Gayuniversalism,homoracialismandmarriageforall

byHouriaBouteldja
Ivelearnedmylesson.AndIthinkIfinallyunderstand.Itwouldseemthatwordsareimportant.SoherearethewordsIsaidaboutgay
marriageonthesetofCesoiroujamaison6November2012.
IdonthaveanopinionaboutthelegitimacyofhomodemandsbutIdohaveanopinionabouttheuniversalityofthedemandfora
homosexualidentity.Iwilltellyoustraightup,thisdebatedoesntconcernme.Itdoesntconcernmebecausemywordsareparticularand
theyaresituated.AcertainnumberofpositionsareexpressedonthissetandinFrancewhenthisissueisdiscussed:youreeitheronthe
rightorontheleft,progressiveorreactionary.Idontfitwithinthatframeatall.Iamoutsideofallofthatbecausemywordsaresituated
somewhereelsepolitically.Iamsituatedinthehistoryofpostcolonialimmigrationandintheworkingclassneighborhoods.IfIamasked
aboutthisissuewhereIam,becauseIdonothaveauniversalpointofviewwhereIam,Isaythatthisquestiondoesnotconcernme.
BecauseifyoutakeamicrophoneandgointotheseneighborhoodsLeMirailinToulouse,theMasduTaureauinLyon,LeLuthin
Gennevilliersandaskpeopleabouttheirproblems,thespontaneousanswerswillbeabouthousing,policeharassment,ordiscrimination,
unemployment,abunchofquestionsrelatedtoeverydaylifeIbetgaymarriagewontcomeup.Thatdoesntmeantherearentgay
practicesintheseneighborhoods,itmeansitsnotapriorityissueandthatpeoplearedealingwiththingsthataremoreimportantandurgent.
Secondly,Idontbelieveintheuniversalityofthehomosexualpoliticalidentity.Inotherwords,Imakethedistinctionbetweenthefactthat
theremaywellbehomosexualpracticesintheseneighborhoodsorelsewherebuttheydontinvolveademandforapoliticalidentity.Sucha
demandisnotuniversal.AndthatswhatImsortofcriticizingabouttheFrenchpoliticaldebate,focusedonthemajoritywithinthegay
community,thatswhatiscalledhomonationalismandwhatIprefertocallhomoracialism,inwhichbeinghomosexualmeanscomingout
andthedemandsthatgowithit.1
MystatementsweregenerallywellreceivedbynonWhitesbutdrewhostileandfairlydisdainfulandexplicitreactions,includingfrom
supposedWhiteallies.Icanunderstandthelackofunderstanding.IdidnothavelongtospeakandtheformatofaTVshowdoesnotallow
forindepthdevelopmentofanargument.ButdoadmirersofBourdieuandChomskyreallynotknowthat?Buttheotherthingisthatitis
rareforwhiteandassimilatedspacestobetrulyliberatedfromallformsofeurocentrism.Notjustanybodycanbeawhiterace
traitor.Thishonourhastobeearned.
WhenF.Taddinvitesmetospeakaboutgaymarriage,Ihesitatetoaccept.Itsadelicatesubject.Thereisabroadconsensusontheissue
amongourwhitealliesontheleft,butthatsfarfromthecaseamongtheindignes2,whetherorganizedornot.Theytypicallyhandlethe
issuewithrejectionorindifference.Asapoliticalactivisttryingtobuildsomething,Ifindmyselftakingrisksthatmaycostmedearly.But
canIaffordtorefusetheinvitation?No.
Theissuehasbeenbuildingsteamforthelastdecade.Theindignesaretakentotaskfortheirrealorsupposedhomophobia.Onthe
internationalstage,asexualcivilizationprojectistakingshape,promotedbyinternationalorganizationsindefenseofsexualminorities
undertheumbrellaofLGBTrights.Thereareplentyofexamples.TheInternationalDayAgainstHomophobiawasfoundedin2004.The
Dayschampion,LouisGeorgesTin,evenlaunchedacampaigntodecriminalizehomosexualitywiththesupportofRamaYade,thena
ministerintheSarkozygovernment.DuringtheCommonwealthsummitinOctober2011,BritishPrimeMinisterDavidCameronthreatened
todenyBritishaidtoanycountriesthatdontrecognizetherightsofhomosexuals.InNewYork,highrankingneoconservativestriedto
makethebuildingofthemosqueatGroundZeroconditionalupontheopeningofagaybarinordertotestthetoleranceofMuslims.In
2010,duringGayPrideinBerlin,famousAmericanintellectualJudithButlerherselfspokeoutagainstthexenophobicinstrumentalization
ofLGBTstruggles.Wearebeingconscriptedintoanationalistandmilitaristicfight.Thosewereherwords.Israelhascertainly
understoodthistacticofpinkwashing:overthelastfewyearsasithasgoneaboutbuildingamodern,gayfriendlyimagetoobscurethe
continuedviolationoftherightsofPalestinians.InFrance,werecentlywitnessedtheexaggeratedcelebrationoftheghettohomo3andof
acertainMuslimprogressivism.4Betteryet,MarineLePenrecentlyexpressedanunexpectedconcernforgaysintheneighborhoods.
Moreridiculousyet,on7May2011,theFrenchidentity(identitaire)movementputoutacallforakissininfrontofthemainmosquein
LyontofighthomophobiainIslamiccountriesandthehomophobiaofasmallminorityofMuslimsinFrance.Telling.
TocomebacktotheTVprogramthatlaunchedthisarticle,Iwasforcedtoweighin.Theissue,framedasmarriageforall,suggeststhe
entirepopulationmustengageinthislegislativeprojectandnotjustthegaycommunitiesoftheWhiteworld.
Forbetterorforworse,theindignesareapartofFrenchsociety.Ifthereispublicdebateaboutmarriageforallthensomeorganizations
canassumeitislegitimatetobreaktherelativesilencecoming,uptonow,fromimmigrantstrugglesandworkingclassneighborhoodson
thissubject.And,ofcourse,thatswhathappened!5Muslimorganizationsontherightofthespectrumandactivistssupposedlyontheleft
jumpedintothefray.Someansweredthecallofthecoalitionagainstmarriageforall,madeupofanumberofrightandfarright
organizations,todemonstrateonJanuary13.Itwasthisparadoxicalanddangerousconvergence,morethanthewrathofourwhitefriends,
thatpushedmetoreact.
AsIsaid,thegaymarriageissueisdelicateandwhenIaccepttogoontheprogram,evenwalkingoneggshells,IknowthatIwonthesitate
tosacrificeourwhitealliesandprettymuchallsupportamongthebroaderwhiteleftwhichhascommittedtothefightofthehomos.We
havetoknowhowtolosethewhitestemporarily,hopefullytowinthembackonabetterfooting,especiallyifweareinthisforthelong
haul.TheIndignesdelaRpubliquehaveneverhesitatedtotakethiskindofrisk.Intheend,thisexperienceisahealthyone.Whatismost
importanttomeiswhattheIndignesthink,andtheirdeepmotivations.Ifwedependtoomuchonourwhitefriendswewilldissolvefor
nogoodreasonintoanapoliticalstewinwhichpuristprinciplesaresetagainstanabstract,individualistandliberalhumanismwhichis
sometimesnave,ifnotsilly.
Thatsaid,Iamlyingabit.Asanactivist,Imustofcourseweightheconsequencesandthealternativesand,evenifIcantavoidsacrificing
theregardofthewhiteleft,itisstillimportantandwillnottotallydisappearfrommyradaraslongasbothsidescorrectlyidentifythe
mainenemy.Illcomebacktothis.
Homosexualityandindigeneityinwhitepolitics
Threeoptionsaregenerallyavailabletoimmigrantandworkingclassneighborhoodactivistswhenitcomestohomosexuality:
1Silence.Thisisthedominantattitude:asortofnonaggressionpactwiththeWhiteworldbasedonprudence?Anissuethatdoesnt
makesensetous?Indifference?Itislikelyacombinationofallthree.Afterall,theindignesdidnothaveasignificantpresenceinthe
movementsforgaymarriage.
2Abeliefinthesocalledrightwingpositionsaboutthefamilythatseemtobeexpressedmoreopenlyinthelastfewyears.Thispointis
mitigatedbythefactthatBlacks,ArabsandMuslimswerealsonotamajorpresenceinthevariousmovementsagainstgaymarriage,which
allowsmetosuggest,ontheonehand,thatthereisntmuchactiveandaggressivehomophobiaamongusand,andontheotherhand,that
panickedcallsamongsomeIndignesagainstmarriageforallclearlyoverestimatedopinionwithinthecommunity.Illcomebacktothis.
3Ahumanistand/orreligiouspositionthatcreatesapaternalisticrelationshipwithhomosexuals.TheyarecreaturesofGodsowemust
respectthemandnotdoviolencetothem(evenifreligiondisapprovesofhomosexuality)becauseonlyGodhasthepowertojudge.Thisis
thepositionthatwillcertainlybeseenasthemostprogressive.Itstheexpressionofcompromisebetweenthesupposedtolerancelimitof
Muslimsand/orpeoplelivingintheworkingclassneighborhoodsandthesexualdemocracyespousedwithmoreorlessconvictionamong
theLeft.
Resistancetohomosexualityasasocialandpoliticalidentity
Thereisafourthpossibility:thedecolonialposition.Theonethatdoesnotviewhomosexualsasbabyseals,aspeciesdeservingof
protectionorcontempt,butassocialsubjects.Itisapositionthatdevelopsapoliticalformulationfreeofapathologicalorpaternalistic
relationshipwithhomosexualitybutrefusestoalignitselfwiththewhiteagenda.Thisisfarfromhomophobia.Itisinfactitsopposite.This
positionishoweverdifferentfromtheWesterngaymovementinthesensethatitdeniespretentionstouniversalismandatransnationalgay
andlesbianpoliticalidentity.ItresituatestheFrenchorworldcolonialsubjectinitsownspacetime,whiletakingintoaccountintra
indigneresistanceinthecontextofaracialistand/orimperialistsociety.Forexample,thehistoryofsexualpracticesinIslamiclands,
includinghomoeroticism,wasdisplacedduringthelongcolonialnight.Theheterosexual/homosexualbinarywasnotonlyimposedin
placeswhereithadneverexisted,itwascrystalized:representationsdrivenbytheWestorientalismcreatedlastingframeswithinwhich
Arabintellectualswoulddebatesexuality.Throughasetofdiscourses,travelwriting,regulationsandlawsimposedbytheimperial
metropolesthathomosexualpracticesbecamedevalued,prohibited,turnedintovices,sins,sickness.Fromthebeginningofthe20
th
century,
nationalistthinkersconstantlyreflectedontheirownliterary,civilizationalandreligioustraditionsasamirrorimageoftheWestern
ideologyofprogress.Forthesethinkers,modernityfortheArabstatealsomeantsexualmodernity.Advancingtowardprogresstherefore
involvedcivilizingArabsexuality,makingheterosexualpracticestheonlylegitimateonesintheeyesoftheEuropeansthenormfor
theirsocieties.Bycontrast,theperiodsinArabhistoryknownfortolerancetowardhomosexualpracticeswererereadasperiodsofdecay
andregression6.
Nonetheless,premodernformsofhomoeroticismsurvivedandweremaintainedincomplexandreconstructedformsresistanttotheforms
imposedontheworldbytheuniversalizationofheteroandhomosexualnormsand,locally,homoracialism.Itisclearthattheinjunctionsof
thewhiteworldandthesymbolicandpoliticalviolencethatcomeswiththemproducehomophobia.Thepromotionofhomosexualityas
politicalidentityisdamagingasmuchtothelivedexperiencesofhomosexualswhoselivescanbeputindangerasitistosocialrelations,
particularlywhentheprotectionofsexualminoritiesbecomesaninternationalpoliticalandethicalimperativeagainstwhichthe
civilizationalmaturityofneocolonizednationsismeasured.Itistimethatweunderstood,onceandforall,thatimperialisminallitsforms
turnstheindigneintoasavage:thesocietiesoftheSouthrespondtothegayinternationalwithaburstofhatetowardhomosexualswhereit
didntotherwiseexistorwitharesurgenceofhomophobiawhereitdidonceexist.Justastheyrespondtoimperialistfeminismwitha
hardeningofpatriarchyandariseofviolenceagainstwomen,towhiteandhumanrightshumanismbyrejectingwhiteuniversalismandto
allformsinterferencecommittedbytheWestthatdontneedtobelistedherewithagrowinghostility.
Thatsalsowhytheworkingclassneighbourhoodsrespondtohomoracialismwithindentitarianmasculinismandevermore
homophobia.Asuglyasthosereactionsseem,theyhaveacommonmotivator:ardentresistancetowhiteWesternimperialismanda
stubborndesiretopreservearealorimaginedidentityaboutwhichthereisbroadconsensus.Forwhetherweidentifyashomoornot,
whetherweengageinhomoeroticpracticesornot,tobeacolonialsubjectmeansthatyouarealwaysdefinedagainstthemodel
immigrant.Whenitcomeshomosexualityinworkingclassneighbourhoodswemustavoidtheimpasseofdemandingassimilationinto
Westernsexualdemocracyandtheattendantreactionofvariousactorstothiscall.Inthisrespect,itisinterestingtoseehowthedefenders
ofauniversalhomosexualidentityimposetheframeofanalysisattheheartoftheircampaignstosavethehomosinworkingclass
neighbourhoods.InanarticlethatvirulentlydenouncedwhatIsaidontheTVprogramdiscussedabove,JohanCadirotheadofthe
Refuge,anassociationthathousesvictimsofhomophobiasaysthattherearenotfewerhomosintheseneighbourhoodsbutthatthey
aremorehiddenandindenial.7
ThegoalisthereforetoconvincenonWhitesthattheymustidentifyashomosexual.Thisisthechoiceofferedbyhegemonichomosexual
activism:prideorshame,comingoutorthecloset.Thisisnottoquestionthesincerityofpeoplewhocometotheaidofthepersecutedor
harmed.Buthellispavedwithgoodintentions.Inthisdiscourse,anyresistancetoLGBTidentitiesisseenasanefforttohideorcloset,if
notaslatentorexplicithomophobia.Howcanthisassimilationofsexualitiesheteroorhomo,hiddenorvisiblebejustified?
Verynumerousformsofsocialsexualrelationswerecorruptedbythecolonialfact.Theindignesoftheworldarefightingtoreconstruct
themandtorebuildthelinktothefragmentsofsocialhistoryandmemoriesatriskofdisappearing,notwithoutcertainambiguitiesandnot
withoutbeinginterlacedwiththewhiteheterosexualmodel.8Thisisalsotrueforreactionshostiletohomosexualityinworkingclass
neighbourhoods.Thereisnodoubtonthispoint:hostilereactionstohomosexuality,callstojoinhardrightorFrigideBarjotdemonstrations
arealsosignsofassimilationintotheWesternfamilyasdefinedwithintheFrenchnationalidentity.Inthishomophobiathereistherefore
bothintegrationandresistanceatthesametimeatoothlessresistancetoparaphraseAlbertMemmi,whowroteofthetoothlessracism
ofthecolonizedtowardthecolonizer.
Andsothestruggleagainstgayimperialismandhomoracialismcontainsbothastruggleagainsthomophobiaandastruggleagainstracism
andassimilationtothewhitenormsofsexualdemocracy.Itisthereforequitepossiblethat,behindthevirulentcriticismofthegay
international(withwhichIagree)thereisatrueconcernfortheprotectionandintegrityofsexualpracticesthreatenedbyaWesterncentred
order.Itisevenquitepossiblethatwearehorrifiedbytheviolenceengenderedbythispressureonhomosexualsandasincereconcernfor
theother.SoIfIsaythatthehomosexualpoliticalidentityisnotuniversalitisalsoperhapsinordertobetterprotectthepractice,to
protectfreedomsbutalsolives.ThepoliticalformulationoftheindignesmustthereforebecomethebestalternativetotheWhiteinjunction
andalsoserveafundamentalneedoftheindignes:torediscoverrightfulpersonalityandtothinkaccordingtoonesownsituation.The
goalistorespectourselvesandourrelationshipwiththeworld,whilerefusingtoaccedetothewhiteworldsattempttouniversalizeLGBT
identitiesortoitsneoconservative,heteropatriarchalandEuropeanChristianform.
Spacetimeandpoliticalalliances
Icanwellimaginetheconfusionofawhiteleftybeforetheincomprehensiblespectacleoftheblurringoftheclassdivide.Watchingtheir
flockofindignesescapethemwhentheyputsomuchintoteachingthemleftvalues.Hasntthewhiteleftyputbodyandsoulforyearsinto
protectingtheirfriendfromtheFrontNational?Andnowtheungratefulfriendgoesanddemonstrateswiththefascistsandconservativesof
allstripesagainstgaymarriage.Beneathitall,theindigneismorereactionarythanprogressive.
Atfirstview,yes.Ifwesticktoastrictleftreadingofclassandrightleftdivide,theamorphoussloganleftonlabour,rightonvalues
correspondsfairlywelltothesensibilityoftheindignes.Thisishowsomesurprisingconvergenceshaveemergedinrecentyearsbetween
thedescendentsofimmigrantsandfarrightmovementsofthekindledbyAlainSoralor,onthemoremoderateendofthings,alignments
withVillepinismorModem.Butwillthisconvergencelast?Doesithaveafuture?No.
First,letsaddressthequestionsrelatedtoclassposition.TheindignesareanimportantcomponentoftheFrenchproletariatandsub
proletariat.Further,thesefriendsofconvenience,whetheritbetheSocialistParty,therightortheextremeright,aretheonesthatproduce
therepressiveandracistpoliciesandlawsthatconfinepeopleintheirconditionsasindignes.Thosewhopromotethecallforadebatefor
allmustknowthis.Itcreatesaprecedentforwhichtheywillbepoliticallyandmorallyresponsible.Atthesametime,alonglasting
alliancewiththeleftandfarleftisalsoillusoryatthispoint.Intheactualstateofthings,itwouldbedifficulttogatherlargesegmentsofthe
postcolonialimmigrantpopulationintoananticapitalist,secularandfeministprogramthatisopentotheissueofhomosexuality,inshort
intoaprogressiveproject.
Progressive:ifthereisahollow,unsubstantialterm,itisthisone.Doubtlessithasrealpoliticalcontentforanumberofwhiteleftiesand
coversaspectrumthatincludesJeanLucMlenchonatthefarleftaswellaslibertariansandotheranarchists.Formanyindignes,ithas
littlemeaning.Andforthedecolonialindignesitmeansevenless.Inourhistory,imperialism,colonialism,racismandtheglobal
confrontationwiththewhiterepublicansystemandeurocentrismhaveconvincedustodropallbeliefinthisparadigmofprogress.First
becausethisideaisstrictlylinkedtoWesternmodernityanditsfalseideaoflineartimethatwill,accordingtopreconceptions,leadtomore
rightsandmorefreedoms.Secondbecausethecolonial/racialsystemforcesthewhitemansrhythmonus.Racismsuspendedusintime.
Wecantadvance,letaloneprogressifwedontfindourbackbone.Inthisprocess,priorityisgiventorebuildingthesociallinkbetween
brokenidentities,marginalizedbutconsideredasoursandasauthentic.Everythingthatseemscapableofthreateningthisprojectto
reconquerourselveswillbeintuitivelyrejected.ThereisnosensesearchingforIslamistsbehindthisconservativefaade.Asaresult,so
calledprogressiveideassuchastheatheismthatstronglyinformstheleft,feminismandthehomosexualstruggle,arealsorejected.What
appearsasreactionaryisalso,andaboveall,decolonialresistance.Itswhatiscommonlydismissedasaretreatintoidentitypolitics[repli
communautaire]butwhatwecallthespacetimeoftheindignes,thattemporaldiscordthatmanifestsitselfasakindofproductive
regression,whichseemslikearegressionbutisinfactprogressfromthepointofviewoftheoverallinterestofracializedpeople,a
momentofreformationthatweshouldprotectfromwhiteinterferencenomatterthecost.Itisaquestionofsocialsurvival.Wedontlive
simultaneously,observesSadriKhiari.9Inmyview,thatswhatunequivocallyexplainstheunapologeticdisloyaltyofthoseamongthe
indignesknownotherwiseasbeingontheleftwhoaresidingwiththeright.Butaboveall,thisiswhatexplainsthesignificantabsenceof
indignesinmovementsfororagainstgaymarriage.Imentionedabovethatcallsagainstmarriageforallhadoverestimatedtheactual
feelingsoftheindignesand,especially,theneighbourhoodinhabitants.Thetruth,inmyview,isthatthoseinworkingclassneighbourhood
havenoreasontoreact.Theydonotfeelthreatenedbymarriageforall.Thecustomarylawsoftheneighbourhoodsaremuchstronger
thanthoseofthestate.Inotherwords,theindignesknowintimatelythatgaymarriagewillnotpenetrateintotheneighbourhoodsevenifit
isinstitutionalized.Tome,thatisthemainreasonfortheirabsenceinthemobilizationsagainstHollandespromises.Itisahypothesisbutit
deservesexploration.Fromthewhitepointofview,itwilldoubtlessprovethatthereareeffectivelylostterritoriesintherepublic.From
thepointofviewoftheindignes,itisademonstrationofunprecedentedandformidableresistance.
IampartofthisproductiveregressionsinceIamresolutelyontheirsideoftheracialdivide.ThatswhyIwillrejectcategoricallyany
attempttoplaceCivitasandtheUnionofIslamicOrganizationsofFrance[UOIF]onthesameside,ortocompareChaambiandBarjot,
regardlessoftheirabsurdpoliticalchoices.Aracialdividethatseparatesthem(us).
Iampartoftheirproductiveregression.Iamawomanandamfullyawareofthepowerofthepatriarchyoftheindignes.Iamevenmore
awareofitsredeploymentandnewenergyunderthepressureofracism.Thatswhy,inallgoodconscience,Inegotiatewiththe
patriarchy10.Itisthesameforhomosexuals,menandwomen.Theirexperiencewithinracializedcommunitiesconvincesthemofthe
necessityofsuchanegotiationinordertoavoidanykindofcomplicitywithwhiteimperialism.Theyknowthatwhiteimperialismcanonly
weakenthealreadycompromisedsocialbodyoftheindignesandworktodismantlethefamily,whichhasbecome,fortheindignes,the
ultimaterefuge.Thefamilyisthereforemagnified,affirmedandconfirmed.Heterosexualmarriageisthereforetheonlypossiblehorizon
totheextentthattheWesternfamily,asdefendedbyCivitasandtherightofthepoliticalspectrum,remainsadesirablehorizonfornon
WhitesinFrance.Letsnotforgetthatfamilyreunificationremainsamatterofdecreefortherepublicanditmakessensethatthefamily
aspirationsofimmigrantsaretheobjectofpoliticalbattles.Ourcommunitiesareravagedbyendemicunemploymentandneoliberal
austerity.Thedeclineofthesocialstatereinforcescommunitarianandfamilysolidarity.Aboveandbeyondeconomicconditions,the
immigrantfamilyisstigmatizedandsubjectedtosymbolicindignities,thetargetofalargenumberofmoralpanicsfromforced
marriagetopolygamytohonourcrimes.Ourfamiliesaretornbetweenrisingunemployment,womensdomesticemploymentinwhite
families,workplacediscriminationsufferedbybothmenandwomen,andeducationalunderachievement.Undertheseconditions,hownot
reinvestinthefamilywhatotheroptionisthere?
Homosexualindignesconfrontedwiththisdilemmathereforefacethreepossibilities11:distancingthemselves,geographicallyor
otherwise,fromfamilyandcommunitywhentheyhavethemeanstodoso(whichisrare),submittingtoheterosexualmarriageand
thereforetosignificantemotionalprecarity,ormarryingahomosexualoftheoppositesextokeepupappearances.Whatlinksthesethree
strategiesisthepreservationofthefamilyandcommunityorderandtheimpossibilityofcomingout.Homosexualidentityanditsrelated
politicaldemands?Certainlypossibleforasmallnumber(atwhatcost?),butadeadendformany.
Therearethereforewhiteandnonwhitesocialspacesthateachdefinesadistinctpoliticalspace.Thisraisesthequestionoftheautonomyof
thesespacesbutalsoofthemutualcomprehensionofthespacetimedimensions,andtheneedforapoliticalstrategythatallowsa
convergenceagainstthemainenemy,evenassomearefightingforprogressandindividualemancipationwhileothersresistthis.Andthis
requires,aboveall,theidentificationoftheenemy.Isitimperialist,capitalist,bourgeoisandracistpower?Orisitthebeardedandveiled
sexistreactionariesforsomeandtheprogressive,feministprohomorightsforothers?Theresolutiontothisequationis,aboveall,upto
whiteprogressivesaslongastheleftandtheindignesagreetheyhavethesameprimaryenemy.Whyisituptowhiteprogressives?
Becausetheindigneswillmakenoconcessionsthatcostthemtheiralreadydamageddignityandbecausefromarevolutionarypointof
viewtheprioritymustbegiventothepoliticalprojectsofthemostfragileanddominated.Ithinkitsillusorytoexpecttheindignesto
submittothewhiteagenda.Thewoundsaretoodeepandthesocialconditionstooprecarioustobelievethatorganizedorunorganized
indigneswillalignthemselveswiththepositionsofwhiteprogressivism.Itisurgentthatthesepositionsbeabandoned.Thisdoesnot
meancapitulationbutrespectforthespacetimeandconfidenceintheintraindignesdynamicsthatoftenknow(whenweleavethem
alone)howtonegotiatecollectiveandindividualfreedomsinahostilecontext.Ofcoursefreedomdoesnothavetheabsolutistcharacter
oftheprogressiveideal(isthisreallydesirable?)andcertainlytheseindividualdemandswillneverbefullysatisfied.Butsacrificeisan
integralpartoftherealityoftheindignes.Wemakedo.Infact,respectforindigenoustimeputtinganendtocommandmentsand
interferenceintheaffairsoftheindignescanalsohavethepositiveconsequenceofreducingtheviolenceexperiencedbythoseindignes
seducedbythecallofprogress,individualismandwhitemodernity,allofwhichstandopposedtocommunalstructureandfamily
solidarities.Inthelongerterm,wecanhopethattheeasingofthetwoconstraintstheonethatforcespeopletoidentifyashomosexualand
theonethatenforcesarigidheterosexualitywillallownonwhitepeopletofindabalancebetweentheirpublicandprivatelives,their
relationshipsandtheirfamilysolidarities.
Butisthisintraindigenouspeaceapriorityforourantiracist,antisexist,antihomophicand,ofcourse,antineoliberalfriends,
articulatorsandintersectionalistswholovetoseetheirownimageinthemirror?
HouriaBouteldja,February12,2013
TranslatedfromFrenchbyKarenWirsig.
RevisedbyStefanKipfer.
1Myinterventioncontinuedasfollows:Yetthisisnottrue.Itispossibletolivehomosexualityinthemostintimate,notatallpublic,way.I
amnotatallsayingthatthosewithpoliticalclaimsarewrong,Iamsayingthatweliveinasocietywithseveralrhythms,thatwealllivein
Francebutthatinreality,inFrance,thereareseveralsocietieswithmultiplespacetimes.LaterIadded,justasPaulMarieCoteauxfully
agreedwithmeand,notwithoutacertaindelight,thoughtheembarrassedme:No,youhaventputmeinanawkwardposition.Idonot
supportgayimperialism.Iunderstandthatgaydemandscanemerge,Idonthaveaproblemwiththat.Ihaveaproblemwithmodelsof
societybeingimposedontosocialgroupsandpeoples,modelsofemancipationthatarenotuniversal.
2Thenotionofindignes(indigenous)usedherehasaparticularreferentinFrenchcolonialhistory.TheFrenchempireusedtheterm
indignestorefertothecolonialsubjectsinallitscoloniesacrosstheworld.Themovementknownas"TheIndigenousoftheRepublic"in
FranceiscomposedprincipallyofFrenchyouthofAfrican,Arab,andAntilleanorigin,bornandraisedinFrance,wholivetheexperienceof
colonialracismanditsconsequentsocialmarginalizationandexploitation.Readmoreaboutthismovementhere.
3http://www.tetu.com/actualites/france/brahimnatbalkdanslaciteetremusulmanethomoestinacceptable15622,http://www.cherche
midi.com/theme/HomoghettoFranck_CHAUMONT_9782749109435.html
4http://www.homosexuelsmusulmans.org/accueil.html
5http://oumma.com/15340/undebathttp://www.uoifonline.com/v3/spip.php?article1437
6Onthissubject,seeJosephMassad,DesiringArabs,UniversityofChicagoPress,2008.
7http://www.streetpress.com/sujet/74580plusfortsquefrigidebarjotlesindigenesdelarepubliquedenoncentlimperialismegay
8Forawiderdiscussiononthistopic,seeMariaLugones,TheColonialityofGender,WorldsandKnowledgesOtherwise,Spring2008.
9Tounderstandthenotionoftimespace,see:Nousavonsbesoindunestratgiedcoloniale,SadriKhiariinRaceetcapitalisme,Flix
BoggioEwanjEpe,StellaMaglianiBelkacem,ditionsSyllepse,2012.SeealsoSadriKhiari,Pourunepolitiquedelaracaille,ditions
Textuel,2006.
10IhavealreadydiscussedthisquestioninPierre,Djemila,Dominique...etMohamedhttp://www.indigenesrepublique.fr/article.php3?
id_article=1612
11[http://gss.revues.org/index2366.html>