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Queer Commencement

Author and performance artist Tim Miller spends a lot of his time touring universities teaching students about performance art. In this essay he imagines the graduation speech he might one day give at the fictitious Queer U.



When I am not busy crafting my Nobel Prize and Academy Award acceptance speeches, I often take a moment to conjure the commencement address I would inspiringly deliver to the LGBTQIA graduating students at Queer U to mark this juicy time of year of poignant endings and new beginnings. The commencement anthems are sung! The graduation caps are flung! The celebratory shots are slung! What can I possibly say to these fierce and inspiring artist-citizens I get to work with at all my college performance gigs?

Should I channel Larry Kramer … “KEROSENE WORKS BETTER THAN PERFUME!” Hmm, that’s a bit too incendiary.

Or maybe go all literary and highfalutin … “Perhaps the great gay Greek poet C.P. Cavafy said it best… 'He who hopes to grow in spirit will have to transcend obedience and respect.'” That’ll make them head for the exits.

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Reader Comments
  • Name: Mike Martinez
    Date posted: 6/13/2008 12:11:00 PM
    Hometown: Fresno, California

    Comment:

    Great article Mr. Miller and a big shout out to Travis Acreman! :-)

  • Name: William Mann
    Date posted: 6/13/2008 10:37:00 AM
    Hometown: Provincetown, MA

    Comment:

    Tim Miller has been speaking truth to power for more than a generation (and still looks fabulous). Tim, you rock.



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