by Beau Burriola
This month, we asked our panel: if you could take one thing about American queer culture to Europe, what would it be? And if you could throw out one thing about American queer culture, what would it be?
“Take: American queer people’s supernatural ability to turn three acquaintances, a group chat, and a coffee shop into a fully functioning community complete with brunches, fundraisers, books clubs, a choir and an annual awards gala! Throw: The habit of treating every conversation as an opportunity to update everyone on your salary, job title, and real estate portfolio.” –Jorma, Finland
“Take: The campness of drag shows and high production level of musical shows. Throw: horrible hate crimes like Matthew Shepard, Pulse Nightclub and Harvey Milk.” –Esteban, Netherlands
I would bring over suburban lesbian BBQ weekends in perfectly ordinary family homes and gym queens flaunting enormous bulges in micro shorts at the gym, the kind that seem to be all over social media these days! – Yann, France
“Take: the American entrepreneurship approach to prides and LGBTQ events. American culture has figured it out more to be open and visible and to get coin out of it. Throw: I would dump the monolithic mainstream way of what being gay means.”-Kevin, Belgium
“I would keep the feeling of community as most of Europe doesn’t have a strong feeling of community with LGBTQIA+ people. I would throw the need to make it so corporate and full of sponsors as questionable partners that buy their way in.”-Mateusz, Poland
“The leather culture feels more diverse and friendly to newbies in the USA. In Europe, it still feels very old guard.”– Nordine, Belgium
“Keep: dreaming of a day when European queer films and cinema have the same punch as US media. Throw: Drag tipping culture turns art into a competition. Pay performers fairly; no tips, just wages.”-Matias, Chile to Belgium
“If there is something that I would import, I would like to have more creative queer fundraisers for LGBTQ associations from car washes to bachelor auctions, bike rides and pub quizzes. We are mostly used to just calendars and the occasional drag bingo. I would toss the tipping culture for Gogos. I believe there is a more respectful way for Gogos to get paid than just having dollar bills folded into their jockstrap’s bands.” –Miguel, Spain
This may be more of an assumption than reality, but the uninhibited nature of American queer culture celebration feels more positive than the British “reserve.” I am not sure I would dump anything. –Stephen, UK
I’d steal lip sync battles and replace European political debates with them. –Florian, France
