Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Historic Moment

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.

7 comments:

  1. Good work and keep moving forward with your suport of our LGBT youth. Doing what we can in out small NW town to help here ourselves. Every voice counts.

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  2. This is awesome. I love reading your Bloggs. You do an awesome job in your writings and research.

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  3. You are inspiring and I will always be ready to help in any way that I can. It's time to save or brother and sisters and shine so brightly through this evil, that wishes to obliterate us, that it will think twice before trying to harm anyone ever again.It's time to live equally like we deserve to =D.
    Keelan Boyce

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  4. One lone voice, added to a sea of others will become an outcry of discontent no government can ignore.

    Keep fighting the good fight. I live for the day my uncle and his partner can stand together and say I do wherever they please and be pronounced married instead of "unioned."

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  5. I think you should also credit the Pawsupforever people as well. They are an online support group comprising of Gaga fans who came together in the wake of Jamey Rodemeyer's appalling tragedy.

    In his memory they keep an eye out for online bullying and then bombard the victim with love and support. They helped a young lesbian out the other day and drove the bullies off her Tumblr account.

    My attention was drawn to this issue when I read about Hubley and Rodemeyer and saw their online videos and saw just how beautiful they were as people. I haven't wept so much for ages. I think its the fact that they are still around online which stopped them becoming just another statistic.

    But the fight is being won now. In the UK the otherwise right wing government is pushing gay marriage through as a matter of principle. The bigots are in retreat and I am feeling a genuine sense of hope now for the future.

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    1. You're absolutely right. The Jamey Rodemeyer people are doing amazing things, as well. I didn't leave them out for any other reason that there were just so many to name. The truth of the matter is that there are a lot of people right now doing some really, really special things. They are, without doubt, part of that number. Thanks for point that out.

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  6. My Name is Carrie, I Go to east high school, I'm a group Leader of Stand for the Silent, its a bullying program for everyone whose been or is being bullied, Kirk Smalley is a Huge person in bullying as well, He may not just be for LGBT but for everyone.

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