A couple of weeks back, Scott (of Sardonic Bomb) wrote a list of traits, breaking them into "I am this gay" and "but I am not that gay." It was humorous for me to compare lists — I don't own The Sound of Music but I do own Moulin Rouge, I have never made quiche but I have something more than soap for my face, I have never been to a circuit party but I am in a gay chorus — and yet, as I went down the list, one other item occurred to me for my own personal not-that-gay list.
I couldn't care less about Halloween.
Now, before a few regular readers (and the Commissioner of Halloween) abandon hope, I had a lovely time in the planned-out-for-me festivities, thank you. Don't misread this as hatred or despising; I just don't consider Halloween to be one of the crown jewels in the panoply of gay holidays, as some seem to.
I'm not sure why I don't care more. Perhaps it's that I don't have a secret desire to be in drag or even just to be someone else for a day. (Trying to decide if my lack of costume-making creativity is caused by this, or causes this, could be chicken-and-egg conversation.) I've never been into the scare-yourself-silly of horror movies, haunted houses and Horror Nights. It could be my conservative religious upbringing still playing out, with all their "fall festival" alternatives and attempts at anti-paganistic symbolism. (And yet I fully appreciate how the major Christian holidays have pagan roots both in symbolism and scheduling.) I've been even more turned off in later years by over-aged trick-or-treaters, old enough to drive to a store and buy their own candy from their own jobs. The more cynical side of me even thinks we've turned a historic tradition into another chance to teach children that there are times when begging, greed and gluttony are socially acceptable behaviors.
And yet, as I said, I don't openly despise the day or the goings-on. I'll play along for the sake of humoring folks (not the least of whom is my partner!). Just don't come lookin' here for next year's Commissioner-slash-event planner. <wink>
Update: Just so ya'll don't think me some sort of Halloween Humbug: We did head out to Disney for the afternoon, had lunch and did the Haunted Mansion (among other things). And we didn't turn down the free Tootsie Pops as we left.
See. We family members can't be stereo-typed so easily. I know a guy who thoroughly hates show tunes [GASP!]. Be happy with who you are and what you like, and to heck with anyone else who says otherwise.
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