When Belgian cable channel 2BE broadcasted the final scenes of the groundbreaking, gay US cult series Queer as folk last week (originally aired on Showtime USA, 2005), my s/o affectionately grabbed my hand when in the final scene, [main character] Brian [in his bombed gay dance club, victim of a violent anti-gay hate crime] started dancing to (YouTube video) Heather Small’s “Proud,” ["What have you done today to make you feel proud?"], a song that accompanied a pivotal scene between Brian and Michael in the very first episode of the series. It all ended with a semi-philosophical quote by Michael: “So the “thumpa thumpa” continues. It always will. No matter what happens. No matter who’s president. As our lady of Disco, the divine Miss Gloria Gaynor has always sung to us: We will survive.”
This American gay TV series was truly groundbreaking on many social levels. Although our dancing days may be over, to myself and my s/o this scene fundamentally conveyed the feeling that whatever the odds, no matter how many walls may have collapsed, we still strongly believe in ourselves, proud of who we fundamentally are. A most uplifting feeling on a rainy Belgian day. Are you proud too?
This blog is not affiliated with or endorsed by the city of Antwerp, Belgium.