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or many, Halloween is a beloved time dress as women for the fun of it, there is no of year. After weeks of preparation for differentiating who is gay for those who wish this one night, it is a chance to lose to lay hate. Even when cops would randomly yourself and pretend you are something else. raid gay bars (pre-Stonewall), Halloween For the gay community, it has much more was the one night when our community was significance. The festivities are not confined to untouchable. one night but rather a full week during which For a majority of us, pretending to be it is unacceptable to wear the same costume someone we are not is an art we have perfected more than once. Some of us for most of our lives. Growing up in the closet prepare for a whole year to means putting on a costume every day and arrange the perfect ensembles. playing a character other people need to see in I am sure many people order to feel comfortable. On Halloween, we assume the popularity of this can use this talent to stand out instead of fit day in the gay community in. For once, we can pretend to be something has something to do with we want to be, not what others want us to be. decadence and debauchery. When I was a child, my mom would make GLENN I mean, on a night my Halloween costumes. I remember being so GARNER stereotypically notorious for excited one year when I was going to be the worshiping Satan, it is safe Blue Power Ranger. These days, my costumes to assume we would be sacrificing virgins or have a little more meaning. The last time I raping sheep, right? dressed up, people may have thought I was a Although some parties in this town get slutty sailor. My costume was actually inspired tragically out of hand, that is an unfair idea of by the work of Tom of Finland, a 20th-century our celebrations. Most of my friends attribute erotic artist whose sketches of men in uniform the popularity of this day to Mean Girls logic. became an iconic idea of the physically perfect “Halloween is the one night a year when a man in the gay community. girl can dress like a total slut and no other girls Even today’s popular Halloween can say anything about it,” summed up Lindsay traditions have become queerer by the year. Lohan about the meaning of Halloween in girl People used to watch Frankenstein create a world. monster around this time of year. Now, we Granted, slutty costumes are not unheard watch and sing along with Dr. Frank-N-Furter, of in the gay community. However, the idea the sweet transvestite from Transsexual, behind this logic in gay world is slightly Transylvania, while he creates the perfect man altered. For us, it is the one night — or week — complete with tight gold underwear. — of the year when we can express our inner For some, Halloween is a Pagan rite. For flamboyance without worrying about scrutiny others, it is a night to celebrate the changing from our peers. We can throw on a layer of seasons with friends and family. For gay glitter and some fairy wings without anyone people, it is when we can be whatever we want taking a second glance. When straight men without society telling us not to.
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