I remember 1969. I had just finished 9th grade. Only vaguely do I remember news about Stonewall. I was very far from knowing who I was, let alone what to do about it.It has been a long time, and much progress has been made. But not enough. And I long to do my part.
Even though I am in the position of having to lead a very guarded life, I long to be out and proud. With some folk, in some places, i am. But too many will be hurt. And, I'd prob ably lose my job.
I will not always be in such a schizoid sort of existence. And when I am not. I intend to be very noisy.
Thanks to all of you who are out, and proud, and talking about it, and working for us all. Thank you for doing what i can not yet do.
And thank you to those brave folk who, out of some kind of foolishness, refused to back down. As Spo has said so well, only when we stop being victims will others stop being persecutors.
Thank you. All
6 comments:
All the more reason to plug for ENDA, Joe - because when they can't fire us for being gay anymore the last lock on the closet door will be broken.
All my best to you.
I agree. I do thank those before me.
It is the task of the living to make meaningful the sacrifices of the dead.
I very much know where you are at and share your thoughts and your thankfulness.
Although others may not agree, in our own way, folks such as you and I are doing our part, quietly working for openness and change among people who are most resistant. We may not be the most visible and we may never share in the very freedom that we ache for. In ways that the more militant may never see nor appeciate, we also work quietly for that day when people such as ourselves will not need to be as we are.
You do what you can given the circumstances of your life. I'm fortunate I live in Massachusetts and it's my duty to make sure all my brothers and sisters can live free.
Someday, in every corner of this great nation, we will be equal.
I am out to family and most of the people who work with me and know me. I have begun quietly and indirectly coming out to people from my past, including high school classmates who have found me on Facebook. I wondered how they would react, but I find that they either ignore it, are fine with it or, in some cases, are grateful because they can talk to me about their experience as parents of a gay child in a hostile area. You don't need to put up a billboard, but you may miss the opportunity to help some one person if you don't speak up from time to time.
I am sure you will know when that time is.
By small steps, you are farther and farther from a schizoid kind of existence. Good luck on the way.
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