Today is National Coming Out Day. Haven't heard of it? I hadn't either until I logged on to my Facebook account earlier today. It's a little sad how much I learn about the world these days through Facebook. Nevertheless, I learned it and thank you Facebook for helping.I've never been much of an activist. I wasn't swayed by the glamour even in college when it was really cutting edge and artsy to go to rallies and marches and be "political." Instead, you probably could have found me on my couch drawing up the final preparations for a killer keg party I was hosting that night (they were legendary).
What can I say? I'm an apathetic American who's always had, and therefore never had to fight to have basic rights.
For this, though, I will fight.
I will fight because I could not imagine my life without my friends and family. The support and love they give to me make my days go. I could not imagine my loved ones to be anything but who they are, whether that be gay, straight, funny, boring, or any other "defining" characteristic.
I will fight for Billy Lucas, 15 years old, Asher Brown, 13, and Seth Walsh, 13 because they were somebody's loved one. From what I've read, they gave love and support to friends and family around them. Being gay wasn't who they were, but being made fun of for being gay is what killed them.
Nobody should be ridiculed for who they are or what they are. Nobody should be made to feel so badly about themselves that their only option out is suicide.
Just as, on the contrary, it would be great to live in a world where people weren't so afraid of what's different from them. Nobody should be so scared of another person that they feel like the only option is to bully them until they kill themself.
Why are we instilling such fear in our children?
A world without bullies would be a nice place to live. Unfortunately, we have to settle for the world in which we live.
Bullies and fear will always exist. It is part of human nature. However, it is also our responsibility as humans to control our fear. We need to learn for ourselves and to teach our children that fear is okay and natural, but that it cannot control life.
Bullies are the people who let fear rule their existence.
The other reality is that junior high and high school are hard places to be as a kid figuring out where you belong in the world. Each and every kid in that period of life is trying to find their place in the world.
Everyone is trying so hard to be "normal" that they don't even realize that different is normal.
It's not an easy concept to figure out. However, if you do and you make it through that time of your life, you will find the place where you belong. You will see how there's room in the world for everyone, sadly though, the bigots and the bullies too.
To tell the truth, I'm a little sorry I didn't catch on quicker. I'll admit I was intimidated by the Human Rights Campaign and words like "fight" and "ally." They seemed too heavy. As I said earlier, I'm apathetic to issues, plus, I've never had a problem with LGBT. I didn't think I needed to get involved. As who I am though I realized, I am involved.
It is okay to be who you are.
Being who you are is worth fighting for.
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