everyone wants to be normal as much as we pride ourselves in our individuality
we pride ourselves in our individuality
we pride ourselves in our individuality our jobs our hobbies our piercings and
our jobs our hobbies our piercings and
our jobs our hobbies our piercings and tattoos at the end of the day fitting in
tattoos at the end of the day fitting in
tattoos at the end of the day fitting in is fundamental to our well-being as
is fundamental to our well-being as
is fundamental to our well-being as humans as John Donne once said no man is
humans as John Donne once said no man is
humans as John Donne once said no man is an island it is in our connectedness to
an island it is in our connectedness to
an island it is in our connectedness to one another that we live our lives and
one another that we live our lives and
one another that we live our lives and we become who we are we find people with
we become who we are we find people with
we become who we are we find people with whom we share similar beliefs and
whom we share similar beliefs and
whom we share similar beliefs and similar lifestyles so that we can share
similar lifestyles so that we can share
similar lifestyles so that we can share our stories stories of growing up
our stories stories of growing up
our stories stories of growing up stories of discovering truths stories of
stories of discovering truths stories of
stories of discovering truths stories of our biggest dreams and our greatest
our biggest dreams and our greatest
our biggest dreams and our greatest fears stories of the human experience
fears stories of the human experience
fears stories of the human experience for members of the LGBTQ community this
for members of the LGBTQ community this
for members of the LGBTQ community this connectedness is not so easily found
connectedness is not so easily found
connectedness is not so easily found when acceptance and support lie behind
when acceptance and support lie behind
when acceptance and support lie behind door number one and the fear of sexist
door number one and the fear of sexist
door number one and the fear of sexist homophobic slurs lies behind door number
homophobic slurs lies behind door number
homophobic slurs lies behind door number two it’s not always easy to know whom to
two it’s not always easy to know whom to
two it’s not always easy to know whom to trust in our day-to-day lives we like to
trust in our day-to-day lives we like to
trust in our day-to-day lives we like to put on our rose-colored glasses and
put on our rose-colored glasses and
put on our rose-colored glasses and preach to our children be who you are
preach to our children be who you are
preach to our children be who you are and as dr. Seuss would say those who
and as dr. Seuss would say those who
and as dr. Seuss would say those who mind don’t matter and those who matter
mind don’t matter and those who matter
mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind but we neglect to inform our
don’t mind but we neglect to inform our
don’t mind but we neglect to inform our children that sometimes being themselves
children that sometimes being themselves
children that sometimes being themselves can come with a price we don’t talk
can come with a price we don’t talk
can come with a price we don’t talk about what it feels like to be alone at
about what it feels like to be alone at
about what it feels like to be alone at recess because you’re the only boy who’d
recess because you’re the only boy who’d
recess because you’re the only boy who’d rather play house over cops and robbers
rather play house over cops and robbers
rather play house over cops and robbers we don’t talk about what it feels like
we don’t talk about what it feels like
we don’t talk about what it feels like when you realize you’re the only girl
when you realize you’re the only girl
when you realize you’re the only girl who doesn’t have a crush on the star
who doesn’t have a crush on the star
who doesn’t have a crush on the star quarterback and you wonder is something
quarterback and you wonder is something
quarterback and you wonder is something wrong with me we don’t talk about what
wrong with me we don’t talk about what
wrong with me we don’t talk about what it feels like when you finally realize
it feels like when you finally realize
it feels like when you finally realize who you are and when you go to tell your
who you are and when you go to tell your
who you are and when you go to tell your family the people who said they loved
family the people who said they loved
family the people who said they loved you unconditionally have suddenly turned
you unconditionally have suddenly turned
you unconditionally have suddenly turned their backs and we don’t talk about what
their backs and we don’t talk about what
their backs and we don’t talk about what it feels like to look yourself in the
it feels like to look yourself in the
it feels like to look yourself in the mirror and
mirror and
mirror and will the world be a better place without
will the world be a better place without
will the world be a better place without me as members of the LGBTQ community we
me as members of the LGBTQ community we
me as members of the LGBTQ community we like to sit in our hidey holes and wait
like to sit in our hidey holes and wait
like to sit in our hidey holes and wait in hopes another member will cross our
in hopes another member will cross our
in hopes another member will cross our path so that we can share our stories
path so that we can share our stories
path so that we can share our stories and our heartaches just like everyone
and our heartaches just like everyone
and our heartaches just like everyone else but with someone who understands
else but with someone who understands
else but with someone who understands understands what it feels like to be
understands what it feels like to be
understands what it feels like to be part of a minority group understands
part of a minority group understands
part of a minority group understands that honesty isn’t always the safest
that honesty isn’t always the safest
that honesty isn’t always the safest option and understands that keeping a
option and understands that keeping a
option and understands that keeping a secret your entire life can eat you
secret your entire life can eat you
secret your entire life can eat you alive in the meantime we put on our
alive in the meantime we put on our
alive in the meantime we put on our masks and go back to work where we play
masks and go back to work where we play
masks and go back to work where we play the pronoun game to hide the fact that
the pronoun game to hide the fact that
the pronoun game to hide the fact that we’re different we bend our stories to
we’re different we bend our stories to
we’re different we bend our stories to match our peers because in day-to-day
match our peers because in day-to-day
match our peers because in day-to-day chitchat there’s no room to be gay do
chitchat there’s no room to be gay do
chitchat there’s no room to be gay do you have a boyfriend yet no is there
you have a boyfriend yet no is there
you have a boyfriend yet no is there anyone you like yes what’s his name Alex
anyone you like yes what’s his name Alex
anyone you like yes what’s his name Alex and if they do know I’m gay you probably
and if they do know I’m gay you probably
and if they do know I’m gay you probably just haven’t been with the right guy yet
just haven’t been with the right guy yet
just haven’t been with the right guy yet there is a lesbian in my class do you
there is a lesbian in my class do you
there is a lesbian in my class do you two know each other
two know each other
two know each other but you don’t dress like a guy you’re
but you don’t dress like a guy you’re
but you don’t dress like a guy you’re not a real lesbian so which one of you
not a real lesbian so which one of you
not a real lesbian so which one of you is the man in 21st century Kansas being
is the man in 21st century Kansas being
is the man in 21st century Kansas being gay isn’t rare while it may not be
gay isn’t rare while it may not be
gay isn’t rare while it may not be celebrated
celebrated
celebrated it isn’t shunned in the way it was only
it isn’t shunned in the way it was only
it isn’t shunned in the way it was only five years ago so why is coming out
five years ago so why is coming out
five years ago so why is coming out still the big deal
still the big deal
still the big deal why do we talk in whispers and check to
why do we talk in whispers and check to
why do we talk in whispers and check to see who’s listening why has lying become
see who’s listening why has lying become
see who’s listening why has lying become the most comfortable way to socialize
the most comfortable way to socialize
the most comfortable way to socialize when relationships are on the table the
when relationships are on the table the
when relationships are on the table the LGBTQ experience is as much of the human
LGBTQ experience is as much of the human
LGBTQ experience is as much of the human experience as any heteronormative story
experience as any heteronormative story
experience as any heteronormative story but if we continue to keep to ourselves
but if we continue to keep to ourselves
but if we continue to keep to ourselves on the basis that not everybody needs to
on the basis that not everybody needs to
on the basis that not everybody needs to know our not everybody cares
know our not everybody cares
know our not everybody cares heterosexuality will continue to be the
heterosexuality will continue to be the
heterosexuality will continue to be the norm and the LGBTQ world will continue
norm and the LGBTQ world will continue
norm and the LGBTQ world will continue to live in its shadow what’s wrong with
to live in its shadow what’s wrong with
to live in its shadow what’s wrong with living in the shadow nine out of ten
living in the shadow nine out of ten
living in the shadow nine out of ten LGBT teens report being bullied because
LGBT teens report being bullied because
LGBT teens report being bullied because of their sexual orientation they are
of their sexual orientation they are
of their sexual orientation they are twice as likely not to finish high
twice as likely not to finish high
twice as likely not to finish high school because school is a dangerous
school because school is a dangerous
school because school is a dangerous place
place
place they are two to three times more likely
they are two to three times more likely
they are two to three times more likely to commit suicide compared to their
to commit suicide compared to their
to commit suicide compared to their heterosexual peers what’s wrong with
heterosexual peers what’s wrong with
heterosexual peers what’s wrong with living in the shadow is that there is no
living in the shadow is that there is no
living in the shadow is that there is no light what’s wrong with living in the
light what’s wrong with living in the
light what’s wrong with living in the shadow is that there is no life the only
shadow is that there is no life the only
shadow is that there is no life the only way to break free of our chains of
way to break free of our chains of
way to break free of our chains of suppression is to break free of our
suppression is to break free of our
suppression is to break free of our silence and we do this by sharing our
silence and we do this by sharing our
silence and we do this by sharing our stories by coming out stories take the
stories by coming out stories take the
stories by coming out stories take the form of lunch breaks and dinner dates
form of lunch breaks and dinner dates
form of lunch breaks and dinner dates overpriced coffee and pizza and a movie
overpriced coffee and pizza and a movie
overpriced coffee and pizza and a movie on a Friday night stories come in all
on a Friday night stories come in all
on a Friday night stories come in all shapes and sizes in ear to ear smiles
shapes and sizes in ear to ear smiles
shapes and sizes in ear to ear smiles and fits of giggles in too much
and fits of giggles in too much
and fits of giggles in too much stuttering and awkward silence my story
stuttering and awkward silence my story
stuttering and awkward silence my story takes the shape of an open letter
takes the shape of an open letter
takes the shape of an open letter sitting on the bathroom counter the
sitting on the bathroom counter the
sitting on the bathroom counter the letter from my girlfriend I forgot to
letter from my girlfriend I forgot to
letter from my girlfriend I forgot to hide in my room
hide in my room
hide in my room the letter my mom forced me to read
the letter my mom forced me to read
the letter my mom forced me to read aloud in the quiet of our house when she
aloud in the quiet of our house when she
aloud in the quiet of our house when she realized shortly after that I was not
realized shortly after that I was not
realized shortly after that I was not the daughter she wanted my story takes
the daughter she wanted my story takes
the daughter she wanted my story takes the shape of yelling and tears in razors
the shape of yelling and tears in razors
the shape of yelling and tears in razors and broken skin in band-aids and hidden
and broken skin in band-aids and hidden
and broken skin in band-aids and hidden scars six years later a different story
scars six years later a different story
scars six years later a different story takes place this time in the shape of a
takes place this time in the shape of a
takes place this time in the shape of a Friday night drive with an orange red
Friday night drive with an orange red
Friday night drive with an orange red sky as the Sun set in the distance a Sun
sky as the Sun set in the distance a Sun
sky as the Sun set in the distance a Sun I had never noticed before because I was
I had never noticed before because I was
I had never noticed before because I was too busy hiding this story took the
too busy hiding this story took the
too busy hiding this story took the shape of two best friends a racing heart
shape of two best friends a racing heart
shape of two best friends a racing heart and a secret that was shared and when I
and a secret that was shared and when I
and a secret that was shared and when I shared it the weight of the world came
shared it the weight of the world came
shared it the weight of the world came off my shoulders when I realized I had
off my shoulders when I realized I had
off my shoulders when I realized I had an ally just a week after that another
an ally just a week after that another
an ally just a week after that another story was created this time in the shape
story was created this time in the shape
story was created this time in the shape of an afternoon walk with an academic
of an afternoon walk with an academic
of an afternoon walk with an academic advisor she let me know that I was not
advisor she let me know that I was not
advisor she let me know that I was not alone because she also identified as
alone because she also identified as
alone because she also identified as lesbian not only that but she had a wife
lesbian not only that but she had a wife
lesbian not only that but she had a wife and a baby she took all the things I had
and a baby she took all the things I had
and a baby she took all the things I had ever worried about all the things I had
ever worried about all the things I had
ever worried about all the things I had been shamed for wanting not just in my
been shamed for wanting not just in my
been shamed for wanting not just in my home in our society and she made them
home in our society and she made them
home in our society and she made them seem normal and okay
seem normal and okay
seem normal and okay because they were all the other
because they were all the other
because they were all the other experiences I’ve had every friendship
experiences I’ve had every friendship
experiences I’ve had every friendship every game night every team in every
every game night every team in every
every game night every team in every event I’ve had while wearing my mask and
event I’ve had while wearing my mask and
event I’ve had while wearing my mask and as much as my mask looks just like me it
as much as my mask looks just like me it
as much as my mask looks just like me it wasn’t until that afternoon walk that I
wasn’t until that afternoon walk that I
wasn’t until that afternoon walk that I took off my mask and was greeted with
took off my mask and was greeted with
took off my mask and was greeted with acceptance and understanding the sense
acceptance and understanding the sense
acceptance and understanding the sense of connectedness I felt was breathtaking
of connectedness I felt was breathtaking
of connectedness I felt was breathtaking and overwhelming and I went home that
and overwhelming and I went home that
and overwhelming and I went home that day with more self-acceptance than I had
day with more self-acceptance than I had
day with more self-acceptance than I had ever had before in my life it’s easy to
ever had before in my life it’s easy to
ever had before in my life it’s easy to see how I would have missed this
see how I would have missed this
see how I would have missed this opportunity had I chosen to leave my
opportunity had I chosen to leave my
opportunity had I chosen to leave my mask on where I was most comfortable
mask on where I was most comfortable
mask on where I was most comfortable where no one could tell me they didn’t
where no one could tell me they didn’t
where no one could tell me they didn’t like me because no one knew who I really
like me because no one knew who I really
like me because no one knew who I really was for three years I parked in the same
was for three years I parked in the same
was for three years I parked in the same parking lot walked the same sidewalk and
parking lot walked the same sidewalk and
parking lot walked the same sidewalk and past that advisors office every morning
past that advisors office every morning
past that advisors office every morning all the while believing I was alone
all the while believing I was alone
all the while believing I was alone thinking I had no one to share my story
thinking I had no one to share my story
thinking I had no one to share my story with because nobody really cared but
with because nobody really cared but
with because nobody really cared but that is exactly why we need to share our
that is exactly why we need to share our
that is exactly why we need to share our stories there will never be enough
stories there will never be enough
stories there will never be enough storytelling because every story is
storytelling because every story is
storytelling because every story is different and every story deserves to be
different and every story deserves to be
different and every story deserves to be told
told
told somewhere there is another girl another
somewhere there is another girl another
somewhere there is another girl another boy another trans teen another queer
boy another trans teen another queer
boy another trans teen another queer child that needs to meet someone like
child that needs to meet someone like
child that needs to meet someone like you that needs to see that for every
you that needs to see that for every
you that needs to see that for every rejection there is a story of acceptance
rejection there is a story of acceptance
rejection there is a story of acceptance for every hateful word that is spewed in
for every hateful word that is spewed in
for every hateful word that is spewed in their direction there is a story of
their direction there is a story of
their direction there is a story of empowerment and as much as we like to
empowerment and as much as we like to
empowerment and as much as we like to make fun of silly questions or as much
make fun of silly questions or as much
make fun of silly questions or as much as you may worry about stepping on
as you may worry about stepping on
as you may worry about stepping on someone else’s toes when you ask don’t
someone else’s toes when you ask don’t
someone else’s toes when you ask don’t stop asking and don’t stop answering
stop asking and don’t stop answering
stop asking and don’t stop answering because it’s through questions that we
because it’s through questions that we
because it’s through questions that we teach we learn and our stories get to be
teach we learn and our stories get to be
teach we learn and our stories get to be told and when you realize someone has
told and when you realize someone has
told and when you realize someone has chosen you to share their story with the
chosen you to share their story with the
chosen you to share their story with the greatest gift you can give them in
greatest gift you can give them in
greatest gift you can give them in return is to listen because you don’t
return is to listen because you don’t
return is to listen because you don’t know how much courage it takes to say
know how much courage it takes to say
know how much courage it takes to say those words out loud no matter if it’s
those words out loud no matter if it’s
those words out loud no matter if it’s the first time or the hundredth
the first time or the hundredth
the first time or the hundredth so when your mom says she doesn’t want
so when your mom says she doesn’t want
so when your mom says she doesn’t want to come see your TED talk because it’s
to come see your TED talk because it’s
to come see your TED talk because it’s too painful for her to hear you say the
too painful for her to hear you say the
too painful for her to hear you say the words I am a lesbian you can give her
words I am a lesbian you can give her
words I am a lesbian you can give her the space she needs to continue
the space she needs to continue
the space she needs to continue processing because you’ve already made
processing because you’ve already made
processing because you’ve already made it this far and you’ve learned how to
it this far and you’ve learned how to
it this far and you’ve learned how to tell your story with or without her yes
tell your story with or without her yes
tell your story with or without her yes I am a lesbian no my sexual orientation
I am a lesbian no my sexual orientation
I am a lesbian no my sexual orientation is not the most important thing about me
is not the most important thing about me
is not the most important thing about me but that doesn’t mean I should erase it
but that doesn’t mean I should erase it
but that doesn’t mean I should erase it from Who I am just because it will make
from Who I am just because it will make
from Who I am just because it will make you more comfortable we will never know
you more comfortable we will never know
you more comfortable we will never know of our own successes unless we share
of our own successes unless we share
of our own successes unless we share them and unfortunately we will never be
them and unfortunately we will never be
them and unfortunately we will never be allowed the space to grow unless we make
allowed the space to grow unless we make
allowed the space to grow unless we make it for ourselves according to a study
it for ourselves according to a study
it for ourselves according to a study done at the Williams Institute at the
done at the Williams Institute at the
done at the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law over nine million
UCLA School of Law over nine million
UCLA School of Law over nine million Americans identify as LGBT that’s 9
Americans identify as LGBT that’s 9
Americans identify as LGBT that’s 9 million cups of coffee
million cups of coffee
million cups of coffee 9 million moments of awkward silence and
9 million moments of awkward silence and
9 million moments of awkward silence and nine million micro stories that make up
nine million micro stories that make up
nine million micro stories that make up the whole so when you look into your
the whole so when you look into your
the whole so when you look into your son’s eyes and tell him it’s okay to be
son’s eyes and tell him it’s okay to be
son’s eyes and tell him it’s okay to be different when you pull your daughter
different when you pull your daughter
different when you pull your daughter into your lap and you tell her she can
into your lap and you tell her she can
into your lap and you tell her she can be anything she wants when she grows up
be anything she wants when she grows up
be anything she wants when she grows up remember that you are creating the world
remember that you are creating the world
remember that you are creating the world they will live in you will either be the
they will live in you will either be the
they will live in you will either be the fear in their voice and hesitation in
fear in their voice and hesitation in
fear in their voice and hesitation in their words or the confidence in their
their words or the confidence in their
their words or the confidence in their gaze and assurance in their minds and
gaze and assurance in their minds and
gaze and assurance in their minds and when she feels like she’s ready when he
when she feels like she’s ready when he
when she feels like she’s ready when he decides he wants the world to know we
decides he wants the world to know we
decides he wants the world to know we will not label it as another coming-out
will not label it as another coming-out
will not label it as another coming-out story because it’s just going to be
story because it’s just going to be
story because it’s just going to be another story another piece of a human
another story another piece of a human
another story another piece of a human experience another connection from me to
experience another connection from me to
experience another connection from me to you Maya Angelou once said there is no
you Maya Angelou once said there is no
you Maya Angelou once said there is no greater agony than baring an untold
greater agony than baring an untold
greater agony than baring an untold story inside you today I shared my story
story inside you today I shared my story
story inside you today I shared my story and when you leave I hope you find the
and when you leave I hope you find the
and when you leave I hope you find the courage to share your story too thank
courage to share your story too thank
courage to share your story too thank you
you
you you
”
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