Being part of the Queer Mafia

In an economy like ours the biggest names might fall, but the small ones already did. What will we try to survive? In my opinion, and in my situation basically anything that might help. In the wars of antiquity the strongest survive and in Darwin’s theories also, but in our time the most innovative might survive. From time to time I take a look at Facebook’s “Jobs for Gay South Africa” @ http://www.facebook.com/groups/34541434361/
Just to see whether things are looking better or not and every time I see the same gloomy picture; there are many guys and girls advertizing their services for any kind of job, but hardly someone that is hiring. Some of us are lucky enough to have a job, but most of them know how easy they could lose it. Some of us are in business for ourselves and we know that every deal we strike is a gracious gift not to be taken for granted. Others are looking for a job and many of them damn good workers.
The fact that you are gay might make you part of the group who was discriminated against in the past, but it definitely doesn’t make you part of the privileged of affirmative action. Being male, white and gay is being part of a group who somehow always manage to make the list of the underdogs. Your situation might be better in theory in that’s about it.
The situation might be worse in the South African economy, but it is hardly unique. The world is struggling and it doesn’t seem that we are close to a turning point either. What a gloomy picture to begin you week with?
In times like this I still appreciate the fact that I am part of the Queer Mafia of this world. If you haven’t discovered the power of this army yet, you are really missing out on a great family benefit. Don’t get me wrong, being part of the Queerbosschony Family isn’t only about benefits; like all families it has its fights, feuds and quarrels, but the benefits make it worth while. I wish I had the means to help more members of our family, but in these tough times I just can’t afford it.
I do however feel that some of our privileged members might have forgotten their own struggling times when they also needed the help of the family. I see many rich, richer and richest queers who somehow became part of the straight community. Almost like the pigs in Animal Farm they are not part of the animals anymore and they pretend to walk up straight just like the pigs did. Even though I am struggling to stay afloat, I am in a much better position than many of the members of our family and yet I do not forget the help I have received from the family. Maybe it is something you forget when you are totally out of the red.
The facebook page I have mentioned above is a very good start, but unfortunately it remains a place where our brothers and sisters cry for help while it seems that nobody is listening. Can’t we try to make a better effort in helping one another? After all, we are the only family most of us have. I have been in the helping business for most of my life and I know there are people who just can’t appreciate help. I know that many beggars can’t do anything else than begging or rather do not want to do anything else than begging. I know the type who walks around with their umbilical cord in the hand; just searching for a place to plug it in. I know how many people are like that and yet, I do believe we need to help each other more than we are currently doing.
Personally I have felt the help of the family in many ways and I can’t tell you what a blessing it has been in my life, but I do believe we should look for better ways to help each other. I need the community constantly and I know I am not the only one. I do however know that many of our brothers and sisters also need help and somehow we aren’t there for them. Please, I am not only talking about financial handouts; in fact I do not believe that those have ever helped anybody. I am talking about another side of getting out of the closet; being open about what I am makes it easier for those who are struggling to contact me if I can help in any way. If you are not prepared to help anybody, I would also like to know who you are; someday you will discover how shortsighted that attitude can be.

This week’s Cobrabite
By Dr. Brand Doubell

Dr. Brand Doubell

Cobragay