Of course we could always tell he was in love with Shawn.
Yesterday’s election results were proof of this. Possibly the best birthday gift I could have wished for. For the past few weeks, like many, I’ve been ridden with anxiety over what the outcome of this election could be & how it would affect our country, and the future of so many people both here and around the world.
But In the face of uncertainty, to see the voices of so many incredible people in recent months, stand up and fight against the racism, homophobia, xenophobia, and other forms of hatred that have been used as a tool to divide this country was so inspiring.
From early on when I initially came to understand I was gay, I always struggled with the idea that i would be labeled as different or “other”, and feared the idea of “coming out”. I grew up thinking people would treat me differently, that I would lose friends, and I was conditioned to have so many worries and stigmas attached to the idea of my sexuality that I buried my feelings and didn’t start to tell anyone until later in life.
What I found though, when I started to come out to my close friends, and family, is that the reality was so different than my fears. That if anything, I gained friends, felt loved and supported, and most importantly started to feel for the first time in my life that I was truly myself. That there were in fact so many people that loved me for who I was.
I was fortunate, but many aren’t as lucky as I have been, and now more than ever, I hope we can all help show young people that being different is what makes us unique, what makes us powerful, and what makes us who we are, and that they will be supported not just by their friends and family but also by their communities and governments.
Let’s continue to support eachother and pick eachother up. Your voices do not stop mattering after this election.
Lets never stop making noise. The future of this country & the future of equality for every kid out there that is different depends on it. This victory is just the first step & we have a lot of work to do still.
Love always wins.