It doesn't bother me that some friends don't approve. Chances are, I don't care for something about them, but I'm not going to bash them for it. As long as they still show kindness for humanity and aren't hurting anyone in any way, I don't see the need to bash them for not approving. I've never appreciated when homophobes throw things at me, threaten me, pray over me, are negative to me or try to convert me, so I would never do the same to someone who isn't quite comfortable with my sexual orientation yet. I do think it's possible to care about someone still, even though I don't agree with them.
I don't like the pastor who has threatened to set himself on fire if #lovewins. I think he has a couple of skeletons in his closet and needs to take up a productive, hands on hobby that doesn't judge or hurt anyone. I don't agree with any of what he's said, but condoning his attempt to hurt himself doesn't make us any better than those who have hurt us. I do believe that if someone really wants to kill themselves, they are entitled to that right, but maybe they should talk to someone first, and it certainly shouldn't be in the name of mistreating others. I care about him enough to stop him from lighting that match. It's the same way that I wish the kids who bullied me in school cared about me enough to stop my suicide attempt. Just because they didn't, they actually encouraged it, doesn't mean I need to stoop to their level.
Isn't there some religious figure who teaches all of this?
I will always be respectful toward others opinions as long as they are respectful towards mine. A good debate is always fun, but just not very possible on social media. If we're going to be happy and proud of our love winning, let's actually promote love for all.
We're still going to be discriminated against. It makes me happy though, reading all of these statuses about parents informing their kids about love winning. It really is that easy to tell your child that two people love each other and that's it. Teaching love will promote more love and positivity. I hope that with this decision, more kids will feel comfortable enough in their own skin, more adults will be able to come out comfortably and we can at least accept them and love them as individuals.
Yesterday, when I heard the news I cried. I listened to Mackelemore's "Same Love" and just burst into tears. Listening to the song now, it's amazing to think how far along we've come. We've had to put up with a lot and we've lost many along the way. I'm thankful that I'm still alive and able to watch this unfold in front of me. Going from a confused child because of being brought up in a Catholic school, to a teen disowned by my dad after coming out to him, then to see that the law finally recognizes us as humans, it's so beautiful. The struggles, doubts, heartache, self harm, letters to my dad, memories, abuse, all of it happening is no longer in vain. We did it. We still have a long way to go, but this is definitely a step in the right direction. Thank you to everyone who has stood up for our rights.
Just a few months before I came out, I found a book called Am I Blue? It was sitting in the bookshelf next to my desk in my summer school class going into freshman year of high school. It was pulled out from the rest of the books like I was supposed to read it. I snuck it home with me and read it over and over. Little did I know that the first homophobic bully I'd have in high school would be the one who would out me to the whole class, in the exact same class room just a few months later. The book is a compilation of short stories about people coming out. I didn't know how it was going to happen for me, but this book definitely helped give me the courage I needed when it happened unexpectedly.
Check it out on Amazon here: http://www.amazon.com/Am-Blue-Coming-Out-Silence/dp/0064405877
