Today I am wearing purple. So should you. Over the past few months we have witnessed five lives lost because of intolerance and hopelessness. The most famous of these deaths was that of Rutgers University freshman Tyler Clementi. All five of these boys died unnecessarily, and that makes me angry. It makes me sad. It makes me want to do something about it. I can never ever bring back all the lives lost due to bullying and intolerance by others but I can do my best to make sure it never happens again. I am proud to call myself an ally of the LGBTQ community and I have been blessed with friends who have taught me so much about what it is like to be a proud member of this community.
I have this message for anyone who happens to stumble across this blog:
Love of any kind is natural, whether you are gay, straight, bisexual, transsexual, or unsure. Being gay is not a crime, nor is it something to be afraid or ashamed of. Be proud of who you are (the degree to which you express your pride is all up to you). If you ever need someone to talk to, know that there are always people out there who care about you and want the very best for you. Whatever pain and hopelessness you are feeling now will pass. If you do not feel loved, then know I love you.
Important Resources:
Articles for Gay Teens
http://gaylife.about.com/od/gayteens/Gay_Teenagers_Help.htm
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
1-800-273-TALK (8255)
http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
HopeLine
1(800)SUICIDE
I'm going to say something controversial.
ReplyDeleteI didn't wear purple yesterday. #1 Because I don't have a shirt that's purple. But more importantly #2 what's wearing a purple for a day going to do?
Let me clear something up. I have a cousin and a friend who's gay. I don't think any less of them. I'm a supporter of gay rights.
But there's too little being done. We need to be doing more than just a wardrobe change. Only our actions can stop H8. It's like tying a pink ribbon and saying you're fighting Breast Caner. No you're not. Fighting breast cancer would be donating money to research.
Again I'm not against gay rights I just see this whole "awareness" thing as doing way too little.
I don't think that's controversial. I completely understand what you are saying. Wearing purple for me is only one way to get the wheels turning for real change and for a real stand against hate. As far as I am concerned this is only step 1 in an ongoing process.
ReplyDelete