The blurred line between homophobic women and gay men who fight women
The Spirit Airlines fight that leaves me wondering which side I’m on
Imagine being at an airport fresh off COVID-19 restrictions to look over and see a Hispanic woman referring to a black gay man as a “faggot,” “fat” and a “nigger.” Shortly after, she hit him. The Spirit Airlines worker, a man, chases her and hits her back. Travel is stressful enough. Nobody needs all these extra antics at the airport.
I watched video footage of this real-life incident multiple times, trying to figure out what could possibly be this deep. The Independent reports that the altercation started because of plane seat arrangements — or lack thereof. She claimed to have no seat. The airline employee (mentioned above) asked her to get in the queue so she could speak with a gate agent. She refused to wait and allegedly cut the line. The police said there was an additional issue with him trying to get access to her boarding pass. Havoc ensued.
Recommended Read: “No, I’m not obligated to switch plane seats ~ The awkward plane experience that made me refuse to switch seats again”
As a woman, I cringe at any man going after a woman like that. But as a black woman, I have a problem with a non-black woman pulling out the racial slurs and homophobic slurs the millisecond she’s upset with a black man. I cannot decide whose side I’m on. But I can think of a personal experience that left me equally jaded.
The el train ride that became a screaming match
I was headed to work in the morning, and the train platform was crowded. If you’re a Chicagoan who rides el trains regularly, you know sometimes you have to get in where you fit in — like sardines. The el train door opened, and a light-skinned black person pushed me out of the way to get onto the train first. My first reaction was astonishment because I couldn’t believe this person had the audacity to do such a thing just to get on the train. So I shoved this person right back and sat down.
The assaulter wore a blonde wig. Skirt. Fitted top. Dressed in women’s clothing. But looking closer at the slight facial hair and facial structure, I knew this was a biological man. He flopped down next to me and called me a “bitch” for shoving him. I pointed out he shoved me first, and it was completely uncalled for to do all that to get on the train.
This person proceeded to call me all kinds of “bitches,” “hos” and hiss, “That’s why you smell like period blood.”
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I raised an eyebrow. I have a lot to learn about the LGBTQ+ community, but that insult was the kind of thing I’d expect from elementary-school aged boys. Some men love to use menstrual cycles as this bizarre weapon of choice. I smirked and said, “I’m actually not on my period. But are you mad because you never will be?”
Immediately his eyes widened. Some onlookers may believe my clapback was homophobic. But I viewed his initial comment as extremely sexist. Don’t poke me, and I won’t poke you.