(1973) - Radicalqueens Manifestos - Radicalqueens
In 1973, the Radicalqueens Manifestos addressed the exclusion and marginalization of feminine gay men, drag queens, trans women, and those identifying with the "non-men" label, within both straight and gay communities, highlighting their experiences of oppression, ridicule, and silencing. The manifestos argued that gender roles, whether masculine or feminine, were oppressive constructs that upheld patriarchal systems, and that true liberation could only be achieved by rejecting these roles entirely. Radicalqueens called for a rejection of traditional gender norms, advocating for a revolutionary identity that embraced sensitivity, compassion, and non-conformity, while challenging both straight machismo and the limited acceptance within the gay community.
Radicalqueens are not men, we are non-men. We are not women...We do not accept the traditional role of women as any alternative to the oppressor role of the male. Both roles are inventions of the oppressor, both are oppressive to those who accept them.