Queer

'Queer' is a contested term. For some of us, it's the abuse that got hurled at us; for others it's a term we've reclaimed; for many of us, it's the word that better describes us outside of the binaries of male vs female, straight vs homo. We're not pretending everyone likes it - but given the history and politics of The Love Tank, and the people we work alongside, it's the right word for us.

Within queer we include the trans; the non-binary; the lesbians; the bisexuals; the gays; the intersex; the notorious homosexualists; the librarians; the muscle Marys; the skinnies; the fatties; the shorts; the talls; the butches; the camps; the femmes; the fairies; the fags; the shaved; the furry; the inked; the weird; the wonderful; the experimenters; the want-to-experimenters; the folks in the closet; the screamers; the married; the sluts; the hookers; the virgins; the given-it-all-up-with-tea-on-the-sofas; the leather queens; the dykes-on-bykes; the vegans in fake furs; the asexuals; the polys; the monogamous; the thruples; the extended families; the parents; the guardians (but probably not the Daily Mailers); the sober; the addicts; the 12-steppers; the harm-reductionists; the clubbers; the gamers; the scene-queens; the cruisers; the cottagers; the picnicers; the Doc Martin wearers; the sensible footwearers; the knitters; the readers; the DJers; the tree planters; the Travellers; the Boaters; the Gypsies; the migrants; the refugees; the people of colour; the differently sized; the differently abled; the oldies; the new generations; the coming-out later in lifers; the cross-dressers; the drag queens; the people with HIV; the PrEP users; the condom lovers; the survivors; the fighters; the anti-racists; the anti-fascists; the activists; the carers; the stand-up and give-a-fuckers.

 

Health

Many of the narratives around queer health relate to biomedical interventions: testing, probing, prodding, diagnosing us, treating us, pathologising us and our bodies. Given the history and politics of The Love Tank, and the people we work alongside, 'health' means way more to us than the absence of disease. Health - and actions to enable us to be healthier - includes making our worlds safer and more nurturing; making sure we can live and thrive without fear of discrimination and harm; ensuring our streets, 'hoods and our planet aren't polluted; fighting against poverty, inequalities and hatred; and building services and resources by us and for us.

Health is not-doing-what-we're-told; vaccining; screening; testing; building knowledge; creating change; taking to the streets; walking in the hills; mincing in the park; sitting down; standing up; (not taking it) lying down; catching up on sleep; hydrating; moisturising; bathing; yogaing; showering (in love); making out; making love; making joy; holding hands; consent; shagging; saying no; creating mutual aid; building community; voting; cycling; recycling; carbon neutralising; sipping tea; slugging beers; dancing-all-night; getting sweaty; swimming; eating for the heck of it; baking bread; collecting seeds; rocking-the-boat; catching a movie; volunteering; holding hands; mutual massage; meditation; masturbation; mutual meditative masturbation; therapy; screaming; grieving; developing policy; researching; getting a check up; checking out; did someone say moisturising?; taking your meds; stroking a cat; petting a dog; checking in on our elders, our youngers, each other; building friendship; letting go; taking control; learning from our lessons; writing; singing; laughing; crying; crying into a pillow; biting into a pillow; marching; demonstrating; saying - never again (never again); holding to account; raging against the night; being angry; smoothing it all out; soothing voices; calming words; and doing it all over again.