“Weird saying ‘not white’ when you’re technically white, huh?” I ask, grinning.
Ren snorts. “It is. It’s a very strange playground I’m on. I havesomewhite privilege because of my skin color and yet, being Asian closes a lot of doors for me. I’m white but not therightwhite.”
“Gotta love the supposed melting pot that America claims to be.”
“The lies we’re told as children are insanely simple yet designed to keep blinders on you. I get it now. The governmentwantsyou to be ignorant so you remain thoughtless sheep who believe everything you’re told,” Ren says.
“You spent some time in China, right? You weren’t born here?”
“Yes. I’m not going to pretend we’re not also told lies, but we’re also told the ugly truth. Weknowthat China isn’t exactly a democracy. We’re raised without blinders. I was old enough when I came to the US, and after being taught about foreign relationships and policies in school, to immediately identify the lies in my new American education,” Ren says.
“You didn’t think your country’s education system was designed to sway your opinion?”
“Oh, I’m sure it was. But when you look up the truth behind even the most basic things, they’re radically different from what you’re taught in school here. I remember calling my parents, horrified by the extent of the lies they tell kids. There are books free to borrow in the library with the truth, yet no one bothers to challenge what they’re taught.”
I nod and push my squash aside.
“I imagine it feels worse for you. As I understand it, in your younger years—the years I lived in China—the bullshit you’re taught in school concerning what actually happened to your ancestors must be infuriating.”
“Very,” I agree. “I know this is going to be shocking, but teachers don’t appreciate being corrected, especially when you inform a bunch of eight-year-olds that your ancestors were sold into slavery, women and children were massacred, and we were all forced off our sacred lands. I was sent home for disrupting class.”
“Wow, that’s shit,” Ren says. “But we’re moving far beyond what I actually called for. I have two thoughts about how to proceed, and I want to see what you think. The first is that we propose combining our efforts with the current Gays Can Play agenda but expand it to include diversity.”
“I’m going to play devil’s advocate for a minute because I think we need to have arguments prepared going in,” I say. “The league is already very diverse. There are players from all over the world making up almost half of the league.”
“That’s true, but how many of them are distinctly white? Black players, Hispanic, indigenous, Asian—they’re all very distinct asnotthe same as the majority of players. If we look at the number of white players versus non-white players with cultures that are historically discriminated against, what is the ratio of ‘white’ to the others?”
“I like that answer. Do you have stats to back it up?” I ask.
“The internet is conflicting. I need to do some hard math and probably look at every team individually to make my own list.”
“Okay, cool. Back to what you were saying. I didn’t mean to interrupt.”
“It’s fine. I’d rather think of all the questions before they’re asked so we’re prepared. My concern with proposing adding diversity onto the Gays Can Play initiative is how the membersof the GCP will feel. I don’t want them to feel like we’re taking the spotlight that they’ve been expanding on for several years already.”
“You could run it by a few of them,” I suggest. “You do have one in your bed, Ren.”
He chuckles. “Yes, but Felton… I’ll see what I can find out regarding how they’d feel.”
“Honestly, I think they’d be okay with it. I’m not sure how familiar you are with gay iconography, but what the community calls the progressive Pride flag expanded from the six colors to include a triangular insert with colors that represent the marginalized communities of color within the LGBTQIA+ community, transgender community, and intersex community.”
“That’s good to know, but this isn’t just about people of color who are also part of the LGBTQIA+ community. I mean to include the straight boys like you, too,” Ren says. I’m amused by his teasing since he doesn’t do it often.
“I’m less straight than you think I am,” I return, “but I get what you’re saying. Our other option is suggesting a new initiative similar to the Gays Can Play but with an emphasis on diversity.”
“Yes,” Ren says. “I’m almost afraid to bring this one up because I don’t want to be put in charge of it.”
“Then we don’t make that an option. I admire what the league is doing for the queer community and how they’re standing up against a world trying to silence and erase them by keeping it big and bold. I’m not sure why they haven’t already done so with diversity when we’re also people who are being targeted and erased by the same people attempting to eradicate queer people.”
“Maybe they’re working on it,” Ren says thoughtfully. “They saw a need as the queer community within sports grew, then acted on it in an effort to ensure that they have a safe space andto lift up the queer community as a whole. You know, as I say this out loud, the league’s time to act for their diverse players is long overdue.”
I laugh. “Yep. I think we need a clear plan before heading to them.”
Ren sighs. “I think we need more research too. I’m going to talk to Felton and his GCP friends to see how they’d feel about sharing their club with straight, diverse athletes.”
“Their club?” I ask, raising a brow.
I can hear Ren’s amusement when he answers. “The number of times I’ve been told I’m not in their gay club could fund the yacht they rent in the summer.”
