMBER 2014
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CHELSEA STATION EDITED BY jAMESON CURRIER SEPTEMBER 2014 16 Chelsea Station 2012 a new destination for gay literatureALA Rainbow Book Now Back in Print WHERE THE RAINBOW ENDS Lambda Literary Finalist a novel by Jameson Currier “Jameson Currier’s debut novel, Where the Rainbow Ends, moved me to tears more than once and, simply put, is one of the best pieces of gay literature I have ever read. Rather than focusing on and wallowing in the heavy melodrama that the AIDS epidemic seems to produce in most writers, Currier shows both the highs and lows. The lives of these incredibly well-drawn, three-dimensional people encompass all of the emotion that is found in gay/ lesbian life. The book is about creating a sense of family, and most of all, it is about hope. In Robbie, Currier has created a gay Everyman we can all identify with, love, and root for. This is one novel that I was sorry to see end. With this work, Currier has established himself as one of the preeminent gay novelists, not just of the 1990s, 978-0-9832851-6-8 but of all time. This book should be required reading for $20 every gay man, period.” Also available in digital editions —Greg Herren, Impact Also by Jameson Currier Dancing on the Moon Still Dancing “De ant and elegaic.” “Courageous.” e Village Voice Edge www.chelseastationeditions.com September 2014 Chelsea Station Edited by Jameson Currier Chelsea Station September 2014 Contents copyright © 2014 Chelsea Station Editions September 1: “I Hear America Singing,” poetry by Walt Whitman September 2: “The Most Concerning Issue in the Queer Founder, Publisher, and Editor: Community,” essay by Andrew Gregory Jameson Currier September 3: Purgatory and Salvation, Two Novels by Jeff Mann, This publication may not be reproduced review by Keith Glaeske in any form without written permission September 4: “Sex, Love and Intellectual Property,” fiction by from the publisher, except by a reviewer, who may quote brief passages in a review Andrew L. Huerta where appropriate credit is given; nor September 5: Carsick by John Waters, review by Eric may any part of this publication be Andrews-Katz reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any September 8: “Now You’ve Done It,” poetry by Stephen Zerance means—electronic, photocopying, September 9: “Children of Mars,” fiction by Henry Alley recording, or other—without specific September 10: “A Letter to a Godchild About Being Gay,” essay written permission from the publisher by Taylor Brorby and/or author(s). Contributors maintain ownership rights of their individual September 11: “Searching for Pup,” from The Third Buddha, works included herein and as such retain fiction by Jameson Currier all rights to publish and republish their September 12: I Knew Him by Erastes, review by Keith Glaeske work. September 15: “Window,” poetry by Juan Pablo Duboué All of the names, characters, places, September 16: “Letter to My Mother About Gay Therapy,” fiction and incidents in this publication are the by Tanmoy Das Lala product of the authors’ imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance September 17: “Navarre,” fiction by Anthony Cardno to actual persons, living or dead, events, September 18: “Mantou,” fiction by W. Scott or locales is entirely coincidental. September 19: Amen’s Boy by Jacob Campbell and William Published by Chelsea Station Editions Maltese, review by Edward Dutton 362 West 36th Street, Suite 2R September 22: “Talking in Late September,” poetry by James New York, NY 10018 M. Croteau www.chelseastationeditions.com [email protected] September 23: “Bully’s Blood,” essay by Jerry L. Wheeler September 24: “Conjuring Shadows,” from Skin Deep Magic, fiction by Craig Laurance Gidney Chelsea Station, a new literary journal September 25: “Skin,” fiction by Joe Okonkwo devoted to gay writing, is published online at www.chelseastationmagazine. September 26: Pride, review by Jameson Currier com. September 29: “Gray,” poetry by Stephen Zerance September 30: “When I Heard at the Close of the Day,” poetry by Walt Whitman Design by Peachboy Distillery & Design. art from 123rf.com Walter “Walt” Whitman was an American poet, essayist, and journalist. CHELSEA STATION I Hear America Singing I hear America singing, the varied carols I hear; Those of mechanics—each one singing his, as it should be, blithe and strong; The carpenter singing his, as he measures his plank or beam, The mason singing his, as he makes ready for work, or leaves off work; The boatman singing what belongs to him in his boat—the deckhand singing on the steamboat deck; The shoemaker singing as he sits on his bench—the hatter singing as he stands; The wood-cutter’s song—the ploughboy’s, on his way in the morning, or at the noon intermission, or at sundown; The delicious singing of the mother—or of the young wife at work—or of the girl sewing or washing— Each singing what belongs to her, and to none else; The day what belongs to the day— At night, the party of young fellows, robust, friendly, Singing, with open mouths, their strong melodious songs. —Walt Whitman CHELSEA STATION image via www.algbtical.org The Most Concerning Issue in the Queer Community Andrew Gregory In my most humble, honest, and respectful opinion the most pressing issue within the queer community is the way that minorities are treated socially and politically. Within the community trans people, and Queer People of Color are left without role models, without support, and without adult leaders to turn to. This lack of representation in leadership results in diminished political voice. Due to this the media perceives that the most pressing issue on the “gay agenda” is same sex marriage. That leaves homeless queer youth, trans safety/rights, and academic support in the closet. On a personal level being a part of the queer community, and the native community, I have experienced the suppression, tokenization, and sexualization of my identity. As a berdache person, cultural traditions, spirituality, and sexuality are all one. But within most queer CHELSEA STATION communities the majority population is still white, and their perception of my identity, nine times out of ten, is boiled down to whether or not I’m sexually active with another male. My spirituality, and identity as a two spirit person which literally means someone with the spirit of a man and a woman, is snuffed out. Experiences like this force Queer People of Color out of groups, out of “safe spaces.” When queer people of color try to engage with the larger queer community we face the over sexualization of, and casual racism towards, people of color in dominantly white spaces. I have sat in a GSA where I was the only non white person, and let me tell you I squirmed. Being tokenized and asked to speak for all queer native people, and then how quickly the conversation can turn to a sickening chatter of how poc are objects. While the fetishization of People of Color is not an issue exclusive to the Queer community, it is a barrier that is particularly harmful in a movement so linked to gender and sexuality. The racism tied up in the lust for People of Color and their bodies becomes written off as simple sexual fantasy. I have listened to the stories of gay boys brag about how they have dated “half the rainbow.” They have searched for other queer men of various racial backgrounds, just for the sex. As if “doing it” with them was something that had been conquered, a mission achieved, another poc targeted to be colonization. The casual racism within our own community is poisonous and dangerously leisure. We are breaking down and harming our own people and furthermore denying their identity and even so objectifying them, not seeing us as people. This is one of the largest issues in the queer community because it turns our community into an elite group of only white queers. We are a group made up of various minority groups, we need to be acknowledged and accepted by each other. If we fail to do so we are never going to successfully fight for our rights, our freedom, and our lives in this world. __________ Andrew (Drew) Gregory was born in Montana, but he has spent roughly the last ten years of his life in metropolitan Seattle, Washington. He attended and graduated from Highline Big Picture High School, First Peoples Center, in Burien, Washington. The first Two Spirit QF Scholar, Andrew traces his paternal ancestry to the Blackfeet, Lakota, and Cherokee peoples. Andrew is described by his principal as “among the top 1% to ever attend our school”–an opinion shared by his English teacher and advisor. From his freshman year, he also proved to be the school’s most effective student leader. He founded the Native Student Alliance (NSA) and worked closely with faculty and administrators in the development of a Native American curriculum for the entire school district of more than 17,000 students. He also helped create “a monthly district-wide Native Family meeting” that convinced the district’s superintendent to improve district resources for Native American students and their families. Andrew also founded “The Closet Crashers,” the district’s GSA. Among other activities of The Closet Crashers undertaken under his leadership were an annual Drag Days, a Day of Silence, and the establishment of an after-school LGBTQ youth support group at a local community center. In addition he receives considerable praise both as a poet and as a photographer. Andrew will attend Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington, where he will major in photography and Native American Studies.