I just posted this in a GLBTQ group thread, but I wanted to repost it here. I got a little riled up.
"This is off topic, I am sorry, but since we keep coming back to "promiscuous bi chics give US a bad name" I think it needs to be covered here:
There are two primary approaches to the political struggles of the gay liberation movement.
1.
"We're the same as you (almost exactly)!" SPOILERS! (Click to view)This is "I'm not a scary homosexual! My relationship is stable and so are my kids, I go bowling on Saturdays and live the American Dream. Give my partner health insurance." This is a great argument for many and has been seen as the best way to gain equal rights for quite some time. I stood by this argument fervently till about half way through college. Unfortunately, as the community has grown and gained initials over the years (From GL to GLB...T....I...Q) this approach leaves more and more people on the fringes.
2. "I'm really different from you, and I still deserve the rights you have."
SPOILERS! (Click to view) This argument says there's nothing wrong with different. I had a friend in college who's partner was on T, but had stopped binding hir breasts (I learned third gendered pronouns that year). You saw a beard and large breasts and someone who clearly didn't fit in the dominant paradigm. Ze and my friend (who was a FTM transman) could be seen as occupying the more radical fringe, the same one that holds a host of gender and sexual expression that can be seen as scary, confusing, or threatening to those outside the community.
Worst of all, my friends did NOT support marriage rights (they were the "abolish marriage entirely as a legal contract" types). Wow, what do we do with them?
The politically minded queer pushing for marriage rights and legal protections are encouraged to hide our movement's least normalized fringes (the polyamorous types, drag queens, etc.) in an attempt to gain the most right for the greatest number. This group's umbrella is enormous and there are SO many to fight for, so go for it. Just realize that there are those in the group who deserve the same tolerance and acceptance from the gay community that the gay community rightfully demands from the world.
To get more information on this, I highly suggest reading "The Trouble with Normal: Sex, Politics, and the Ethics of Queer Life" by Michael Warner.
Ok, done now." 
And now for something completely different...
Anybody know how to make a simple set of collapsible early 18th century paniers? If not make, where I can buy a pair?
Costume design was never my strong suit. 
And brilliant article (commentary?), you did well writing it =)