Anniversary Trilogy: Part I

About Me: Why DQN?

A new year and a new beginning. So why not another new adventure? Creating my own independent blog. I'm not new to blogging, I've blogged and co-authored on several other sites. However, this experience is new, exciting and a little intimidating. A creative and growth challenge. Also, another reason to exercise that organ that is stored inside my cranium! So, here goes!

For starters, Why DQN? Well, it's a small matter of self-identification. It's simply how I see myself in this huge complex world in which we live. First, D = Deaf. I am a Deaf man struggling to exist in a primarily hearing universe. Believe it or not, my Deafness does affect my worldview and how my world views me. I am culturally Deaf, so that is why the "d" in Deaf is capitalized.

Secondly, Q = Queer. I am a Queer/Same Gender Loving/Gay man struggling to survive in a primarily heterosexual society. My sexual orientation does impact my perspective on some issues and trust, it absolutely has a tremendous influence on how most of society, as a whole, perceives me! Personally, I prefer the identity of same gender loving (SGL). However, I use queer because initially, it was a pejorative term used to degrade that, through ownership, I can use to empower me and disempower those who wish to harm.

Thirdly, N = naturist/nudist. I am a man who prefers, enjoys, and thrives living textile-free (without clothes/clothing) in a predominantly textile environment. My nudity does sway how I interpret certain situations and it is very influential in how the broader culture judges me. As a naked man, however, these judgments don't prevent me from living naturally and honestly.

Finally, Northern Virginia is where this naked, queer Deaf man resides with his three marginalised communities. Specifically: Arlington, Virginia. Home of The Pentagon and of Arlington Cemetery, where the victims of decisions made inside The Pentagon are finally laid to rest.

This concludes my initial introduction of myself through explaining the title of this blog. Wow! The first step wasn't that difficult! I'll probably return for more! Peace! Get naked. Enjoy!

Author's Note: I like to repost this, my very first blog entry, every year for the anniversary of DQN In Northern Virginia. It helps to remind me both of the reasons and the emotions I had for beginning this journey. It also serves as introduction to any new readers here. This was originally published on Tuesday, January 19, 2010. For my Third Anniversary, it is the first installment of a trilogy of back-to-back postings for this occasion.

Also note that on the original, my customary ending, "Peace! Get naked. Enjoy!" was at the end of the final paragraph and not as the article closing.