Isabella Levin

18/01/05
Queer Feelings
Stephen Dillon

“Haunting” is a term used by many modern-day queer scholars such as Avery F. Gordon,

author of “Ghostly Matters”, Carla Freccero, author of ”Queer Spectrality”, and Heather Love,

author of Emotional Rescue. In simple terms, “haunting” or “ghosts” in the context of the study

of queer history speak to a present absence. It argues that even that which has been forgotten,

eroded away by history, still plays an active role in modern queer theory- that statements said

and statements unsaid bear equivalent importance.

In “Emotional Rescue”, Heather Love examines the gravity of the past pushing down on

the present. She cites a poem by the Greek poet Sappho, translated by Anne Carson: “Someone

will remember us / I say / even in another time.” (Love, 34) The mere existence of this poem

proves its own message to be correct. It tackles the dread that plagues many of the past, founding

queer activists and scholars, such as Sappho herself. The haunting question of “will we be

remembered?’ Will all this work be worth it, to create a future that which the founders will never

see in their lifetimes, with no way of ever knowing the impact of their historical efforts.

The social justice band Rise Against put it succinctly in their song “Collapse (Post

Amerika)” with the lyric “Lights go out as we pass the torch again, and hope that it stays lit.” It’s

a powerful metaphor for the plight of civil rights activists- to keep that fire, that drive for justice

alive and burning. A generational torch that those wielding it have an obligation to protect it, lest

they be haunted by the ghosts of the past torch-bearers. As the torch gets brighter and more

visible, we honor the labor and pain of those before us. Heather Love put it best when she said

“We make good on their suffering, transforming their shame into pride after the fact.” (Love, 32)

To carry the metaphorical torch means to carry all of the past fires that raged in on one’s

predecessors of social justice. With every generation to whom the torch is passed to, there is
Isabella Levin
18/01/05
Queer Feelings
Stephen Dillon

progress, which fuels the fire. Our successes in social justice are worth more than the sum of

their parts- every victory builds off on itself, creating an ever-increasing forward momentum that

inspires the next generation to continue fighting. Our triumphs pave the way for additional

triumphs to take place, and one day the ghosts of our past will cheer us on in the sidelines as we

carry that torch like a baton, gloriously sprinting with it across the finish line.