Ugh. So in West Coast Swing, one of the big things is to compete in what they call "Jack and Jills", where everybody enters, then you pull a partner and have to dance to whatever song the DJ plays. And if you win you get points, and there are different levels based on how many points you have. But currently, in most competitions, boys have to lead and girls have to follow, and you can't do the opposite. So some people are just screwed and can't compete (because they are girls who only lead or boys who only follow) or they're just stuck in one side that may not be their favorite. There's a dude in Portland who is a REALLY good dancer--he's rocketing his way up the categories as a lead, but he's an even better follow. And he's started a whole movement to get people to allow gender-neutral Jack and Jills. And dear god, the amount of "but it's not RIGHT" and "there's a sexual component you take away when you do that!" and so on is just exhausting and depressing. Like, it's OK for a 50 year old man to dance with a 13 year old girl, in these comps, but god forbid I dance with my girlfriend because it's not sexual enough???
It's just one more depressing reminder that there are TONS of people out there who probably think they aren't homophobic (or racist, or sexist, or) and yes so, so are. Ugh.
"there's a sexual component you take away when you do that!
So let me see if I understand this correctly, this mean than women dancing together, or men dancing together doesn't have a sexual component. Yeah, I don't get that reasoning at all.
I am clearly defined as a heterosexual woman, but I have seen women or men dancing together and thought it was damn sexy. Heck, I have seen plenty of solo dancing that was sexy.
Short version, they are being ridiculous.
That's a bummer, meara.
It is a little unseemly how much I am looking forward to taking the morning off tomorrow. I have a doctor's appointment at, like, 8 am the next town over so it's not like I will be sleeping in and lazing about, but still, not going to be at work. And I am determined to take myself out to lunch, maybe at that place that makes duck the way I like it (the way I like it best, I should probably say, I don't know if I've tried duck and not liked it).
But wait, meara, you're not saying a man could be surprised with a male partner???? Wouldn't that mean they have to have sex after?!?!?!?!??!?!
Yeah, ugh.
Big fat no to serving me John Mayer on my Janelle Monae station, Pandora!
I have spoken these EXACT same words in this EXACT same order.
But wait, meara, you're not saying a man could be surprised with a male partner???? Wouldn't that mean they have to have sex after?!?!?!?!??!?!
Hah! Well that would be one way to cut down on the number of people entering the contests--"you must have sex with the partner you draw, after the dance"!
I can neither confirm nor deny that I had that policy in college.
Well that would be one way to cut down on the number of people entering the contests--"you must have sex with the partner you draw, after the dance"!
Or could increase the number of entrees. No way to know for sure without trying.
I wonder if I've dodged jury duty this long because I just never ever register when I move states, or whatever it is you do when you move. Knock on wood, I'll be called next week, the way my Murphy's Law has been working lately. (Kudzu? Thank goodness we ain't got not kudzu here!) I'm still waiting for my "no evidence of deer on the property" to bite me in the ass.
