Centering and De-Centering

 I recently saw yet another “social justice” phrase that jarred me. It’s something I’ve seen before. Yet I’m disheartened and nervous to see it closer to home. 

It’s the concept of “centering marginalized voices.” I know the framework it comes from. It assumes that white, heterosexual men are the center of society. They didn’t choose it, but they’re “centered,” and therefore must “decenter” themselves. 

It’s part of an ideology. It’s not the incontrovertible truth. Ideally everyone should be at the “center” of their own lives. 

“We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men (and women) are created equal.” Regardless of what this phrase might have  used to mean, “self-evident” tells me it’s something that comes from God, and not other people. By nature and through a plethora of frameworks and belief systems, we help each other on the path and treat people with respect and as individuals. But “self-evident,” tells me that I don’t need to be “less” of anything or “de-center” myself in order for someone else to be valid and “equal.” 

Speaking of “marginalized,” I don’t count. They want representation. I’m a gay dude, yet I’m not lauded. I’m not held up as a heroic figure. I thought being gay was the only qualification, being a special “marginalized” identity. They keep harping on about identity markers and I’m RIGHT HERE! But I also understand that I don’t have the right politics. I’m not the right kind of activist. I don’t have the correct “gay” views of the Church, its leaders, its members and its core doctrines about marriage, sexual morality and family. 

I don’t feel marginalized in the Church. I feel marginalized in the LGBT community. I feel marginalized in this world. But if I don’t feel marginalized, then of course that must mean that I’m part of the “majority” that needs to yield their invisible microphone, right??? 

It’s not like I never experience jealousy or anger (good heavens, that’s something that rages in me when I least expect it or want it) that I don’t have the platform I perceive some others do. I could raise my voice. I could write a book or put myself more out there. But I also need to be true to myself as well. I don’t feel like it’s right for me to do it merely out of competition or jealousy. Those who seemingly have the microphone don’t represent me. I have some ideas that I feel are different, yet not representative of “the LGBT community” as a whole. 

So yeah. I don’t resonate with the “marginalized” vs “majority” narrative. And when it comes to empathy, I don’t believe it’s strictly a “majority” responsibility. And it’s also something I’m going to have to rely on God for. It’s not going to happen based on what society expects of me.