September 20, 2008

  • This shall be half rant (as if you haven't heard enough negativity from me) and half statement, I suppose.

    First - do to the sake of my own orientation, I try to not bring up the topic of homosexuality all too much. I joke about it at times, and it does need addressing (considering that only two states legally allow gay marriage (and at least three before the end of the year are voting to amend their constitutions to not allow it, Cali included), you can still be fired for your orientation, etc. and the huge stigma of it still). Even still, I try not to bring it up more than necessary, which (while I'm sure he didn't mean to offend) made Tommy's rainbow jokes all the more obnoxious. I'll be the first to admit it's irritating to hear something over and over again.

    However, that can be semi-difficult when you acknowledge that its civil rights movement is still in process. It's somewhat hard to refrain from mentioning the fact when it may be legally impossible in 3 states for gay marriage due to the constitution being amended. So I apoligize beforehand if I've brought this up more than usual for other conversations.

    As most of you on here know, I sent out invites for Ally Week. It's important because it stresses the fact that this isn't driven by some fad and a bunch of people just decided to see how much they could screw with legislation for a while (yes, I've heard people say being gay is just a fad and will go away in a few years). The part that kinda astounds me was that people actually said maybe or flat out no.

    This isn't really a hard event - if you still go to SHS, the GSA probably has buttons and you wear it for a week. Otherwise, there's no participation necessary. And if you are elsewhere - you just acknowledge the week. No marches, no sit ins, no boycotts - nothing, unless you really want it to - changes about your week. So how in the world can you be on the fence about that? There're those who I know they're gay or bi and they say maybe? So those who aren't gay or bi - they're support means nothing? They don't have to get made fun of or even deal with the whole issue. They have no reason to support - yet they do. And that's how you thank them? "Um, maybe I'll do it." Clearly you don't give a damn about your rights. Wait 'til you get into the real world. Try even attempting to come out then.

    Or the best was the Nos. My cousin isn't participating. I wonder why. I have to question what part of me saying, "I'm bisexual," she didn't understand. Remember, it takes no participation, really. Thanks for the support, cous.

    So, to the straight allies, I want to offer an apology of those who seem to think that their rights are going to fight for themselves and have no clue how bad it used to be.

    So, for everyday that I cannot be arrested for who I am - I thank you.
    For everyday I can admit my orientation without the conversation going awkward - I thank you.
    For everyday a GSA can actually meet - I thank you.
    For the amazing court desicion for California - I thank you.
    For everyday I'm not killed by someone who knows - I thank you.
    For everyone who does know and thinks no differently of me - I thank you.
    For everyone who doesn't treat me differently everytime it's said aloud - I thank you.

    For giving a damn enough to support when you didn't have to, for defending me and millions of others when you could have stayed quiet, for recognizing us as humans, for changing this world and those around you - thank you.

    They have no idea how much they owe you.

    On a second portion of this first part, I'd like to review the word "faggot".

    For those who don't know, it derrives from fagot, which is a bundle of sticks. This comes from the fact that they burned homosexuals using fagots.

    So everytime you say faggot or fag, you are essencially making a death threat. Don't use it. Under no circumstance is calling a person a faggot acceptable.

    Forgive my preaching.

     

    My second part, I know that most know how highly I think of them generally because I'm always so paranoid what others think and I want them to know so I tend to tell them (subtly or not) on a pretty consistant basis. However, probably largely because I'm in a whole other state now, I feel the need for reminder once more.

    My friends are absolutely amazing, and a constant reminder there's someone there. Everyone deserves to know people like you.