thelesbianlifestyle.com

Activism is important. It is important so that future generations of LGBT youth and adults do not go through what some of us went, and are still going, through. It is important to secure equal rights and protections, and to move toward tolerance and acceptance in mainstream society. I know this, because facing homophobia is a way of life, and has been for a very long time.

I grew up in a homophobic family. They are still homophobic, though perhaps not quite as much as when I was younger. I’ve had the great gay debate with my mother countless times, and I always hit a brick wall with her. Just yesterday I overheard her on the phone condemning New York’s decision to legalize gay marriage.I was not surprised, but the lack of surprise at her words did nothing to lessen the hurt that is always there when I hear such words from my own flesh and blood.

Growing up in a hellfire and brimstone Baptist family is never easy for any queer kid, and I was no different. They tried to “fix” my gayness- obviously it didn’t work. This experience, along with the hypocrisy and hate directed toward All Things Gay scarred me for life and made me hate organized religion. I still have huge hang ups about that to this day. I also know that if and when I find my one and only, the day they can no longer live in denial, the day my homosexuality is no longer something they can avoid and not talk about, is the day I will be disowned forever. I have made peace with that, and accepted it as a sad fact, but it doesn’t mean that I am not ANGRY. I am angry at every time I have been gay bashed. I am angry that the people who should love me unconditionally cannot love me as I am, but only as the person they want me to be. That isn’t loving me at all.

That is why I am an activist. I would wish my family experience on no one. There is a lot of detail being left out here, but, to be blunt: they are a bunch of narrow minded, bible-thumping, judgmental, fundamentalist bigots who wish to deny me and every other LGBT American the same rights and protections that they enjoy as heterosexuals. They wish to impose their disgusting, bigoted beliefs upon the rest of the nation instead of accepting that people are people and that they should live and let live.

Had I had an easier time, perhaps I would not be so passionate. But I know what it is like to be Out and Proud in a family of bigots in the Bible Belt. I know what it is like to have the woman who bore me to have no respect for me, to have disgust and contempt for me, just for being who I am. I wish to change that. Perhaps that is why I was born into a bigoted family instead of a tolerant one. To make a difference. I spread awareness, I sign petitions, I write politicians, I go to Pride, I go to rallies, I mentor youth, I live an Out Lifestyle and dare anyone to judge me for it. I do it because I am not only angry for ME. I am angry for everyone who has had such experiences, and if I can change even one mind, save even one child from Ex Gay Therapy, get even one family to stop being bigots and embrace diversity, have compassion, and accept all people as they come, to live and let live, then I am doing my job, and my righteous anger and tireless activism have not been in vain. Thank you for reading, and I hope you take something away from this, and I hope this reaches at least one person and inspires that person to push for equality for all people, as so many of us are doing.

Sent in by: Shannon
Age: 30
Location: Rock Hill,SC
Website: So You Want to be a Lesbian