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Gay Men Must Be Feminist In 2021
The rise of TERFs, continued attacks against women’s rights, and lesbian erasure makes it necessary for gay men to ensure they are feminist.
I’ve always considered myself to be a feminist. Having a younger sister, it has always been my mission to instill in her a fierce level of independence and to remind her that she can do anything that a man can do and oftentimes better. Supporting the movement and proclaiming myself to be a feminist also had to do with the fact that I exclusively date men. Talking to my girlfriends about the headaches that come with men and the toxic masculinity that is often on display, there’s a shared frustration that comes with dating them.
This year it is more important than ever for gay men to support feminism as dangerous new narratives begin to mature into legitimate movements against it. From the rise of TERFs to continued attacks against women’s rights, gay men need to fully embrace the movement because the one group that has had steadfast support for gay men is feminists. And as gay men become more invested in heteronormative activities like marriage and childrearing, we need to ensure that it does not heighten our empathy for straight men, but reminds us of our efforts for dismantling the patriarchy.
