Attention, white people, hetero-normatives, cis-gender friends, manspreaders, monogamy apostles, abled-bodies, and anyone else who is super comfortable in your undisputed roles in the regular everyday world,

Move over.  Make room.

Why yes, I am cis-gendered, white presenting, able-bodied, thin, and accepting of hetero privilege on many occasions.  I’ve made space.  I am constantly checking myself, moving aside, stepping back.

Are you?  Why not?

I am writing this specifically because I want to hold myself to a standard.  I have entertained enough of the (American) white cis-male experience, in literature, art, my personal time and energy.  I will no longer spend time or money on the unknowns-to-me-personally among these people (I’m bailing on a lot of the knowns-to-me-personally, as well; sad but necessary.).  I’m not doing this out of some misplaced rage, and in fact the only person I’m angry with is myself in this case, for the oversight thus far.  Instead, this is an effort to raise the voices, art, literature, time and effort of women, POC, non-binary, trans, GNC, and every other voice that has been so long silenced by the norms.  We call it “marginalized”.  I will happily step aside to move these folks front and center.

Won’t you?

I want to have new conversations about relationships.  The expansion of touch outside the limits of sex.  The ability of intimacy beyond our beds. The possibilities of love when it isn’t caged by monogamy.  I want you to know that whatever version of love you experience is correct, not to be ignored.  I want all the bi/pansexual kids out there to know they aren’t greedy:  they are the future.

I want to see brown women standing tall.  Instead of struggling to make a point or a dollar on social media, I want to see women of color in public, at weekend markets and county fairs.  I want to see white people face to face with the beauty of native endeavors.  The work itself thus expanding the worlds of others.  I want to see more pow-wows.  More celebrations between tribes.

I want more space for people who aren’t cis-gendered.  I want to see them thrive.  I am a cis-woman, but I do not doubt that gender will die.  Gender non-conformity is the future.

Also the future:  fatness and “other” bodies.  Different strengths.  Dangerous curves.  I will make all the space for bodies that don’t fit the traditional norms.  The gorgeous thighs that rub each other.  The rolls of fat and exuberant bosoms.  I want freedom for every fucking body.

Don’t you?