If a bullet should enter my brain, let that bullet destroy every closet door.
-Harvey Milk
We know many have seen this video, but its just so wonderful that DADT is history and soldiers can come out today while on duty and there will be no punishments or consequences!
An extraordinary woman, teacher, spouse, mother, and astronaut, Christa McAuliffe lost her life on the space shuttle Challenger’s fatal voyage 25 years ago. Lesbian filmmakers made a documentary about McAuliffe not only because of her leadership, but also because she left a major legacy that still teaches all of us today. The filmmakers interviewed one of her students who told of McAuliffe’s intolerance towards bullies and how she made him feel safe.
We remember that day 25 years ago. I was in kindergarten and remember my principal announcing on the PA that the astronauts lost their lives on the Challenger. Even as a adolescent, I understood how much we lost that day when 7 diverse astronauts fearlessly met their fates and left legacies for us to learn.
Mr. Kato, we promise to continue the fight in your honor and in honor of the many we have lost in the battle for equal rights.
Ugandan activist, David Kato was beaten to death in his home this past week. Hundreds of mourners gathered at his funeral wearing t-shirts with an image of his face. Unfortunately, his funeral drew anti-gay protesters who disrespected Kato’s family, friends, and supporters by shouting homophobic rhetoric.
Our hearts are heavy with this loss. Kato died, but his legacy will continue in the fight for Gays and Lesbians who deserve the freedom to love.
We could make some poignant thought about why bullying is wrong, we could go into statistics, we could be all high-brow and pontificate about how wrong it is, but seriously, we are at a writers’ block of how to take the global problem of bullying the LGBT community and stuff it into a blog post that is randomly read.
Here is 1 example: imagine watching a baseball game, and a group of adult men sing the alternate lyrics of Y-M-C-A (Y-R-U-Gay) and you and your friend, just the two of you, are just 18 years old (yes you are considered an adult, but I definitely was still figuring things out then) just sitting in the bleachers enjoying a baseball game and having to take on the banter from immature men and watch others laugh at you who are NOT DOING ANYTHING TO STOP THEM! Where’s John Quinones and his segment “What would you do?” when you need it? So watch the clip above and make your own opinion.
Our opinion, to the haters out there: find something better to do than bullying. Yes, bullying will always be around like air pollution, but guess what, we can actually ignore disruptors of peace. Let the bullies tire themselves out by spending massive amounts of energy critiquing others and over time, they won’t even find out who they are themselves. To anyone who has been bullied, LOVE yourself, be who you are, and most of all do NOT harm yourself.
Friend and activist, Father Geoff Farrow-a former priest and veteran hand-cuffed himself along with others to the gates of the White House to encourage the lame duck congress to repeal DADT immediately. Please CLICK HERE for more on Father Geoff and why Father Geoff fights!
Remember there are people you do not even know yet who love you. As you continue your life, may you love yourself and have fun learning about the ones you love and will love you in return.
Mr. Kato, we promise to continue the fight in your honor and in honor of the many we have lost in the battle for equal rights.
