If you’ve ever had a conversation with me -or read my blog- you might know that I’m not subtle. So many people and movies and news stories in my life have told me to be quiet. Or urged me not to “make a scene” or upset too many people because I still have to deal with them after the fact. Yeah, it didn’t stick. I cannot walk through life with an armor made of lies. I’m not going to pretend that I’m okay with someone being homophobic or bullying or throwing our slurs they don’t understand. I have to call it out when I see it. It makes days tough sometimes, but ignoring the truth doesn’t make it go away.
Note: it is not always safe for people to say everything they want to, and I want to nod my head to you guys. The other day I realized something that shook me. It’s that there is nothing that anyone can say to me that will break me. They will never come up with anything worse than what I am already telling myself every day. I will not break because of hate. So, I don’t censor myself, but do I have to keep an eye on people’s reaction. I’ll mention a girl being cute and I have to watch their eyes. I roll my eyes at something in politics and I hold my breath. Half of my identity, just who I am, is a political statement. I’m gay. I’m disabled. I’m loud. My dad is an immigrant. I have mental illnesses. I didn’t choose this things and I wouldn’t trade them out. I am who I am and I am finally learning to like me. Hate me because of what I do, not who I am. If I’m mean to you, I’m sorry, but feel free to never want to see me again. Those are reasons I have power over, and you don’t owe my anything. But, don’t decide you hate me before you meet me. The people telling me to not be controversial were right. People will go pretty far when they don’t understand who I am. I can be friends with people who have different views with me, but not people who devalue other human beings because of the color or their skin or gender. I started thinking about this last night. I got the chance to meet Zyahna Bryant, teenage activist who sparked change in VA, before she gave a speech and it was amazing. She said something in her that I can’t stop thinking about. She challenged us to “do what sets your soul on fire.”
2 Comments
Suzy Cashwell
1/26/2019 06:36:57 pm
I love you and I wish I had the courage to say some of the things you say.
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X
1/30/2019 07:29:33 pm
YAS!!! <3
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Who Am I?Hi there! I'm Whit, my pronouns are they/them, and I write a lot.
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Painting by Whit Acrylics on masonite April 20th, 2019 Words are a Quaker saying. George Fox? |