Emily Dickinson`s Poetry Speaks to the Queer Community in 2013!

 Dickinson`s poem “I died for Beauty-“speaks to her readers of the queer and LGBTQ community by creating a scene for her audience that paints the picture of forbidden love.

Rainbow Flag - Represents the general LGBTQ community

I Died For Beauty—But Was Scarce

Emily Dickinson

 
I died for Beauty—but was scarce
Adjusted in the Tomb
When One who died for Truth, was lain
In an adjoining room—

He questioned softly ``Why I failed?''
``For Beauty,'' I replied—
``And I—for Truth—Themself are One—
We Brethren, are,'' He said—

And so, as Kinsmen, met a Night—
We talked between the rooms—
Until the moss had reached our lips—
And covered up—our names—

       In this poem, Dickinson focuses on what it means to be an “other” in society by addressing the hardships of being a homosexual. This poem is one that touches on the meaning of queer, a term that is most popular in today’s culture, and the social hardships that come along with it! Check out the many meanings of the term queer here! 

       To queer literature, the author brings forward issues that are seen as uncanning. Dickinson uses the element of the uncanning in her poem, “I Died For Beauty”, by expressing the forbidden love between two individuals, perhaps men. This poem challenges the hetero-normative belief that is present in our culture, that a man and a woman joined together is the only acceptable form of a relationship and marriage. By Dickinson writing literature that focused on the queer elements of life in the 19^th century, it exposes how this modern idea of “queer” is a term that has really been addressed much longer then people

wish to believe; it is not a concept that is only relevant in the 21^st century! In Dickinson`s time, her poems were a way that one could express thoughts and beliefs that blurred the lines of reality and challenged authority. Her words such as, “Why I failed”, show how the use of language allowed for her to represent distress, love, horror, and whatever emotions that she felt needed to be expressed to her audience. Today, in a new time period, centuries later, the world is still adjusting to the idea of queer. Just as in Dickinson`s time, our culture still is centered around the idea that the best form of family is a nuclear family: one that is made up of a husband and wife, a man and a woman. In today`s society, people are blessed with the right to express their own beliefs in forms other than literature. There are speeches, marches, films, art, and even parades as forms of opportunities for people who wish to celebrate their individuality or show support and advocate for others that challenge the norm! Dickinson`s work shows our culture that to be queer or different is okay and to challenge or “die for” “beauty” or “truth” is not something to be ashamed of, but something that should be expressed! 

Ways that our culture is representing change! 

The mission of the LGBTQ community- “The mission of the ACLU LGBT Project is the creation of a society in which lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people enjoy the constitutional rights of equality, privacy and personal autonomy, and freedom of expression and association”. 

 Currentcourt cases-  Windsor v. United States: Edie Windsor Challenges DOMA.- A case where two women who have shared their lives together for over 40 years only wish is to receive the same rights as  heterosexual couples in a time of death. 

 Support groups-  GLBT Advocacy & Youth Services, Inc.- “Our Mission is dedicated to engaging in effective advocacy for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered people. We are committed to ensuring the physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being of youth and young adults struggling due to sexual orientation or gender identity issues”. 

 Gay pride events- “Pride week NYC”