I started Weird Pride Day in 2021, but the roots of pride as a political tool go back through decades of the LGBTQ liberation movement, to Black power in the 1960s. Weird Pride in particular is a concept that many people, from a variety of backgrounds, have arrived at independently.
Weird Pride Day is not intended as a specifically queer celebration (part of the reason it’s not in the summer) – although I’ve always appreciated that the literal sense of ‘queer’ means much the same thing as ‘weird’. My queerness would make me weird, even if nothing else did.
“There are a lot of reasons why I like the word ‘queer’, and a lot of reasons why some people don’t. One reason for both is that in a literal sense, ‘queer’ just means ‘weird’. Not everyone who isn’t straight and cisgender is weird in any other sense — but, well, many of us are.” I mean this.
We’re here. We’re weird. Get used to it.
I don’t think it’s possible (or desirable) to disentangle queerness from neurodivergence entirely. As Nick Walker puts it, “heteronormativity and neurotypicality are inextricably entwined with one another, and to queer one is inevitably to queer the other to some degree”.
The whole idea of ‘normal’, as applied to humans, is arguably oppressive – to many, many more people than the groups I’ve already mentioned. It’s a kind of a societal straitjacket. Somebody’s idea of how people *should* be, given who they are. #WeirdPride rejects all that.
Inevitably, ideas of what is ‘normal’ for different groups of people is determined disproportionately by the most powerful in society – and to some extent, by the most powerful *societies*. Academics in rich countries have a lot to answer for in imposing their norms.
I have avoided writing too much about the important intersections between race, culture, religion and migrant status with perceived weirdness (because I’m white, I’m non-religious in a pretty secular country, and the closest I’ve come to immigrant experience is moving from England to Scotland).
I did write a longish piece about weirdness and magic, though, which touches on religion in places. Magic is another idea that weirdness is inextricably bound up with, and always has been. I find that fascinating, and writing this piece took me to some quite surprising places.
As long as we keep lionising the idea of ‘normality’, anyone who doesn’t fit that imagined idea is going to be pushed to hide parts of themselves – valuable, interesting parts! We need to teach kids and adults to accept the things that make themselves (and others) different.
I want to give a shout out here to Tony Weaver, Jr., whose book Weirdo is one of my favourite #WeirdPride themed books so far – although there are many out there, not that many tackle it so directly, or quite so beautifully – and who also started Weird Enough Productions.
Anyway – it’s a week and a day until this year’s Weird Pride Day, which will be the last Weird Pride Pancake Day until 2087! I’m always excited about other people organising things, like @stimpunks.org‘s online events. I’d love to see more! Here is what’s happening so far…
Aside from organised things, the world at large has a standing invitation to write, make videos, dance or sing about what makes them weird, and how they learned to accept it, for Weird Pride Day (the 4th of March). Or whenever they like. In case you missed the point, I’m not telling you what to do!
Oh… and I’m quite enjoying the Weird Pride feed, year-round! Feel free to add relevant things to it yourself with #WeirdPride.
I probably should have mentioned my mum, Dinah Murray, somewhere in this. She’s a big part of the reason why Weird Pride Day exists, and a huge part of the reason I was never ashamed of my weirdness, growing up.
The other thing I should probably have mentioned is this event with Robin Ince, Josie Long, Kate Fox and me! It’s pretty exciting.
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