For Queer Mice
by BROWWWSER
Future Tense
ave you ever wondered what it will be like
for gays and lesbians in the future? Will we gain the right to marry? Will an AIDS
antidote be discovered? Will a gay gene be found, and if so can it be used against us?
Maybe the first couple to have sex in space will be gay. It's hard to imagine what queer
life will be like in the next century and beyond, but there are a few visionaries on the
web who are working today to build a better tomorrow for the whole "family". So
set your browsers on stun and follow me... if you dare.
One of the most visionary men
of this century was Gene Roddenberry, the creator of Star Trek. Before he died he
planned on an openly-gay character on The Next Generation series, but his producers
since then have created a future where gays and lesbians are nonexistent in the 24th
century. And that really pisses off the fans at the Gay &
Lesbian Star Trek/Sci Fi Home Page. This galaxy-size site at http://www.ccnet.com/gaytrek/ is the launching
pad of the USS Harvey Milk (the gay and lesbian Star Trek Association), the Voyager
Visibility Project (a group petitioning for a gay character on Voyager with support
from GLAAD), and Planet Stonewall (home of all LGBT science fiction fans). Exploring this
site may take hours but it's well worth it so beam over now. Roddenberry's dream of a
future where poverty, racism, sexism, and homophobia have disappeared hasn't materialized
yet, but sign their Voyager petition to help "make it so".
Maybe in the future the heteros and homos will fight a big war, and all the homos will
leave Earth and settle on a new planet ruled by the Big Queen. At least that's what Kyle
Tingley foresees in his totally queer cosmic comic, Fags in Space
at http://www.qworld.com/friends/fagsinspace/.
Animated GIFs abound at this festive site, so I hope you have a fast modem. Join our
heroes Steve and Ron and their pet Glob as they try to create a family in the future.
Unfortunately the goatee craze hasn't died out by then, but everything else is fabulous.
Replicate a bag of popcorn and sit back and watch the show. I hope you have a really
fast modem!
Star Trek isn't the only show with a bunch of crazy
queer fans. For starters, check out Harry's Sci Fi Page
at http://lambda.lambda.net/~harry/st/scifi.html
and his great Babylon 5 FAQ. Babylon 5 has had a major character in a
same-sex relationship and simply has same-sex couples walking together is the background,
something Star Trek has never done. Then visit Harry's gay page for a straight quiz
and an excellent starting guide for queer youth. For more sci fi links, try Scott Kitchen's Science Fiction Page at http://mars.superlink.net/skitchen/webpages/sf.html.
With fans like these, the future looks pretty bright.
If TV is a little too tame for you, try these two links. For the boys, the Men of
Antarctica are waiting for you at HazeMaster's Home Port
at http://home.navisoft.com/bbbmedia/.
Cruise the Altiverse full of horny aliens, heavy S&M, and lust and sex in each of the
thirty chapters (I read each one twice to make sure!). And for the girls, check out Patricia Ennis's Deep Space Nine Stories, where some of
the Star Trek: DS9 characters discover what the other side is really like! Be
prepared for explicit love scenes between women and some good fiction at http://members.aol.com/Jadzia7627/DS9Stories/ds9.htm.
Hop over to these pages immediately. Resistance is futile!
Other queers concerned about
our future are the Gaylaxians at the Gaylactic Network
at http://www.gaylaxians.org/GNetwork/index.html.
This site welcomes any LGBTs and friends interested in science fiction, fantasy, and
horror. Find an affiliate near you, see how to join, and check for upcoming sci fi
conventions. If you're having a hard time finding queer-themed stories, visit Mary Anne's
comprehensive Alternative Sexualities in Fantasy and SF Booklist
at http://www.iam.com/maryanne/balist.html.
This growing list includes criticisms, magazine stories, anthologies, and books from
Richard Adams to Roger Zelazny. Bookmark these sites!
If you're concerned about your immediate future, why not read your horoscope at Stargayzer? C. Lichtenstein shows you your monthly horoscope,
describes the gay love signs, explains ascendants, and gives an astrological
interpretation of the Stonewall Riots at http://www.AccessNewAge.com/Stargayzer/.
Whether you're a proud Aries or a flighty Pisces, your future is in good hands.
Queers have always liked science fiction, maybe to escape the harsh world of the
present and dream of a future without prejudice and hatred. But by fantasizing about the
future we're helping it become a reality. May the Force be with us!
