Project Queer

ASK: What’s the story about Dan Savage? (I made this response post re-bloggable for those who requested it).

(TRIGGER WARNING: discussion of cissexism, cissexist language/slurs, suicide (it gets better campaign), rape apologism, victim-blaming, body-shaming, slut-shaming)

Oh where to start with Dan Savage…

Anon, I live in Seattle. Dan Savage writes for a local publication here called the Stranger. Seattle seems to have a love-hate relationship with it. I personally, (as a journalism/news media snob) would never read it.

Savage is a gay married man. He is somewhat of a celebrity in the gay community. I say gay instead of queer because he does not always acknowledge all facets of our community.

He and his husband started the It Gets Better project, which has helped many queer youth swerve away from the suicidal path.

So he has done some really awesome things. Personally, as a journalist, I do not think that his articles are as awesome as people seem to think. He is harsh and rude for no reason. He crosses the line between forceful opinionated journalism, and mirrors the conservatives he so publicly loathes in his close minded opinions and unwillingness to hear multiple sides of a story that challenges his almighty opinion.

Oh and my favorite thing about Dan Savage is he tends to sway on the side of “they asked for it” when it comes to rape victims and slut shaming. Just the topper on the cake.

Again, these are all my personal opinions. For all of Savage’s links here are his column links.

Love,

Scrappy (blogger/PQ guest writer)

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I agree with Scrappy on this topic, anon. While Dan Savage has done AMAZING things for the gay and lesbian community, he DOES exclude or outright INSULT many minorities within the queer community - namely bisexuals, pansexuals, and those in the trans* community.

Sources for these accusations are located here:

http://masculinetoast.tumblr.com/post/1260470380/dan-savage-and-transphobia

http://transgriot.blogspot.com/2010/03/dan-savages-transphobic-azz-strikes.html

http://hopelessly-romantic-cynic.tumblr.com/post/3213015682/genderbitch-deweyxdecimate-spectrumnaut

http://gretachristina.typepad.com/greta_christinas_weblog/2009/04/an-actual-lesbian-girlfriend.html

http://blogs.bluebec.com/dan-savage-is-still-biphobic/

He HAS also been accused (a number of times) for being a rape apologist, slut-shamer, AND racist.

Sources for these accusations follow:

http://transgriot.blogspot.com/2009/09/dan-savage-racism-has-its-rewards.html

http://transgriot.blogspot.com/2009/09/dan-savage-chill-with-your-race-baiting.html

http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/SavageLove?oid=40108

http://www.womanist-musings.com/2009/04/saying-im-sorry-wont-kill-you-dan.html

https://kvetchingyenta.wordpress.com/2011/06/30/dan-savage-thinks-that-feminism-destroyed-the-institution-of-marriage/

http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/my_walk_to_work

While I think that the It Gets Better Campaign is a well-meaning project, it DOES offer false hopes to some - especially if members of the community are excluded/ignored.

QueerWatch discusses this much further here: http://queerwatch.tumblr.com/post/1238368677/why-i-dont-like-dan-savages-it-gets-better

When these accusations are brought to his attention he either does not respond or reiterate the fact that most of his worst statements occurred a number of years ago. The problem is: IT IS A RE-OCCURRING ISSUE.

His most recent bout of news: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/02/dan-savage-glitterbombed-oregon-transphobia-_n_1071627.html

And, lastly… if anyone is interested, there is also a tumblr just for Dan Savage regarding all the aforementioned topics: http://fucknodansavage.tumblr.com/

I hope that answers your question, anon. Good day to you. <3

Sincerely,

Riley (PQ creator/editor)

P.S. If you would like to see videos of Dan Savage actually SAYING these things, simply type things like ‘Dan Savage biphobia’, ‘Dan Savage cissexism’, etc. into youtube’s search engine.

The resources are endless really…