...The styles and intent of queer punk are as diverse as the gay community itself. S&M warriors Tribe 8 write political hardcore tailored for the slam pit. New York's God Is My Co-Pilot, led by the bisexual couple Sharon Topper and Craig Flanagin, push the boundaries of sound and sexual identity in their experimental songs and fanzines... Although queer punk is breaking out of its traditional ghetto, those involved still find it necessary to create safe havens for both performers and fans. Team Dresch got bashed after their first gig in Portland, and life on the road was no big Welcome Wagon. "Someone was always going 'Fuckin' dykes,' even in the bigger cities we went to," says Dresch.
...Team Dresch often do outreach work, such as a recent all-ages gig in San Francisco with Phranc, aimed at younger audiences. The show was organized by Queers Together in Punkness (QTP), a volunteer group like Homocore Chicago, which books all-ages shows. Pansy Division provide a state-by-state directory of gay-youth support groups in the liner notes for Deflowered. Given that an estimated one-third of gay adolescents in the United States report having attempted suicide, the effort is hardly a waste. "Most of our mail is from kids who aren't in San Franciso or Chicago or New York", says God Is My Co-Pilot's Craig Flanagin. "It's not some new trend of the week. It's a very real thing in people's lives." As Outpunk's Wobensmith says: "We need to get the message out to everybody, especially kids, in any way we can - and not just queer kids but straight kids, too. They need to know we're a part of them. It's as much about educating straights as empowering queers."
Date created: 20 August 1997 Last modified: 20 August 1997