The other day, I had an argument with a friend I've known all my life. I'll spare you the details; they're all pretty insane. However, it all culminated to him saying I forced my homosexuality onto others.
This really hurt. What exactly did he even mean? He said "When you meet someone, the introduction is 'I'm Paul, and I'm gay.'"
Let me ask this: what's wrong with that?
First off, there are so many thing that straight people cannot ever understand about being gay, no matter how much they want to. I don't care how queer friendly they are, if they don't live with it they don't get it.
Being gay doesn't make us different from anyone else. It's society who tells us we are different. And if you celebrate that "difference" you are either applauded or attacked.
I hate to sound pessimistic, but society is not ready to accept homosexuality. One day it will be, but that day is a long way off. And until then, pride is the only weapon we have. I wish I didn't have wear my rainbow gear, and I wish it didn't mattered, but it does. And that's why gay pride is so important.
A very wise person once told me that tolerance is just as bad as hate. Tolerance says we know it's there, and we can't stop it. So don't tolerate diversity. EMBRACE IT. Shout out the world.
Before I came out, I was on self-destruct. My secret tore me up inside and left long-lasting wounds. When I finally announced and embraced my difference, I began to heal. The only way I can heal is to continue to embrace my difference.
So, ladies and gentleman, pride isn't about pissing off straight people. It's about letting yourself heal. And while being out isn't an option for everyone because of their location or living situation (especially if you live in rural areas like myself, I'm just too hard-headed to hide,) for those of us who are it's an amazing experience. That's one of the reasons I refuse to date closeted people. Until you can learn to embrace your diversity, you can't have the self confidence of an out and proud person.
And straight people, if you think that being out and proud is "forcing your homosexuality" onto people, think of all the all the gay couples you see everyday. There are few. This is something we as homosexuals need to be happy and at peace. If you disagree with being gay, it's not my business. I can't change you. And because of that, I need to wear my rainbow bracelet.
EMBRACE DIVERSITY. REMEMBER, IT'S NOT WHAT PEOPLE CALL YOU. IT'S WHAT YOU ANSWER TO.
Love,
Paul, The Rural Rainbow.
So I haven't made a post in a while
16 years ago
4 comments:
'I'm Paul, and I'm gay.'"
Let me ask this: what's wrong with that?
When you are a young gay.. nothing.. you are allowed your outloud and outproud time.. some last for a week.. some guys are outloud and outproud into their 40's.. however.. the issue arises when your sexuality defines you rather than the other way around.. you should be paul who is among many other things gay (i.e.-male, american, white, non-religous, young, human, burnette) rather than gay paul.. when your sexual prefernce defines you it not only gives you lackluster personality but it shows you are still not comfortable in it
This has come up for the second time so let me clarify: I do not introduce myself "I'm Paul, and I'm gay." That's not true. The person I was arguing with exaggerated many things, including this. This post was merely asking the question "What's wrong with being proud?" I'm sorry for any miscommunication.
I should hope you don't introduce yourself like that. Though there's nothing wrong with it in principle, it'd certainly cause quite a few problems for you...
Well, yeah, maybe there would be something wrong with it. People might begin to think that your personality identifies only with homosexuality - as the boy who posted above me wrote, 'you should be Paul who is among many other things, gay.' They also might get the impression, if you're introducing yourself to any other teenage males ((gay or not)) that you're somehow planning to ask them out or something - that's all that ever really happens to me.
*shrug*
One good point, though - about how straights can never understand a homosexual lifestyle. This, at least, is true - thanks for that. I'm sick of people saying that straights can never understand the struggles that homosexuals face in life; that's bullshit. Out of all the most mentally screwed-up people I know personally ((maybe seven or eight)), only one is gay. People have issues in life no matter whether they're into the whole 'tits!' thing or not.
...Quite a long comment. I should get off this.
E-mail if you feel like hearing more of this.
a.z.n
I think or have the feeling that it s straight people who somehow force their sexuality onto the rest of people, by assuming that most of the people are heterosexual or that being hetero is the normal thing. Well, it is not normal, nothing is normal. I just wish people would talk in a more sexual orientation-neutral way. I am tired of people supposing that I am straight just because I have a boyfriend, or just because.
And I dont want to have to show that I m not straight all the time. It sucks.
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