Purim Is So Gay

No, really. The Washington Post article I just linked to quotes lots of people basically saying that the fact that we get to dress up on Purim means that it really resonates with gay people. I mean, they say it fancier: “Purim is gay Jewish Halloween…Everyone has put on a drag Purim festival, including most straight organizations. It's a very gender-bending holiday.” Wha? There are some thoughtful quotes: "Me coming out as queer, as gay, part of the power of being able to do that comes from the Book of Esther…It really helps people understand oppression and what it looks like to fight for liberation . . . from the threat of death or slavery or the closet." I respect that, but it’s not like Purim is the only Jewish holiday having to do with fighting for liberation. What about Hanukkah, Pesach, and Yom Ha’Atzmaut? Also, let’s not forget that as far as we know Esther stayed married to the drunken king, which is to say she was stuck in a sucky marriage for the rest of her life. Not the best example of liberated sexuality. But okay, I like the sentiment here. And if gay Jewish community leaders think it’d be good for Purim to be Gay Jewish Coming Out Day, that sounds cool to me, too. I just get annoyed with the “gay Jewish Halloween” crap, because if you’re connecting with Purim purely because it’s like Halloween and lets you dress in drag then you’re not actually connecting to Purim, you’re connecting to dressing in drag. Which is fine, but not intrinsically Jewish. I’m thrilled that gay Jews want more of a connection to Jewish holidays and ritual, but if they just want to get it through cross-dressing, well, that doesn’t seem particularly genuine. I’m just saying.