In this paper, I will explore the idea that sustaining each other during times of systemic neglect can serve as the foundation for building a moral queer community. To begin with, it is important to understand what systemic neglect means in relation to queer communities. Systemic neglect refers to the ways in which institutions such as governments, schools, workplaces, and even families fail to provide adequate support and resources to queer individuals. This often results in marginalization, discrimination, and disenfranchisement. It also leads to isolation, which can be especially harmful for those who are already vulnerable due to their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Within these same systems, there are pockets of resistance and resilience, where queer people come together to create networks of care and mutual aid. Through sustained engagement with one another, they develop a sense of belonging and solidarity that transcends individual experiences and challenges the status quo.
As an example, consider the case of LGBTQ+ refugee communities. Many queer people fleeing persecution in their home countries find themselves in situations where they must rely heavily on each other for survival. They form tight-knit networks that provide emotional support, material assistance, and safety from hostile forces outside their group. These networks may not always be perfect, but they offer a powerful alternative to mainstream societies that reject them. By coming together in this way, they build a moral community based on shared values and practices.
Sustaining each other in the face of systemic neglect is also important for queer people who live in more liberal societies.
Many LGBTQ+ activists have organized around issues like housing insecurity, healthcare access, and racial justice. In doing so, they challenge the dominant narratives that cast them as selfish or irresponsible. Instead, they demonstrate the ways in which their struggles are interconnected and collective. This kind of work requires a commitment to listening to each other's experiences and supporting each other's needs. It also requires critical reflection on the structures that marginalize us and how we can work towards dismantling them.
Building a moral queer community through sustainable engagement means acknowledging that no one person can do it alone. We need to come together to share our stories, resources, and strategies. We need to listen to each other's perspectives and priorities. And we need to hold ourselves accountable when we fall short. By doing so, we create spaces where we can truly thrive and resist oppression together.
Can the act of sustaining one another amid systemic neglect be the foundation of a queer moral community?
The concept of "queer" is often used as an umbrella term for people who identify with various non-heterosexual sexual orientations or gender identities, including but not limited to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and asexual individuals. In terms of creating a moral community within this group, it can be argued that collectively caring for each other and supporting one another through difficult times could serve as a powerful foundation.