While we're enjoying a moment of relative calm, and I'm knocking on wood as I say that, I figured this is a good time to do a little reflecting. And, sharing.
We're in a time period right here and now that I've been dreaming about since I was a much younger man. I've always said that the only way things were ever going to change would be for every gay, lesbian, bisexual, and trangender person to come out of the closet and make themselves known. That day is here. We're coming out at the workplace; we're coming out in middle and high school. And, our voices are resonating around the globe. It's a beautiful day.
Of course, it isn't coming without resistance from "the other side". That just means that we're doing something right! We're standing up and telling the world that we are no less equal than anyone else. And, it's scaring the hell out of "them". That's fine. Change scares people.
And, of course, there's still a lot of work to be done. The issue of bullying and LGBT teen suicide is a black eye on the face of this, the new Civil Rights movement. Slowly but surely, as more and more people are standing up to be counted, changes are being made even on that sore spot. In some cases, sadly, the change isn't coming fast enough.
We're at an exciting time in our history. Not just LGBT history! History, period!! Within the next 10-15 years, marriage equality will be the norm. The LGBT teen suicide will be next-to-nil because the changing environment will no longer tell them that they're freaks, sick, or damaged. It will embrace them. At the very least, it will accept them. What a major boost to their collective self-esteem that will be. We're on the forefront of that movement right here, right now. And, years down the road, people will look back upon this time as the turning point, the point in time where we stood up and told the world ENOUGH IS ENOUGH, and made them listen. And, there will be names that will stand out.
Kevin "Kel" O'Neil has created a monster of a facebook community, and website, that is truly changing and saving lives!
Lyndsay Winegarden created a safe haven for at-risk teens in her effort to STOP Teenage Suicide. That's no small feat.
Charity Smith created a forum for people to come out anonymously. How huge is that!? That's a major step for many people.
When Jamie Hubley committed suicide in October 2011, several tribute pages popped up on facebook in his honor. One in particular, though, has morphed into the most loving and caring support community online. People there know each other by name. When people have struggles, there's always, always, always people there ready to rush to their assistance. Amazing.
Young people are coming forward bravely and very effectively and reaching out to their peers in an effort to make a difference. Brett Simpson created a video encouraging other teens to contact him personally if they needed someone to talk to or if they were struggling. Not satisfied with that, he turned his personal social network page into a support community AND started a second one. The response to both has been nothing short of phenomenal.
Jonah Mowry is part of a group of teens who have decided to take the matter of bullying, as well as their future as LGBT teens, into their own hands. They are organizing what they're calling the Monster March Against Bullying, with the goal of having tens of thousands of teens from all over the country (world?) march with them to San Francisco's City Hall in October. That's incredible stuff!
Those of you who have been reading this blog for a while know that it was Jamie Hubley's suicide that made me decide to roll up my sleeves and get involved in trying to make a difference. This blog was created, and will always be written, in his honor. He gave me my true voice. And, since its inception on November 7th, I've been humbled by the response it has received. It's being read by hundreds, and sometimes thousands, per day. More importantly, it's making a difference in people's lives. That wouldn't be happening, however, without every single one of you who are reading these words right now! You read it; you respond to it by way of your comments and emails; and, you get involved when it's called upon you to do so. So, it's actually YOU who are making the difference!!
Together, we are changing history!! I've dreamed of this historic moment forever.
