Brendan Gillett

1. Transuary

There are many news stories about
trans* people. None of them are another
murder.

2. Femmeuary

Everyone wears heels and lipstick or
cuts their hair short or wears a suit and
cries or cares or acts and
dresses exactly the same because there are
so many ways to be femme.

3. Pride March

We take to the streets to celebrate spring,
a time of renewal, a reminder that we will
always regrow.

4. Gaypril

Kiss a boy! Kiss a girl! Kiss whoever you want!
Everyone’s a little gay these days.

5. Gay

MORE KISSING! OR NOT! LIVE YOUR LIFE!!!

6. Queer June

It’s too hot to be anyone other than yourself. Get
comfortable with that, with you, and let everyone
see.

7. JuBi

In case you were curious,
the Moon is the only thing that will be
“just going through a phase” this month.

8. Augayst

Summer is winding down, but it’s still
high time to be the best gay you can be.

9. Asextember

No one does anything they are not
fully into, and no one tells them
they need to, either.

10. Cocktober

No-holds-barred fuckfest for
all genders. Again, if you’re into
that sort of thing.

11. Homovember

We gather around tables with claimed
and found families, thankful for making it
this far while mourning those who are not
at the table.

12. Decembear

Hibernation, rest, cuddling up
in our dens, feeling safe,
preparing to transition
to another Queer Year.

because you always know
where my skin is
the most raw
you have earned
the right to know
the settings on the stove
perfect for
roasting me, charring
my tenderness until
I can wear it like
memories, intimacy,
the pleasure of
fire, absence of sting
in favor of slow-
cooked perfection
these flashes add up over time
I am well-done now
take me out
eat me

Someday, I want a love
that knows only the boundaries
we set for it

I want a love where things
are shared freely, where
the line between his and
mine is traversable and respected
in equal measure

I want to love someone so deeply
that I can eat a fry off his plate
without asking or he can
read my Scott Pilgrim books and
I will not mind

I want a love where I can ask him
to sleep two feet away or
holding me close and both are
beautiful, needed

I want this completely bonded type
of love, but I do not have it
with any of you, so please
stop using my soap.

It’s the same
with almost
everyone—
the tea with honey,
a plate of snacks,
bowl of cough drops,
deep chair in
their favorite color.
All of this is set up before,
so as they sit and sink
I can encourage;
more, more, say more
about that.

When they get up,
into a room decorated with
framed memories,
they rarely notice that
a thread has caught in
the chair.
As they leave, I keep it, usually
placing the end in a box,
but sometimes
taking it out
to wrap around my finger
and reassure myself that
I could pull if I wanted, unravel
their sweaters and stories
and leave them standing with
nothing on. But,
I rarely do that. Mostly,
it is enough
just to have
the option.