What's Up

       It is a tragedy that these kids have no place to turn. Many are even deserted by their own families. Without a support structure in place to guide them, without any visible confirmation that they are not alone, they are left to fend for themselves in an environment that is less than hospitable to them.

       They need to be taught to love themselves. They need to know that they are not alone. They must be able to look out into society and see that there is a place for people such as themselves. And the only way they will be able to do that is for us to shoulder the responsibility of making ourselves visible to them and all of the rest of society as well . Every single homosexual person in this country needs to stand up for these children. We are their only hope, as we are the only ones who understand that being homosexual is not a choice that was given to us to decide upon for ourselves.

       We allow these things to happen by our own continued apathy. As long as we, the voting, tax paying, homosexual citizens of this country, allow the hate and bigotry to go on without challenge it will never cease. And we will suffer the casualties of our neglect of these children.

       One thing that we can do is stop hiding in the closets that we retreated into due to the societal pressures that were put upon us when we were children. There are some adults within our community who are very active in gay rights issues, but far too few. I know all to well what it is like to be closeted. I was afraid to speak up about my own sexuality due to the negative repercussions that would have occurred at my place of employment, or even within my own family. So, I can empathize with the angst of speaking out and possibly bringing one's own sexuality into question. Although I never came out at my place of employment, I was certainly suspected of being a gay person by my fellow workers and the rumors abounded. The expression of my displeasure at gay epithets as well as the other forms of discriminatory remarks was my only salvation. Since I was in a quasi-management position, I felt comfortable in offering my opinion on issues of prejudice.

       I wish that I had come out years before I actually did. You can not believe the burden that was lifted from my psyche when I finally decided that I could no longer live the lie that I was living. I actually had friends at work whom I knew to be gay, and did not even confide in them for all those years. Obviously, I had let myself fall prey to the rules that had been placed before me that were the ideals of others, rather than my own. So, I kept my own feelings bottled up inside and suffered silently. I now realize the damage that was inflicted on me by my letting others convince me that being gay was abnormal.

       There is but one logical answer. We must first conquer the shame that we have been tagged with that keeps us in hiding. For as long as we are invisible to these youth and do not make ourselves clearly known to them and the rest of society, nothing will change. It must be made crystal clear to all who confront us that we will no longer tolerate the prejudice being taught by the Bible thumping bigots, nor the money grubbing, corrupt politicians who prostitute themselves by passing laws in exchange for the hate money that these bigots offer them.