so when I was a little kid my life was pretty great I was surrounded with
pretty great I was surrounded with
pretty great I was surrounded with people who looked and thought and acted
people who looked and thought and acted
people who looked and thought and acted just like me and the people in my family
just like me and the people in my family
just like me and the people in my family in hindsight it makes me think of a wide
in hindsight it makes me think of a wide
in hindsight it makes me think of a wide flat space like a dance floor there was
flat space like a dance floor there was
flat space like a dance floor there was plenty of room when we all knew the
plenty of room when we all knew the
plenty of room when we all knew the right moves and did I already say that
right moves and did I already say that
right moves and did I already say that it felt safe I also admit I was pretty
it felt safe I also admit I was pretty
it felt safe I also admit I was pretty obsessed with the idea of romance my
obsessed with the idea of romance my
obsessed with the idea of romance my older brother was often the target of my
older brother was often the target of my
older brother was often the target of my instructional lessons I had been giving
instructional lessons I had been giving
instructional lessons I had been giving him pointers about how to get a hot
him pointers about how to get a hot
him pointers about how to get a hot ladies since I was about 4
ladies since I was about 4
ladies since I was about 4 this included valuable advice like if
this included valuable advice like if
this included valuable advice like if you’re gonna get a hot lady you’re gonna
you’re gonna get a hot lady you’re gonna
you’re gonna get a hot lady you’re gonna need to be a good singer
need to be a good singer
need to be a good singer I’d also suggested a pretty fantastic
I’d also suggested a pretty fantastic
I’d also suggested a pretty fantastic 16th birthday party for him where all
16th birthday party for him where all
16th birthday party for him where all the girls from Twin Falls would come
the girls from Twin Falls would come
the girls from Twin Falls would come over and he’d stand on our coffee table
over and he’d stand on our coffee table
over and he’d stand on our coffee table and just pick one to be his girlfriend I
and just pick one to be his girlfriend I
and just pick one to be his girlfriend I was young enough that I couldn’t see any
was young enough that I couldn’t see any
was young enough that I couldn’t see any flaws in this plan because of these
flaws in this plan because of these
flaws in this plan because of these years of matchmaking intensity my
years of matchmaking intensity my
years of matchmaking intensity my parents were a little worried when I was
parents were a little worried when I was
parents were a little worried when I was 7 and he told me that he didn’t actually
7 and he told me that he didn’t actually
7 and he told me that he didn’t actually fall in love with girls and he didn’t
fall in love with girls and he didn’t
fall in love with girls and he didn’t want to marry a girl he told me that he
want to marry a girl he told me that he
want to marry a girl he told me that he fell in love with boys and he wanted to
fell in love with boys and he wanted to
fell in love with boys and he wanted to marry a boy but they didn’t need to
marry a boy but they didn’t need to
marry a boy but they didn’t need to worry he was 10 years older than I
worry he was 10 years older than I
worry he was 10 years older than I wasn’t hit along been my hero a little
wasn’t hit along been my hero a little
wasn’t hit along been my hero a little detail like that couldn’t change his
detail like that couldn’t change his
detail like that couldn’t change his image in my mind I just switched my
image in my mind I just switched my
image in my mind I just switched my focus helping him find a hot guide
focus helping him find a hot guide
focus helping him find a hot guide romance instead I just wanted him to be
romance instead I just wanted him to be
romance instead I just wanted him to be loved and to be happy but he was and
loved and to be happy but he was and
loved and to be happy but he was and always will be my Jackson the brother
always will be my Jackson the brother
always will be my Jackson the brother who fought to rock me to sleep at night
who fought to rock me to sleep at night
who fought to rock me to sleep at night and taught me to play peek-a-boo it was
and taught me to play peek-a-boo it was
and taught me to play peek-a-boo it was quite shocking to me to discover that
quite shocking to me to discover that
quite shocking to me to discover that not everyone would be able to accept
not everyone would be able to accept
not everyone would be able to accept this information about my brother
this information about my brother
this information about my brother quite so easily in fact people even
quite so easily in fact people even
quite so easily in fact people even people are quite concerned about who
people are quite concerned about who
people are quite concerned about who others fall in love with and even try to
others fall in love with and even try to
others fall in love with and even try to make laws about such things
make laws about such things
make laws about such things I began to notice conversations that I
I began to notice conversations that I
I began to notice conversations that I hadn’t really noticed before or at least
hadn’t really noticed before or at least
hadn’t really noticed before or at least I notice conversations and new weights
I notice conversations and new weights
I notice conversations and new weights even though I was still just eight years
even though I was still just eight years
even though I was still just eight years old I realized that the lessons at my
old I realized that the lessons at my
old I realized that the lessons at my church were teaching me that my hero
church were teaching me that my hero
church were teaching me that my hero wouldn’t be able to be in the same
wouldn’t be able to be in the same
wouldn’t be able to be in the same heaven with our family forever if he
heaven with our family forever if he
heaven with our family forever if he fell in love with married the man of his
fell in love with married the man of his
fell in love with married the man of his dreams
dreams
dreams it made me feel quite lonely and
it made me feel quite lonely and
it made me feel quite lonely and misunderstood and I started crying a lot
misunderstood and I started crying a lot
misunderstood and I started crying a lot at church and going to my mom’s classes
at church and going to my mom’s classes
at church and going to my mom’s classes with her instead of the usual children’s
with her instead of the usual children’s
with her instead of the usual children’s classes that I’d always loved these were
classes that I’d always loved these were
classes that I’d always loved these were some of the first times is that that
some of the first times is that that
some of the first times is that that wide open space of childhood felt
wide open space of childhood felt
wide open space of childhood felt uncomfortable I knew that my brother’s
uncomfortable I knew that my brother’s
uncomfortable I knew that my brother’s wasn’t going to be able to do all of the
wasn’t going to be able to do all of the
wasn’t going to be able to do all of the same required moves and wasn’t going to
same required moves and wasn’t going to
same required moves and wasn’t going to fit in the same way anymore
fit in the same way anymore
fit in the same way anymore other conversations came to my attention
other conversations came to my attention
other conversations came to my attention in new ways some kids on the playground
in new ways some kids on the playground
in new ways some kids on the playground were talking about how people couldn’t
were talking about how people couldn’t
were talking about how people couldn’t be gay until they were 18 years old I
tried to say that for my brother because
tried to say that for my brother because he was obviously gay before he was 18
he was obviously gay before he was 18
he was obviously gay before he was 18 but they didn’t believe me they just
but they didn’t believe me they just
but they didn’t believe me they just wouldn’t listen and they refused to talk
wouldn’t listen and they refused to talk
wouldn’t listen and they refused to talk about it anymore
about it anymore
about it anymore and once I was told by a friend that it
and once I was told by a friend that it
and once I was told by a friend that it wasn’t my fault that I had bad parents
wasn’t my fault that I had bad parents
wasn’t my fault that I had bad parents who taught me lies the big day was okay
who taught me lies the big day was okay
who taught me lies the big day was okay and this really hurt me because we were
and this really hurt me because we were
and this really hurt me because we were great friends I couldn’t even talk to
great friends I couldn’t even talk to
great friends I couldn’t even talk to her for a little while knowing that she
her for a little while knowing that she
her for a little while knowing that she thought I had bad parents and then my
thought I had bad parents and then my
thought I had bad parents and then my brother wasn’t okay that wide open space
brother wasn’t okay that wide open space
brother wasn’t okay that wide open space where I had always been dancing was
where I had always been dancing was
where I had always been dancing was under construction and I was starting to
under construction and I was starting to
under construction and I was starting to bump into people quite a bit the other
bump into people quite a bit the other
bump into people quite a bit the other people on the floor hadn’t changed and
people on the floor hadn’t changed and
people on the floor hadn’t changed and the moves are all the same we just
the moves are all the same we just
the moves are all the same we just didn’t fit the same as before it didn’t
didn’t fit the same as before it didn’t
didn’t fit the same as before it didn’t feel safe for us and we certainly didn’t
feel safe for us and we certainly didn’t
feel safe for us and we certainly didn’t feel safe to others I realized that my
feel safe to others I realized that my
feel safe to others I realized that my sexuality and gender nonconforming
sexuality and gender nonconforming
sexuality and gender nonconforming friends had always been feeling like
friends had always been feeling like
friends had always been feeling like there might not be space for them to fit
there might not be space for them to fit
there might not be space for them to fit by this point my mom had been doing a
by this point my mom had been doing a
by this point my mom had been doing a lot of learning about the LGBTQ
lot of learning about the LGBTQ
lot of learning about the LGBTQ community I had kind of drugged the
community I had kind of drugged the
community I had kind of drugged the whole family family along for the ride
whole family family along for the ride
whole family family along for the ride I was meeting a lot of really new and
I was meeting a lot of really new and
I was meeting a lot of really new and interesting people some of these people
interesting people some of these people
interesting people some of these people might not have felt comfortable on the
might not have felt comfortable on the
might not have felt comfortable on the flat space for his spend our time before
flat space for his spend our time before
flat space for his spend our time before and a lot of them and actually been
and a lot of them and actually been
and a lot of them and actually been kicked out but they still welcome my
kicked out but they still welcome my
kicked out but they still welcome my boring family into their exciting spaces
boring family into their exciting spaces
boring family into their exciting spaces some of them look like us and some not
some of them look like us and some not
some of them look like us and some not so much
so much
so much they can have crazy hair or lots of
they can have crazy hair or lots of
they can have crazy hair or lots of tattoos some even wear clothing my mom
tattoos some even wear clothing my mom
tattoos some even wear clothing my mom might have called inappropriate a few
might have called inappropriate a few
might have called inappropriate a few years before families with two moms or
years before families with two moms or
years before families with two moms or two dads have kids who like the same
two dads have kids who like the same
two dads have kids who like the same sorts of things that I do the people
sorts of things that I do the people
sorts of things that I do the people with the crazy hair and the tattoos talk
with the crazy hair and the tattoos talk
with the crazy hair and the tattoos talk about the same important thing as my mom
about the same important thing as my mom
about the same important thing as my mom and dad talk about like being kind and
and dad talk about like being kind and
and dad talk about like being kind and generous and helping people marching and
generous and helping people marching and
generous and helping people marching and colorful parades with awesome music it’s
colorful parades with awesome music it’s
colorful parades with awesome music it’s just fun no matter what else in life
just fun no matter what else in life
just fun no matter what else in life you’re interested in little by little a
you’re interested in little by little a
you’re interested in little by little a beautiful mansion full of interesting
beautiful mansion full of interesting
beautiful mansion full of interesting people doing all sorts of dances was
people doing all sorts of dances was
people doing all sorts of dances was being built in the space with a smooth
being built in the space with a smooth
being built in the space with a smooth flat dance floor had originally been
flat dance floor had originally been
flat dance floor had originally been there was a lot less bumping into people
there was a lot less bumping into people
there was a lot less bumping into people because there was a lot more room where
because there was a lot more room where
because there was a lot more room where everyone could fit inside I made friends
everyone could fit inside I made friends
everyone could fit inside I made friends with this really cool girl my age that I
with this really cool girl my age that I
with this really cool girl my age that I liked a lot
liked a lot
liked a lot she doesn’t look close to me but I get
she doesn’t look close to me but I get
she doesn’t look close to me but I get really excited every time I get her
really excited every time I get her
really excited every time I get her chance to be with her when we first met
chance to be with her when we first met
chance to be with her when we first met she hadn’t had a friend over to play for
she hadn’t had a friend over to play for
she hadn’t had a friend over to play for an entire year even though she still has
an entire year even though she still has
an entire year even though she still has lots of friends this is because she is a
lots of friends this is because she is a
lots of friends this is because she is a transgender sibling and the other
transgender sibling and the other
transgender sibling and the other parents are nervous about that influence
parents are nervous about that influence
parents are nervous about that influence on their children my friend even had to
on their children my friend even had to
on their children my friend even had to move to a new house and switch schools
move to a new house and switch schools
move to a new house and switch schools just so that she could make friends that
just so that she could make friends that
just so that she could make friends that didn’t know about her transgender
didn’t know about her transgender
didn’t know about her transgender sibling but one a missed opportunity for
sibling but one a missed opportunity for
sibling but one a missed opportunity for all the other people at the old school
all the other people at the old school
all the other people at the old school who could have had so much fun playing
who could have had so much fun playing
who could have had so much fun playing in a great house with my friend
in a great house with my friend
in a great house with my friend shortly after this friend and I met some
shortly after this friend and I met some
shortly after this friend and I met some kids on the playground were laughing and
kids on the playground were laughing and
kids on the playground were laughing and talking about a story their mom had just
talking about a story their mom had just
talking about a story their mom had just found the news about a boy that dresses
found the news about a boy that dresses
found the news about a boy that dresses up and pretends
up and pretends
up and pretends girl and they were laughing and talking
girl and they were laughing and talking
girl and they were laughing and talking about how disgusting at once I know a
about how disgusting at once I know a
about how disgusting at once I know a lot of transgender people and families
lot of transgender people and families
lot of transgender people and families and know how deeply this
and know how deeply this
and know how deeply this misunderstanding has hurt them
misunderstanding has hurt them
misunderstanding has hurt them I tried to help the kids on the click on
I tried to help the kids on the click on
I tried to help the kids on the click on understand what it really means to be
understand what it really means to be
understand what it really means to be transgender but I knew that my
transgender but I knew that my
transgender but I knew that my experiences weren’t overcoming this
experiences weren’t overcoming this
experiences weren’t overcoming this large influence from their parents
large influence from their parents
large influence from their parents every time my family attends a pride
every time my family attends a pride
every time my family attends a pride event or conference or I get to help
event or conference or I get to help
event or conference or I get to help with a hugging booth
with a hugging booth
with a hugging booth I meet so many new people I have become
I meet so many new people I have become
I meet so many new people I have become really amazed at how many different
really amazed at how many different
really amazed at how many different people there are and they have giant
people there are and they have giant
people there are and they have giant hearts and beautiful voices and
hearts and beautiful voices and
hearts and beautiful voices and numberless talents many are vulnerable
numberless talents many are vulnerable
numberless talents many are vulnerable and share their heartbreaking stories
and share their heartbreaking stories
and share their heartbreaking stories with me but they are bright and happy as
with me but they are bright and happy as
with me but they are bright and happy as well and they make me smile in the
well and they make me smile in the
well and they make me smile in the middle of that diversity and color and
middle of that diversity and color and
middle of that diversity and color and glitter the really beautiful thing is
glitter the really beautiful thing is
glitter the really beautiful thing is learning that all of these people are
learning that all of these people are
learning that all of these people are also so very much like me I think the
also so very much like me I think the
also so very much like me I think the world would be really bleak and dim if
world would be really bleak and dim if
world would be really bleak and dim if we tried to hide all of this variety oh
we tried to hide all of this variety oh
we tried to hide all of this variety oh and the sparkle that comes with this
and the sparkle that comes with this
and the sparkle that comes with this variety sometimes my family talks about
variety sometimes my family talks about
variety sometimes my family talks about how things were five years ago
how things were five years ago
how things were five years ago when we were most often surrounded by
when we were most often surrounded by
when we were most often surrounded by people who looked and thought and acted
people who looked and thought and acted
people who looked and thought and acted just like us and there were safety in
just like us and there were safety in
just like us and there were safety in that and my grandparents definitely felt
that and my grandparents definitely felt
that and my grandparents definitely felt more safe for us but when we look at the
more safe for us but when we look at the
more safe for us but when we look at the mansion that’s been created we were
mansion that’s been created we were
mansion that’s been created we were astonished new rooms are being added
astonished new rooms are being added
astonished new rooms are being added with new people people and chances to
with new people people and chances to
with new people people and chances to explore and serve all the time beauty
explore and serve all the time beauty
explore and serve all the time beauty and strength of humanity lies and
and strength of humanity lies and
and strength of humanity lies and celebrating our diversity not in
celebrating our diversity not in
celebrating our diversity not in pretending that we are all the same and
pretending that we are all the same and
pretending that we are all the same and that includes the diverse is diversity
that includes the diverse is diversity
that includes the diverse is diversity that we find in sexual orientation and
that we find in sexual orientation and
that we find in sexual orientation and gender identity we can acknowledge
gender identity we can acknowledge
gender identity we can acknowledge diversity and not fear it and I wonder
diversity and not fear it and I wonder
diversity and not fear it and I wonder why people wouldn’t want to welcome that
why people wouldn’t want to welcome that
why people wouldn’t want to welcome that I think this might be because some
I think this might be because some
I think this might be because some people feel afraid of the construction
people feel afraid of the construction
people feel afraid of the construction on their flat spaces they feel
on their flat spaces they feel
on their flat spaces they feel comfortable where they think everyone
comfortable where they think everyone
comfortable where they think everyone looks some things like they do
looks some things like they do
looks some things like they do construction can be messy and that can
construction can be messy and that can
construction can be messy and that can be risky
be risky
be risky sometimes it’s even a little bit painful
sometimes it’s even a little bit painful
sometimes it’s even a little bit painful but wouldn’t it be better for all of the
but wouldn’t it be better for all of the
but wouldn’t it be better for all of the world to live together in a beautiful
world to live together in a beautiful
world to live together in a beautiful mansion where every room is welcoming
mansion where every room is welcoming
mansion where every room is welcoming but decorated a little bit differently
but decorated a little bit differently
but decorated a little bit differently maybe a quirky foursome but everybody
maybe a quirky foursome but everybody
maybe a quirky foursome but everybody gets their own different style of
gets their own different style of
gets their own different style of dancing and nobody is forced off the
dancing and nobody is forced off the
dancing and nobody is forced off the smooth but conforming floor were we are
smooth but conforming floor were we are
smooth but conforming floor were we are not welcome to be ourselves the future
not welcome to be ourselves the future
not welcome to be ourselves the future is diversity as we are allowed to
is diversity as we are allowed to
is diversity as we are allowed to embrace ourselves with our unique
embrace ourselves with our unique
embrace ourselves with our unique qualities and also to embrace each other
qualities and also to embrace each other
qualities and also to embrace each other for the unique individuals that we are
for the unique individuals that we are
for the unique individuals that we are each one of us can make a difference by
each one of us can make a difference by
each one of us can make a difference by starting the construction to make their
starting the construction to make their
starting the construction to make their our own inclusion mansion and I know
our own inclusion mansion and I know
our own inclusion mansion and I know because I’ve already started to make a
because I’ve already started to make a
because I’ve already started to make a difference all I had to do was start
difference all I had to do was start
difference all I had to do was start making friends with all different people
making friends with all different people
making friends with all different people and listen to their stories and accept
and listen to their stories and accept
and listen to their stories and accept them just as they are I’m just one
them just as they are I’m just one
them just as they are I’m just one person I’m still rather small but I know
person I’m still rather small but I know
person I’m still rather small but I know I’ve only made a dent into what I’ll do
I’ve only made a dent into what I’ll do
I’ve only made a dent into what I’ll do I can’t wait to change the world and I
I can’t wait to change the world and I
I can’t wait to change the world and I hope that you will all choose to join me
”
Be First to Comment