Being in a
same-sex relationship has it challenges. I know that was the understatement of
the century. We all know that living in a hetero-centric society, when you’re
not the norm is ripe with issues. Yet, is seems that most of the time being part
of the GLBTQ rainbow is down-right amazing. This different view on life, makes
us happy to be unique. When asked about
her struggles in life, Carrie Fisher stated "Find your tribe. Don’t wander around feeling
different than everyone else.” This speaks to beginning a relationship with someone.
The romantic path seems to be the same for everyone. Yet, in a society that sometimes
unknowingly gives easier steps to male-female stereotyped relationships feeling
different is sometimes hard to avoid.
I thought about all this as I stood in the oral care isle
of my local grocery store. I was getting
to the step of buying a toothbrush for my Sweet Baboo. If you have never been
in love before, this is a critical step in mating. You wake up at the other
person’s house and discover that they have gone out and purchased a new
toothbrush for you. It means that they think you’ll be sticking around. It symbolizes
a bond; a next step in the dating world. I was ready to make this plunge and
declare my deep “like” by presenting him is his very own toothbrush. It was a
huge step, and I was nervous.
This is when I noticed how toothbrush manufactures were a
bunch of heteronormative jerks. Jerks I say. Every two pack of toothbrushes had
a perceived masculine color and perceived feminine color. Oral-B- Purple and
green, Colgate- blue and pink, even Reach had only blue and pink. It was a
straight couple toothbrush conspiracy. From standard to electric brushes, if
you wanted to save money and by a two pack, you were forced into hetero-centric
roles. Sure, it’s easy to buy to separate blue toothbrushes, but it’s the point
of having to buy two separate toothbrushes. To cram them together, like your
just like everyone else. Straight
couples don’t have to buy separate packaging. They don’t have to decide who
gets the blue brush. What? One of use should be forced to decide to take the
pink brush role?!?! Outrageous.
Being in a
same-sex relationship truly does have challenges. But, I refuse to wander
through the grocery store
feeling different than everyone else. Carrie Fisher wouldn’t want me to do
that. For now, my same-sex partner and I
have separate packaged toothbrushes.
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