April 2010 – Jaunty-Rabbit

I am gay. I am an American. I contributed to President Obama’s campaign, I get emails from him everyday, telling me what he is doing, how he is changing the world. How much better things are going to be for us all. But he never mentions me, or the millions like me.

I read in the morning paper that a man’s property taxes went up from $1700 per year to over $10,000 a year. Just because his partner of 37 years passed away. Because they did not share the same rights that straight people enjoy. He is something less than an American. He is a gay American. Not even capitalized. Something to be loathed, laughed at, put down, beat up, picked on, killed. Something to be ignored. I read where a young boy committed suicide because his faith told him he was wicked. I read how another young man was beaten to death because he was different.

I have news for you, I send your kids to school, I pay for the roadways you drive on, the bus you sit in, the welfare you collect, the salary you get, the fire and police protection you deserve. I write your story, I act it out, I create the clothes you wear, I teach your kids, I take care of you when you get sick. I drive you to the store, I operate the crane that builds your towns, the highways you drive. I feed you when you are hungry, let you rest when you are weary, caress you when you are lonely, support you when you can’t make it alone. I am your friend, your neighbor, your son, your daughter, mother and father. I am you. But I am less because you don’t acknowledge me. I am more than you think, more than you want, more than you know. I am you. Acknowledge me. I do exist. I am.

I feel pain, I bleed, I get envious, jealous, mad and happy. I am confident, secure, pensive, weak, strong and sweet. I am blonde, brunette, red haired, blue eyed, green eyed and sometimes red eyed. I have dogs, cats, fish, snakes, spider and no pets. I drive a Honda, Chevy, Toyota, Jeep, Mercedes, Rolls. I live in Malibu, Watts, Topeka, St. Louis, Louisville, Grand Rapids and everywhere in between, above, below and next to. I am successful, down and out, average, middle class and broke. I am army, navy, air force and marines, and I am civilian. I am a scientist, a doctor, a file clerk, a musician, and actor. I am a car salesman, and an IRS agent. I can work for you, take care of you, feed you, be your boss, be your congressman, judge, jury and executioner. I am in every corner of your life, every nook and cranny, every day in day out connection. I walk with you, talk with you, consul you, advise you, laugh with you, cry with you, die with you. I am Catholic, Mormon, Jewish, Muslim, Agnostic, and Buddhist. I am you. Acknowledge me. I do exist. I am.

I don’t want more, I don’t want less. I don’t want special treatment. I don’t want to be revered or feared. I don’t want you to exalt me or to shame me. I don’t want you beat me or kill me. I don’t want to rape you or molest you. I don’t want to be afraid to walk down a street or to be called names. I don’t want to make you gay or straight, or to turn your kids gay. I don’t want you to hate me because I am gay, I don’t want you to love me because I am gay. I don’t want you to fear me because I am gay. I want you to acknowledge me. I do exist. I am.