GenQ - For the not so straight individual

We all know the saying ‘When in Rome, do as the Roman’s do', however does this rule or notion of assimilation either socially survive or mentally fit in play to all foreign cultures and politics?

On my recent vacation to the USA I found myself pondering over the origin of this frequently quoted anecdote we gay men so fondly and instinctively adopt to give acceptance and reasoning to our behavioural patterns and inconsistencies. Many of us adopt a persona of sorts for different aspects of our lives, whether professionally, socially or intimately. Perhaps the engineering of good evolution of the human mind and conscience to survive in a world where spears and hunting prey have become obsolete, and we find ourselves most vulnerable when interacting with other beings of the same species and not beats on the open plain.

So many facets maketh the modern man, in particular those of us gifted with the added complication and in my eyes gift of homosexuality. Sure, in yesteryears the need to evolve and fit in was paramount on our necessities as to not stand out and openly be different was to make one’s self open to ridicule both outside of, and within the GLBT Community. With all this apparent confusion and natural disinterest in playing into stereotypes and presenting one’s true self as a smorgas board of personas theoretically, speaking leads me to questioning the USA’s border control.

On my arrival in Los Angeles a month ago (my 2nd trip to the USA), I was asked as to my sexual preference as well as the purpose of my trip. Along with this bizarre interest in my sexuality, the address of where I stayed in the USA was also questioned along with the host’s sexual preference. As a matter of home land security I understand the protocol and necessity to document the flow of foreigners coming to and from a country, particularly one as notorious as the USA, with its endless list of enemies which only seems to grow as Bush ignorantly invades countries under the veil of liberation, with the truth being shone true force feeding a nation his form of democracy (dictatorship in many eyes). But seriously? My sexuality? Are homosexual’s at such an injunctive majority in the American psyche that sexual preference is a routine and mandatory interrogation when entering there land?

As it seemed apparent, my new electronically readable passport, return business class air ticket, goodwill and pocket full of dirty green dollar bills was not enough to assure the border control that I was just embarking on a vacation, which evidently mainly involved sitting round a pool in Hollywood smoking the odd joint and drinking Margaritas with girlfriends. Welcome to LAX the twanged voice announced as I stumbled slowing waking form a slumber induced by Xanax and terrible Californian Chardonnay, over sized Prada specs, sipping on Evian water I tactfully snatched form the 1st Class Cabin as I disembarked from the ailing 1970’s Boeing 747-400 which United Airlines still consider safe to operate on Long Haul Flights.

Once my sexuality had been established, I was ordered to place my right index finger onto an infrared screen and systematically had my fingerprints read along with an instantaneous digital photo which I am sure was quickly attached digitally to any data or past travel along with any other information gathered throughout Interpol, or electoral roles anywhere in the world; I had in a matter of seconds become a package, a liability, a possible disruption to the peace, a number, a disposable unit.

As a play on the acronym LAX suggests, I seemed to fall only short of a full cavity search, let me just say then at least I would have walked into the warm summer’s day with a smile upon my face. One can only wish…lol; the world is an amazingly bizarre place.

Wilhelm A P Booyse