Wow all right hello everybody thank you so much for being here today
so much for being here today
so much for being here today spoken word poetry saved my life and I
spoken word poetry saved my life and I
spoken word poetry saved my life and I am only alive today because this artform
am only alive today because this artform
am only alive today because this artform is designed for people to tell their
is designed for people to tell their
is designed for people to tell their truth and heal in 2012 I was living in
truth and heal in 2012 I was living in
truth and heal in 2012 I was living in the Bay Area in California I had gone
the Bay Area in California I had gone
the Bay Area in California I had gone there to find more people like me
there to find more people like me
there to find more people like me other queers other artists but I
other queers other artists but I
other queers other artists but I underestimated the emotional
underestimated the emotional
underestimated the emotional repercussions of such a substantial
repercussions of such a substantial
repercussions of such a substantial change and because for the entirety of
change and because for the entirety of
change and because for the entirety of my life I lacked mental health resources
my life I lacked mental health resources
my life I lacked mental health resources like peer support groups I turned to
like peer support groups I turned to
like peer support groups I turned to substance abuse in four months time I
substance abuse in four months time I
substance abuse in four months time I lost nearly 80 pounds I was doing a lot
lost nearly 80 pounds I was doing a lot
lost nearly 80 pounds I was doing a lot of drugs the experience was a
of drugs the experience was a
of drugs the experience was a culmination of all the things I’d always
culmination of all the things I’d always
culmination of all the things I’d always thought acceptance disability and
thought acceptance disability and
thought acceptance disability and approval drugs are consistent they’re
approval drugs are consistent they’re
approval drugs are consistent they’re gratifying they made me feel in control
gratifying they made me feel in control
gratifying they made me feel in control because they erased my
because they erased my
because they erased my self-consciousness and my fear they made
self-consciousness and my fear they made
self-consciousness and my fear they made me forget to expand by giving me
me forget to expand by giving me
me forget to expand by giving me something to do with it but this wasn’t
something to do with it but this wasn’t
something to do with it but this wasn’t the first time I had coked through drug
the first time I had coked through drug
the first time I had coked through drug use I have a big story to tell one that
use I have a big story to tell one that
use I have a big story to tell one that extends much further back than being in
extends much further back than being in
extends much further back than being in a big city as an adult and being scared
a big city as an adult and being scared
a big city as an adult and being scared the truth is is that I’m one of the
the truth is is that I’m one of the
the truth is is that I’m one of the lucky ones because I made it out of life
lucky ones because I made it out of life
lucky ones because I made it out of life the first time I kissed a girl I was 6
the first time I kissed a girl I was 6
the first time I kissed a girl I was 6 years old two years later I endured
years old two years later I endured
years old two years later I endured sexual assault for the first time and a
sexual assault for the first time and a
sexual assault for the first time and a couple of years after that in the
couple of years after that in the
couple of years after that in the bathroom of an elementary school I got
bathroom of an elementary school I got
bathroom of an elementary school I got high for the first time I was reacting
high for the first time I was reacting
high for the first time I was reacting to my environment by trying to displace
to my environment by trying to displace
to my environment by trying to displace feelings I didn’t yet have language for
feelings I didn’t yet have language for
feelings I didn’t yet have language for I didn’t like boys I didn’t understand
I didn’t like boys I didn’t understand
I didn’t like boys I didn’t understand what my body was for I didn’t want the
what my body was for I didn’t want the
what my body was for I didn’t want the ever-present sexual attention boys will
ever-present sexual attention boys will
ever-present sexual attention boys will be boys was a very resounding message in
be boys was a very resounding message in
be boys was a very resounding message in my life I grew up in an America where we
my life I grew up in an America where we
my life I grew up in an America where we don’t talk about mental health or
don’t talk about mental health or
don’t talk about mental health or ramaa much less healing I come from a
ramaa much less healing I come from a
ramaa much less healing I come from a background of poverty sexual assault
background of poverty sexual assault
background of poverty sexual assault domestic violence generational trauma
domestic violence generational trauma
domestic violence generational trauma and normalized abusive behaviors and
and normalized abusive behaviors and
and normalized abusive behaviors and prescription addiction so being an
prescription addiction so being an
prescription addiction so being an artist was a hobby at best being gay was
artist was a hobby at best being gay was
artist was a hobby at best being gay was considered a choice by 16 I wasn’t
considered a choice by 16 I wasn’t
considered a choice by 16 I wasn’t welcome in my home or my church I wasn’t
welcome in my home or my church I wasn’t
welcome in my home or my church I wasn’t accepted by many of my peers or their
accepted by many of my peers or their
accepted by many of my peers or their parents and I was looked upon with
parents and I was looked upon with
parents and I was looked upon with disgust when I attended prom with my
disgust when I attended prom with my
disgust when I attended prom with my first girlfriend this mask degradation
first girlfriend this mask degradation
first girlfriend this mask degradation of my character cultivated a deep shame
of my character cultivated a deep shame
of my character cultivated a deep shame in me one I learned to silence with
in me one I learned to silence with
in me one I learned to silence with substances time and time again I have
substances time and time again I have
substances time and time again I have been what’s it what is the statistical
been what’s it what is the statistical
been what’s it what is the statistical norm for most lesbian gay bisexual
norm for most lesbian gay bisexual
norm for most lesbian gay bisexual transgender queer and questioning people
transgender queer and questioning people
transgender queer and questioning people in the modern day for most of my life I
in the modern day for most of my life I
in the modern day for most of my life I have lived in small rural town through
have lived in small rural town through
have lived in small rural town through my sexual orientation was exploited
my sexual orientation was exploited
my sexual orientation was exploited behind closed doors I often received the
behind closed doors I often received the
behind closed doors I often received the message that I was the only one like me
message that I was the only one like me
message that I was the only one like me I think the greatest tragedy in all of
I think the greatest tragedy in all of
I think the greatest tragedy in all of this is how many years I spent feeling
this is how many years I spent feeling
this is how many years I spent feeling like I was alone like these experiences
like I was alone like these experiences
like I was alone like these experiences were the results of my actions and
were the results of my actions and
were the results of my actions and thereby my fault for years no one talked
thereby my fault for years no one talked
thereby my fault for years no one talked to me about being a lesbian in a healthy
to me about being a lesbian in a healthy
to me about being a lesbian in a healthy way for years I didn’t know there were
way for years I didn’t know there were
way for years I didn’t know there were so many other people like me out there
so many other people like me out there
so many other people like me out there struggling to find resources for sexual
struggling to find resources for sexual
struggling to find resources for sexual education orientation and gender
education orientation and gender
education orientation and gender affirmation and trauma therapy in a 2000
affirmation and trauma therapy in a 2000
affirmation and trauma therapy in a 2000 2016 Gallup poll it is reported that
2016 Gallup poll it is reported that
2016 Gallup poll it is reported that there are 10 million Americans and
there are 10 million Americans and
there are 10 million Americans and approximately 4% of them now identify as
approximately 4% of them now identify as
approximately 4% of them now identify as LGBTQ the Human Rights Campaign reported
LGBTQ the Human Rights Campaign reported
LGBTQ the Human Rights Campaign reported that all right well we’ll go with it the
that all right well we’ll go with it the
that all right well we’ll go with it the Human Rights Campaign reports that
Human Rights Campaign reports that
Human Rights Campaign reports that approximately eight we are approximately
approximately eight we are approximately
approximately eight we are approximately eight times more likely to have
eight times more likely to have
eight times more likely to have attempted suicide six times more likely
attempted suicide six times more likely
attempted suicide six times more likely to report high levels of depression and
to report high levels of depression and
to report high levels of depression and three times more likely to use illegal
three times more likely to use illegal
three times more likely to use illegal drugs and be at risk for STDs and HIV
drugs and be at risk for STDs and HIV
drugs and be at risk for STDs and HIV there is ample evidence to suggest that
there is ample evidence to suggest that
there is ample evidence to suggest that the societal prejudice that this
the societal prejudice that this
the societal prejudice that this societal prejudice causes significant
societal prejudice causes significant
societal prejudice causes significant medical psychological
medical psychological
medical psychological and other harms to LGBTQ people the
and other harms to LGBTQ people the
and other harms to LGBTQ people the National Alliance on Mental Illness has
National Alliance on Mental Illness has
National Alliance on Mental Illness has reported that we are three times more
reported that we are three times more
reported that we are three times more likely to experience a mental health
likely to experience a mental health
likely to experience a mental health condition conditions such as generalized
condition conditions such as generalized
condition conditions such as generalized anxiety disorder major depression PTSD
anxiety disorder major depression PTSD
anxiety disorder major depression PTSD and thoughts of suicide or substance
and thoughts of suicide or substance
and thoughts of suicide or substance abuse all of which are related to or
abuse all of which are related to or
abuse all of which are related to or perceive related to perceived potential
perceive related to perceived potential
perceive related to perceived potential or actual discrimination we must
or actual discrimination we must
or actual discrimination we must confront stigma and Prejudice that other
confront stigma and Prejudice that other
confront stigma and Prejudice that other people don’t have to face while also
people don’t have to face while also
people don’t have to face while also dealing with the societal bias against
dealing with the societal bias against
dealing with the societal bias against mental health conditions many of us
mental health conditions many of us
mental health conditions many of us report having to hide our sexuality and
report having to hide our sexuality and
report having to hide our sexuality and our sexual orientation from those in the
our sexual orientation from those in the
our sexual orientation from those in the mental health system for fear of being
mental health system for fear of being
mental health system for fear of being rejected and ridiculed which is what
rejected and ridiculed which is what
rejected and ridiculed which is what happened to me
happened to me
happened to me I saw many therapists in my early teens
I saw many therapists in my early teens
I saw many therapists in my early teens and early 20s and I can’t tell you how
and early 20s and I can’t tell you how
and early 20s and I can’t tell you how many of them told me that not only would
many of them told me that not only would
many of them told me that not only would I grow out of being a lesbian that this
I grow out of being a lesbian that this
I grow out of being a lesbian that this was very much a phase it was so much a
was very much a phase it was so much a
was very much a phase it was so much a phase that they diagnosed me incorrectly
phase that they diagnosed me incorrectly
phase that they diagnosed me incorrectly so with bipolar two disorder it took me
so with bipolar two disorder it took me
so with bipolar two disorder it took me 16 years to have that diagnosis
16 years to have that diagnosis
16 years to have that diagnosis overturned – what is the correct
overturned – what is the correct
overturned – what is the correct diagnosis PTSD the overlap on those
diagnosis PTSD the overlap on those
diagnosis PTSD the overlap on those symptoms is extraordinary but without
symptoms is extraordinary but without
symptoms is extraordinary but without trauma-informed healthcare
trauma-informed healthcare
trauma-informed healthcare it is often doled out to us in the form
it is often doled out to us in the form
it is often doled out to us in the form of a cocktail of prescriptions rather
of a cocktail of prescriptions rather
of a cocktail of prescriptions rather than healing talk therapy for LGBTQ
than healing talk therapy for LGBTQ
than healing talk therapy for LGBTQ people ages 10 to 24 suicide is one of
people ages 10 to 24 suicide is one of
people ages 10 to 24 suicide is one of the leading causes of death specifically
the leading causes of death specifically
the leading causes of death specifically attributed to a lack of peer support
attributed to a lack of peer support
attributed to a lack of peer support networks approximately 25 percent of the
networks approximately 25 percent of the
networks approximately 25 percent of the LGBTQ population abuses substances and
LGBTQ population abuses substances and
LGBTQ population abuses substances and alcohol compared to 10% of our
alcohol compared to 10% of our
alcohol compared to 10% of our heterosexual counterparts these are
heterosexual counterparts these are
heterosexual counterparts these are devastating numbers not only because I
devastating numbers not only because I
devastating numbers not only because I lived them but because others are still
lived them but because others are still
lived them but because others are still living them every single day
living them every single day
living them every single day and this is where poetry comes in in
and this is where poetry comes in in
and this is where poetry comes in in 2012 I walked into the Berkeley Poetry
2012 I walked into the Berkeley Poetry
2012 I walked into the Berkeley Poetry Slam and my life changed forever the
Slam and my life changed forever the
Slam and my life changed forever the hosts
hosts
hosts at night said words I will never forget
at night said words I will never forget
at night said words I will never forget he said this is a church for people who
he said this is a church for people who
he said this is a church for people who don’t have one I knew in that moment
don’t have one I knew in that moment
don’t have one I knew in that moment that everything I had understood about
that everything I had understood about
that everything I had understood about life would change a little history about
life would change a little history about
life would change a little history about slam poetry started in 1986 in Chicago
slam poetry started in 1986 in Chicago
slam poetry started in 1986 in Chicago to get people interested in a seemingly
to get people interested in a seemingly
to get people interested in a seemingly archaic art form again you are allowed
archaic art form again you are allowed
archaic art form again you are allowed to participate that started here today
to participate that started here today
to participate that started here today slam poetry spans multiple continents
slam poetry spans multiple continents
slam poetry spans multiple continents innumerable languages its popping up in
innumerable languages its popping up in
innumerable languages its popping up in high schools all over the country in a
high schools all over the country in a
high schools all over the country in a poetry slam you have about two hours
poetry slam you have about two hours
poetry slam you have about two hours three rounds three minutes ten seconds
three rounds three minutes ten seconds
three rounds three minutes ten seconds and five randomly chosen judges from the
and five randomly chosen judges from the
and five randomly chosen judges from the audience who score a poet’s poem from
audience who score a poet’s poem from
audience who score a poet’s poem from one to ten one is the worst thing you
one to ten one is the worst thing you
one to ten one is the worst thing you have ever heard in your life
have ever heard in your life
have ever heard in your life wrap it up nobody wants to hear this
wrap it up nobody wants to hear this
wrap it up nobody wants to hear this anymore ten is a religious conversion
anymore ten is a religious conversion
anymore ten is a religious conversion ten changed your life just by being
ten changed your life just by being
ten changed your life just by being present for it oftentimes poets are
present for it oftentimes poets are
present for it oftentimes poets are rewarded with bragging rights they’re
rewarded with bragging rights they’re
rewarded with bragging rights they’re rewarded with opportunities to compete
rewarded with opportunities to compete
rewarded with opportunities to compete at national events such as those hosted
at national events such as those hosted
at national events such as those hosted by Poetry Slam incorporated despite
by Poetry Slam incorporated despite
by Poetry Slam incorporated despite competition being infused with an art
competition being infused with an art
competition being infused with an art form we have a saying the point is
form we have a saying the point is
form we have a saying the point is neither the points nor the poetry the
neither the points nor the poetry the
neither the points nor the poetry the point is the people what matters is the
point is the people what matters is the
point is the people what matters is the community the inclusive embracing
community the inclusive embracing
community the inclusive embracing empathetic no holds barred love that
empathetic no holds barred love that
empathetic no holds barred love that projects in every single direction
projects in every single direction
projects in every single direction people from all walks of life gather to
people from all walks of life gather to
people from all walks of life gather to tell their truths and the only
tell their truths and the only
tell their truths and the only expectation of anyone in the room is
expectation of anyone in the room is
expectation of anyone in the room is that we honor each other and this is
that we honor each other and this is
that we honor each other and this is where I broke my silence and I moved
where I broke my silence and I moved
where I broke my silence and I moved back to the Midwest in 2013 and in 2014
back to the Midwest in 2013 and in 2014
back to the Midwest in 2013 and in 2014 I founded Kansas City Poetry Slam for
I founded Kansas City Poetry Slam for
I founded Kansas City Poetry Slam for many reasons but mainly because the love
many reasons but mainly because the love
many reasons but mainly because the love and acceptance I’d received on the
and acceptance I’d received on the
and acceptance I’d received on the California slam team and slam community
California slam team and slam community
California slam team and slam community had been life-altering and I couldn’t
had been life-altering and I couldn’t
had been life-altering and I couldn’t live without it I made amends with my
live without it I made amends with my
live without it I made amends with my parents because of slam poetry I got
parents because of slam poetry I got
parents because of slam poetry I got sober because of slam poetry it was an
sober because of slam poetry it was an
sober because of slam poetry it was an extraordinary life-changing experience
extraordinary life-changing experience
extraordinary life-changing experience and I wanted to share that with other
and I wanted to share that with other
and I wanted to share that with other people
people
people so just like my California mentors I
so just like my California mentors I
so just like my California mentors I kicked off the slam in 2014 with an
kicked off the slam in 2014 with an
kicked off the slam in 2014 with an incredible group of people in Kansas
incredible group of people in Kansas
incredible group of people in Kansas City and since then I’ve been receiving
City and since then I’ve been receiving
City and since then I’ve been receiving every type of person with them with open
every type of person with them with open
every type of person with them with open arms and an open heart I have sat with
arms and an open heart I have sat with
arms and an open heart I have sat with people while they have cried telling
people while they have cried telling
people while they have cried telling their stories of their rapes their
their stories of their rapes their
their stories of their rapes their abortions their miscarriages and every
abortions their miscarriages and every
abortions their miscarriages and every single time they’ve had to call the
single time they’ve had to call the
single time they’ve had to call the police on their spouses and their
police on their spouses and their
police on their spouses and their siblings and their parents both on stage
siblings and their parents both on stage
siblings and their parents both on stage and off we strangers talk about our
and off we strangers talk about our
and off we strangers talk about our stints in rehab and psychiatric wards
stints in rehab and psychiatric wards
stints in rehab and psychiatric wards medication pros and cons the friends
medication pros and cons the friends
medication pros and cons the friends we’ve lost to suicide surviving human
we’ve lost to suicide surviving human
we’ve lost to suicide surviving human trafficking the lack of mental health
trafficking the lack of mental health
trafficking the lack of mental health resources in this country and what it’s
resources in this country and what it’s
resources in this country and what it’s like to spend your holidays alone
like to spend your holidays alone
like to spend your holidays alone sleeping behind a dumpster or in a
sleeping behind a dumpster or in a
sleeping behind a dumpster or in a shelter we celebrate our poverty and we
shelter we celebrate our poverty and we
shelter we celebrate our poverty and we celebrate our paydays over potluck meals
celebrate our paydays over potluck meals
celebrate our paydays over potluck meals we gather in bars in libraries and
we gather in bars in libraries and
we gather in bars in libraries and community centers coffee shops parks and
community centers coffee shops parks and
community centers coffee shops parks and on city sidewalks you can find us just
on city sidewalks you can find us just
on city sidewalks you can find us just about anywhere because we are in fact
about anywhere because we are in fact
about anywhere because we are in fact everywhere we are holed up in our
everywhere we are holed up in our
everywhere we are holed up in our cubicles we are CEOs and we are
cubicles we are CEOs and we are
cubicles we are CEOs and we are experiencing homelessness we are
experiencing homelessness we are
experiencing homelessness we are overnight manual labor and we are
overnight manual labor and we are
overnight manual labor and we are academics we are profound thinkers and
academics we are profound thinkers and
academics we are profound thinkers and feelers we are activists and pacifists
feelers we are activists and pacifists
feelers we are activists and pacifists we are agitators we are human beings
we are agitators we are human beings
we are agitators we are human beings spoken word poetry saved my life because
spoken word poetry saved my life because
spoken word poetry saved my life because it was the first form of a peer support
it was the first form of a peer support
it was the first form of a peer support network that I encountered it was
network that I encountered it was
network that I encountered it was inadvertently the first community
inadvertently the first community
inadvertently the first community experience I’d had in which I could tell
experience I’d had in which I could tell
experience I’d had in which I could tell my truth and no one tried to fix me no
my truth and no one tried to fix me no
my truth and no one tried to fix me no one tried to tell me to feel differently
one tried to tell me to feel differently
one tried to tell me to feel differently no one told me to get over it
no one told me to get over it
no one told me to get over it suppress it act like whatever it is
suppress it act like whatever it is
suppress it act like whatever it is didn’t happen and I told you I as many
didn’t happen and I told you I as many
didn’t happen and I told you I as many of us grew up in an America that shames
of us grew up in an America that shames
of us grew up in an America that shames us into a violent silence and then
us into a violent silence and then
us into a violent silence and then decades later I was lucky enough to have
decades later I was lucky enough to have
decades later I was lucky enough to have someone hand me a microphone and say let
someone hand me a microphone and say let
someone hand me a microphone and say let it out if you know this better than me
it out if you know this better than me
it out if you know this better than me that in this country the ambition of
that in this country the ambition of
that in this country the ambition of modern psychotherapy is exploring your
modern psychotherapy is exploring your
modern psychotherapy is exploring your thoughts feelings and behaviors with the
thoughts feelings and behaviors with the
thoughts feelings and behaviors with the goal of improving your well-being now
goal of improving your well-being now
goal of improving your well-being now imagine if you can for a moment for the
imagine if you can for a moment for the
imagine if you can for a moment for the grand price of maybe five bucks but you
grand price of maybe five bucks but you
grand price of maybe five bucks but you can walk into an environment where it’s
can walk into an environment where it’s
can walk into an environment where it’s just you and your peers everyone has a
just you and your peers everyone has a
just you and your peers everyone has a story
story
story everyone needs a hero everyone is a hero
everyone needs a hero everyone is a hero
everyone needs a hero everyone is a hero here in this place everyone’s in it
here in this place everyone’s in it
here in this place everyone’s in it together
together
together we unite for good and for growth for
we unite for good and for growth for
we unite for good and for growth for healing Slams our community sustained
healing Slams our community sustained
healing Slams our community sustained safe places they are the birthplaces of
safe places they are the birthplaces of
safe places they are the birthplaces of personal revelation and social
personal revelation and social
personal revelation and social revolution I believe personally that
revolution I believe personally that
revolution I believe personally that modern society is desperate for the to
modern society is desperate for the to
modern society is desperate for the to connect to one another we are all in
connect to one another we are all in
connect to one another we are all in need of an outlet from the pressures and
need of an outlet from the pressures and
need of an outlet from the pressures and an oasis from the pace and cruelty and
an oasis from the pace and cruelty and
an oasis from the pace and cruelty and facelessness of modern life we need time
facelessness of modern life we need time
facelessness of modern life we need time to reflect and ask ourselves what it is
to reflect and ask ourselves what it is
to reflect and ask ourselves what it is we want and need I believe that art and
we want and need I believe that art and
we want and need I believe that art and poetry and their overlap have the power
poetry and their overlap have the power
poetry and their overlap have the power to save lives I believe this because
to save lives I believe this because
to save lives I believe this because I’ve experienced at time and time again
I’ve experienced at time and time again
I’ve experienced at time and time again over the last five years Poetry Slam
over the last five years Poetry Slam
over the last five years Poetry Slam environments mirror peer support
environments mirror peer support
environments mirror peer support programs which in their full and
programs which in their full and
programs which in their full and healthiest intention teach skills and
healthiest intention teach skills and
healthiest intention teach skills and offer support to help people
offer support to help people
offer support to help people experiencing mental health challenges
experiencing mental health challenges
experiencing mental health challenges lead meaningful lives in their community
lead meaningful lives in their community
lead meaningful lives in their community peer specialists promote recovery
peer specialists promote recovery
peer specialists promote recovery enhance hope and develop social
enhance hope and develop social
enhance hope and develop social networking often I have encountered peer
networking often I have encountered peer
networking often I have encountered peer support groups that are staffed by a few
support groups that are staffed by a few
support groups that are staffed by a few volunteers whose dedication to their
volunteers whose dedication to their
volunteers whose dedication to their experience is so tremendous that they
experience is so tremendous that they
experience is so tremendous that they will give every free hour they can to be
will give every free hour they can to be
will give every free hour they can to be that person that you call at two o’clock
that person that you call at two o’clock
that person that you call at two o’clock in the morning they answer the hotlines
in the morning they answer the hotlines
in the morning they answer the hotlines they are your sponsor they are
they are your sponsor they are
they are your sponsor they are extraordinary empathetic selfless human
extraordinary empathetic selfless human
extraordinary empathetic selfless human beings who know what it’s like to be
beings who know what it’s like to be
beings who know what it’s like to be alone and they don’t want anybody else
alone and they don’t want anybody else
alone and they don’t want anybody else to ever go through that peer support
to ever go through that peer support
to ever go through that peer support environments Prime
environments Prime
environments Prime contribution is empathy organizations
contribution is empathy organizations
contribution is empathy organizations and corporations across the country have
and corporations across the country have
and corporations across the country have implemented peer support networks
implemented peer support networks
implemented peer support networks networks including the US government the
networks including the US government the
networks including the US government the Department of Veterans Affairs has as
Department of Veterans Affairs has as
Department of Veterans Affairs has as many peer support networks now as it
many peer support networks now as it
many peer support networks now as it does other therapy they’re incredibly
does other therapy they’re incredibly
does other therapy they’re incredibly vital and incredibly helpful for healing
vital and incredibly helpful for healing
vital and incredibly helpful for healing the reality is is that when you pay a
the reality is is that when you pay a
the reality is is that when you pay a cover at an art event like a slam poetry
cover at an art event like a slam poetry
cover at an art event like a slam poetry experience you are doing the same thing
experience you are doing the same thing
experience you are doing the same thing you are facilitating which comes from
you are facilitating which comes from
you are facilitating which comes from the Latin word
the Latin word
the Latin word Fasil is the act of making something
Fasil is the act of making something
Fasil is the act of making something easier being there showing your support
easier being there showing your support
easier being there showing your support and your sincerity and your human
and your sincerity and your human
and your sincerity and your human experience makes this possible we all
experience makes this possible we all
experience makes this possible we all come together as a community and
come together as a community and
come together as a community and nobody’s alone anymore in my work and in
nobody’s alone anymore in my work and in
nobody’s alone anymore in my work and in the work of other people holding space
the work of other people holding space
the work of other people holding space by facilitating peer support groups we
by facilitating peer support groups we
by facilitating peer support groups we make room not only for ourselves but for
make room not only for ourselves but for
make room not only for ourselves but for other people to survive their sufferings
other people to survive their sufferings
other people to survive their sufferings we heal from them too we heal so
we heal from them too we heal so
we heal from them too we heal so beautifully into that since 2012
beautifully into that since 2012
beautifully into that since 2012 spoken word poetry has given me a 7 page
spoken word poetry has given me a 7 page
spoken word poetry has given me a 7 page resume of performances I have performed
resume of performances I have performed
resume of performances I have performed from coast to coast I’m sober I am in
from coast to coast I’m sober I am in
from coast to coast I’m sober I am in love I am happy I am healthy I see a
love I am happy I am healthy I see a
love I am happy I am healthy I see a future when I look in the mirror and I
future when I look in the mirror and I
future when I look in the mirror and I never knew this kind of peace before
never knew this kind of peace before
never knew this kind of peace before poetry these days it’s how I cope with
poetry these days it’s how I cope with
poetry these days it’s how I cope with everything this piece is called home
I think my parents were distressed that
I think my parents were distressed that I was gay because heterosexuality was
I was gay because heterosexuality was
I was gay because heterosexuality was the last strand of something in common
the last strand of something in common
the last strand of something in common between us when they realized that their
between us when they realized that their
between us when they realized that their oldest baby girl would be dining on
oldest baby girl would be dining on
oldest baby girl would be dining on women for the rest of her life they did
women for the rest of her life they did
women for the rest of her life they did what any normal loving Church
what any normal loving Church
what any normal loving Church manipulated redneck Americans would do
manipulated redneck Americans would do
manipulated redneck Americans would do they disowned me now to disown implies
they disowned me now to disown implies
they disowned me now to disown implies ownership which by all dry drunk
ownership which by all dry drunk
ownership which by all dry drunk submissive role head of household master
submissive role head of household master
submissive role head of household master of ceremonies BS was entirely true
of ceremonies BS was entirely true
of ceremonies BS was entirely true I was owned bought and sold into a
I was owned bought and sold into a
I was owned bought and sold into a slavery of conservative womanhood as if
slavery of conservative womanhood as if
slavery of conservative womanhood as if reincarnated to learn the real truth but
reincarnated to learn the real truth but
reincarnated to learn the real truth but now that I am grown owned by no one I
now that I am grown owned by no one I
now that I am grown owned by no one I still walk quickly down these dark
still walk quickly down these dark
still walk quickly down these dark alleyways that’s this excess of expose
alleyways that’s this excess of expose
alleyways that’s this excess of expose owns has left me a handicap of
owns has left me a handicap of
owns has left me a handicap of femininity
femininity
femininity despite then when I spit these words
despite then when I spit these words
despite then when I spit these words they’re thicker than blood and stronger
they’re thicker than blood and stronger
they’re thicker than blood and stronger than venema when I spit these words and
than venema when I spit these words and
than venema when I spit these words and it’s always in protests of the minimum I
it’s always in protests of the minimum I
it’s always in protests of the minimum I dare anyone in here to mark their king
dare anyone in here to mark their king
dare anyone in here to mark their king yourself to the stage Harvey Milk your
yourself to the stage Harvey Milk your
yourself to the stage Harvey Milk your way to a podium and stop sending your
way to a podium and stop sending your
way to a podium and stop sending your love notes on your iPhone’s put a pen to
love notes on your iPhone’s put a pen to
love notes on your iPhone’s put a pen to a page put a pen to a page like every
a page put a pen to a page like every
a page put a pen to a page like every server in this world may one day crash
server in this world may one day crash
server in this world may one day crash and what you have to say matters because
and what you have to say matters because
and what you have to say matters because what you have to say matters so write it
what you have to say matters so write it
what you have to say matters so write it down carry it on your back and pray and
down carry it on your back and pray and
down carry it on your back and pray and never gets caught in a house fire and
never gets caught in a house fire and
never gets caught in a house fire and for far too long now I personally have
for far too long now I personally have
for far too long now I personally have romanticized the way poets grip fist
romanticized the way poets grip fist
romanticized the way poets grip fist around neck of chief wine bottle to
around neck of chief wine bottle to
around neck of chief wine bottle to choke the oxygen out of the fire of our
choke the oxygen out of the fire of our
choke the oxygen out of the fire of our creative selves but no longer no no
creative selves but no longer no no
creative selves but no longer no no longer me I want to be an animated
longer me I want to be an animated
longer me I want to be an animated storyteller with that reggae swaggin a
storyteller with that reggae swaggin a
storyteller with that reggae swaggin a Maya Angelou hem in my throat carrying
Maya Angelou hem in my throat carrying
Maya Angelou hem in my throat carrying the confidence of heritage and eons and
the confidence of heritage and eons and
the confidence of heritage and eons and oppression overturned
oppression overturned
oppression overturned sometimes I am sometimes I’m not
sometimes I am sometimes I’m not
sometimes I am sometimes I’m not sometimes just a white girl with a
sometimes just a white girl with a
sometimes just a white girl with a bruising tale daring you to dare me to
bruising tale daring you to dare me to
bruising tale daring you to dare me to dare myself to succeed and I exist here
dare myself to succeed and I exist here
dare myself to succeed and I exist here on this stage to dare you to dare
on this stage to dare you to dare
on this stage to dare you to dare yourself to do the same so I appreciate
yourself to do the same so I appreciate
yourself to do the same so I appreciate you listening to these last 10 minutes
you listening to these last 10 minutes
you listening to these last 10 minutes which poorly explained 9 bad
which poorly explained 9 bad
which poorly explained 9 bad relationships which ate away the very
relationships which ate away the very
relationships which ate away the very potential 7 shrink never suggested I
potential 7 shrink never suggested I
potential 7 shrink never suggested I I spent six years as a part-time student
I spent six years as a part-time student
I spent six years as a part-time student acquiring five figures and that
acquiring five figures and that
acquiring five figures and that foregoing degrees at three different
foregoing degrees at three different
foregoing degrees at three different universities too small to cultivate my
universities too small to cultivate my
universities too small to cultivate my one aspiration to live out loud
one aspiration to live out loud
one aspiration to live out loud infinitely as a poet thank you all so
infinitely as a poet thank you all so
infinitely as a poet thank you all so much
much
much [Applause]
”
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