“Faggot!” “Queer!”

The words I hear as I exit the gas station.

Six adolescents scream the words as two adults stand idle, smirking at the actions, smirking at my intimidation. Thankfully, nothing happened that evening. Nothing except an addition to what has already been a life of harsh, damaging words. “Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” If only.

I did have my phone with me, and I did have my finger on the emergency button ... just in case. Who should have to live like this? Who?!

“All niggers should die!” The note left on my friend’s front doorstep. This just the follow-up to what are few, but still too many, harassing phone calls. A house where fearful parents keep their small child in the same room at night. Who should have to live like this? Who?!

“We are going to break your legs, faggot!” The words screamed at a bartender running for his own safety, possibly his life. The aggressors chase him, armed with a baseball bat as he tries to complete his night of work. Only to have them come back nights later to slash tires and vandalize cars in the parking lot. Yet these crimes gain less attention than a bumper sticker. A man afraid to go to work. Who should have to live like this? Who?!

What kind of city do we live in? What kind of world? What kind of species are we?

We are a species who preaches love, but acts with hate. A species who admires intelligence, but remains ignorant. A world of diversity, caught in a race for supremacy. A world of culture, caught in an ethnocentric battle. A city of beautiful places, but with a cancerous hatred plaguing it. A city in a free society, but with citizens still bound by the chains of fear.

When will we rise above our own fear? Our fear of allowing all to be equal. Under the law, under the sky, under God. At what point will we realize our society is not being held back by diversity, but by those who oppose it?

Freedom of religion is valued, but used to persecute. Frighten. Leaving those who are persecuted with a bitter taste of injustice in their mouths. Religions who teach how great and loving God is, but act with malice and hatred. Who condemn those that oppose them to a fiery pit. A congregation learning about poor life style choices from leaders who have no authority on what is a choice. I ask those leaders, “Are you gay?” “Could you choose to be?” “WOULD you choose to be?!” “How do you know you’re straight?”

I cannot say how I know I am gay. I cannot say why I am. I cannot say why anyone would ever choose to be! I can say, that it is not a choice. That another’s religion has no right to persecute me. I can plead to be allowed the freedom to decide what is right for me. I can hope that I will be allowed this liberty.

I pose every reader these questions:
Have you ever been afraid to leave a gas station?
Have you ever been fearful of your children sleeping in another room?
Have you ever been scared and running for your life?

If not, then please ... I beg you ... Be Compassionate. Be Empathetic.

Bryan

Speech on 22-Jan 2001 before the
Traverse City Commission Meeting

[Bryan is a active member of Windfire, a support group for gay and lesbian youth. He is twenty-one and aspires to be a social worker and a civil rights/political journalist. He is a frequent reader and contributor to the Record Eagle.]