Signaling

[cjsmith]

This morning I was thinking we need a way to signal straight.

Let's say I'm wanting to flirt with a chick. Let's say I don't know whether she's straight or not, and she doesn't know whether I am either. And it's way too early in this tentative teeny tiny flirtation here for the soul-searing horror of having to BRING IT UP IN CONVERSATION. That might let her know what I'm thinkin', see, and that's scary.

So I can signal not-straight. I can wear rainbow stuff, or triangles (how outdated!), or a number of other things. Some have the added advantage that few non-queer-friendly folk get the message. It's like a secret code. And with every single one of 'em I can deny that I made a point of sending the message at all. Oh, no, I always wear my Michfest T-shirt on odd-numbered Tuesdays.

If I'm in luck, and she's not only not-straight but might be interested, my hypothetical cute gal can signal back. But she doesn't have any code she can send back, subtly, without loss of face on either side, to say she's straight. She can oh-so-casually mention a current or previous boyfriend, but that's awkward -- it commits the sin of bringing the subject closer to ACTUAL CONVERSATION, which as noted before is verboten this early in the game. Plus it does not successfully signal not-bi.

I suggest pinstripes.

Comments

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

I've done that same kind of dumb. All the little assumptions can bite ya in the butt sometimes. I may not be straight but there are other reasons I'm not about to build a relationship with, say, the cute redhead in the lesbian dance club in Boston.

Tattoos. We need forehead tattoos. Here's mine. "I live in California and am in a committed relationship with a man; I am also bi; I like to dance and I think you are hot. Any questions?" :-)

[genderfur.livejournal.com]

Now, see, here you're getting into the realm of those bumper stickers where the type is sooooo tiny that you have to get reeeeeeally close to read the witty phrase. And then, of course, you rear-end it.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

A gorgeous woman has to get reeeeeeeally close to read what's on my forehead... and then she bumps into me...

Oh *darn*!