PRIDE, PART II

please watch this first...




Today is October 11. This day is very important to me for a couple of reasons. First, is known, in the LGBT community, as National Coming Out Day. It is the day we have decided to embrace everyone in our community, and make our voices heard, our presence known, and our hearts open. Why October 11? It is the anniversary of the March On Washington for Gay Rights, on Oct. 11, 1987, where almost a million people marched on the Washington Mall for recognition of gay rights, including marriage, military service, and other issues.

Well, it's been 24 years, and we've done...okay, so far. Marriage is legal in six states now, including my dream home of New York City, and if I so chose, tomorrow I could go to a recruiting office, sign up, and serve my country.

This is important to me because I recognize that there is no ONE person who can make a difference...not without a ton of help. We are called a COMMUNITY because we share common things. Traits, sure. Politics? Sometimes. Desires? Well...not always. And goals? Depends on who you ask.

So what is that we share? An identity? Not necessarily that, either. Plenty of people who are attracted to the same sex don't call themselves gay, lesbian, or what have you, and that is perfectly within their right.

What most people don't understand about labels is that it is not what OTHERS call me in how I define myself. It is what I CALL MYSELF.

And what I CALL MYSELF is not just gay, not just an actor, or a writer, or a lover of musicals, or GLEE.

I CALL MYSELF...MICHAEL.

That is my name, and I like my name. In fact, I have the greatest name in the world. Besides being the most popular name in America for a VERY long time (I believe I read somewhere it was 45 years running at one point...), it means, in Hebrew, "He Who Is Like God."

Yeah, I know. Ego trip, right?

But more than that, it is the name I was given by the people who brought me into this world.

I also have a middle name. Roy. I don't always tell people my middle name, not because I'm embarrassed, but because it's kind of hard to talk about sometimes. My middle name is from my paternal grandfather, Roy Wayne Stratton, who died long before I was born. I never met him. I wish I had. I've heard stories over the years, stories which have made me proud, but I really wish I'd gotten a chance to meet him and get to know him myself.

So, there's that.



But...I said this day is important for a couple of reasons. It is the second reason which touches me deeper, and more emotionally, than anything ever has, or ever will. My last post was about 9/11, and how that affected me, and that is still such a great tragedy, and I would never poke fun or make light of it.

But to me, personally, the greater tragedy than thousands of lives taken...is the one taken, targeted, by hate.

I am referring to Matthew Shepard, the gay University of Wyoming student who was beaten, tied to a fence, and left for dead. He never woke from his coma, and he died in the early morning hours of October 11, 1998.

I was not even 16 yet, a Sophomore in high school, not much younger than Matt himself. And certainly not completely out. Only a handful of people knew, including my best (and oldest) friend, a couple other schoolmates (not exactly friends, anymore, anyway), and my parents, who knew in their hearts, even though they'd had the decency to go along with my "God told me not to be gay, so I'm not" phase. (Thanks, mom and dad, btw...)

I remember reading the paper (as I did every morning. I'm STILL a news junkie...) about how he'd been found, never regained conciousness, and how his mother and father stayed by his bedside every moment till after he was gone. I thought, if I could do ONE THING, other than going back in time and making it never happen, it would be to reach out to Matthew's mother, and give her the biggest hug I could muster.

Alas, I was unable to.

This haunted me for weeks, until finally, I broke down, and I confessed, again, to my parents, the truth. That I was gay, and there was nothing that could change it. I was pretty surly, if I remember correctly, and I'm pretty sure my attitude was something like "if you don't like it, then fuck you."

Fortunately, my parents were (and ARE) totally awesome, and they told me they loved me. And THIS TIME, I didn't take it back. ;O

Five years later, I'm a sophomore in college. I'm a theatre major, and I have the brilliant fortune to be cast in a production of The Laramie Project, a play that was written directly in response to Matthew's murder, and which to this day, evokes a gut wrenching sob every time I read it or think too hard and long about it.

I couldn't believe my luck. I wanted to tell this story more than anything, especially in the face of protesters with their disgusting signs of GOD HATES FAGS and MATT IN HELL and THANK GOD FOR AIDS.

Oh, what I wouldn't have given to knock some sense into those bastards...

Luckily, my brethren at Bruce Hall did it for me, all without violence, and with quite a bit of humor and charm.

But the best was yet to come.

A mere week after we finished our production, there was a very special guest speaker on campus. A woman by the name of Judy Shepard. Matthew's mother, who still travels to tell her story, and to fight homophobia all over the country.

After her speech, the audience (of which our entire cast had been invited to), was asked for questions. Being me, I sprang up out of my seat, and had the honor of asking the first question. After thanking her for taking the time to come to our little campus, I asked her what she thought her son would think of the protesters, and how he would react to them. I also asked what she would want to tell him if he were alive, and what she thought he would want to tell us.

She seemed to smile (as best as I could tell. I was at least thirty yards away while she was onstage).

She told me she'd tell him she loved him, and that he would probably ignore the protesters, or make a joke, and go about his business, because he was a peaceful person.

I was happy enough to be in the same room with this incredible woman, nevertheless get an answer from a question I had asked.

But the best was yet to come.

Thanks to a dear friend of mine (David Warner, I'm talking about you!) our cast was invited to lunch with Judy, through the campus group GLAD (Gay and Lesbian Association of Denton).

It is there I met her in person, shook her hand, told her how inspiring she was, and I finally, after five years, got to do what I'd promised I would. I gave her the biggest hug I could muster.

Tears were in my eyes, and I don't know if she cried, too, but she seemed grateful, and for that, so am I.

I left that lunch that day with a renewed sense of purpose, and a renewed energy towards fighting for equality, and fighting for what I believe in.


October 11 is a very special day in my life, and I will always remember what it means to me, and to others.



Thank you, Matthew.

Thank you, Judy Shepard.

Thank you, Mom and Dad.

And thank you to all the people out there who have fought for equality.

And to all those who struggle with their identity, and struggle to be who they are, and more than anything, to be honest with themselves, and their loved ones...IT GETS BETTER.

It might suck now. It might suck for a while. BUT IT GETS BETTER.

YOU. ARE. LOVED.

GOD LOVES YOU, AND GOD BLESSES YOU.

I'm Ready! Ready for the big ride....baby!

Ahem. Please click links below, then come back and read.

[url]http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/26/rick-perry-gay-marriage-pledge_n_938054.html?ref=fb&src=sp[/url]

[url]http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/08/13/1006527/-LADIES-AND-GENTS-THE-REAL-RICK-PERRY[/url]

[url]http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2011/06/10/241830/top-10-thing-texas-gov-rick-perry/[/url]

[url]http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2011/08/25/Why_Rick_Perry_Should_Worry_About_Equating_Homosexuality_to_Alcoholism/[/url]

[url]http://www.baywindows.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=glbt&sc2=news&sc3&id=123772[/url]


I am so sick and tired of conservatives, Republicans, Fundamentalist Christians, and so-called commentators ramrodding the bible, or jesus, or god, down the public's throat. I have to admit, they're good at it, but I'm so sick and tired of it.

For the LAST. FUCKING. TIME. ---NOT ALL AMERICANS ARE CHRISTIAN. NOT ALL AMERICANS ARE RIGHT WING NUTJOBS. And most importantly, NOT ALL AMERICANS ARE STUPID!!!

Now, to my christian friends, I must apologize in advance, because while this diatribe may seem directed towards you, it is, in fact, not. It is only directed towards those in the public/political eye who appear to claim self righteousness as a God-fearing Christian, when really all they're spouting is their own personal hatred and bigotry.

I haven't been REALLY involved in politics since the election of 2004, when I was campaigning for Howard Dean, and then John Kerry, when he won the nomination. Even in 2008, while I voted for Obama, and spoke highly of him and respected both him and Hillary Clinton, I stayed in the background.

Well, the vacation's over. Because I have NEVER been spurred into action more than by the candidacy of Rick Perry.

I am a PROUD Texan, born and raised. I LOVE MY STATE. I LOVE MOST PEOPLE IN MY STATE. But don't even think I'm gonna let some bumfuck redneck with a great coif of hair prove every Texas-hating and Texas-bashing moron that he speaks for ALL OF US. Because, Governor Perry, YOU DON'T SPEAK FOR ME.

The above links are articles and opinions on Rick Perry, and others in the GOP who feel that verbally bashing gay people (and I'm including EVERYONE that could possibly fit into our nice little alphabet soup) is okay because "it's what I believe" or "it says in the bible..."

Well, guess what. I believe in a few things, too. Like...The US Constitution. Which says you can say whatever you want, whenever you want, and the GOVERNMENT can do nothing to you (albeit notwithstanding a few court cases to amend the first amendment), but remember, that means I CAN SAY WHAT I WANT, TOO.

And here it is...

Rick Perry...you are the sick, diseases pustule on the asscrack of American Bigots.

You may preach your biblical views, and you may espouse your hatred and bigotry, but don't think for a minute I will stand for it without putting up a fight.

You are the saddest excuse for a governor, or a leader of any kind, that I have ever had the displeasure of living under. And that includes your predecessor as both governor, and president.

You are a hypocrite, a bigot, and worst of all, an ASSHOLE.

These Republicans, conservatives, far right wingers continue to abuse and neglect not just gay people, but their own constituents, their own voting public.

I am not naive to think that there's ever been a completely honest politician. What I am is an optimist that someone, somewhere, down the road, if not today, will stand up for what is right, and what is truly sacred in this country---FREEDOM.

You, Mr. Perry, have spoken openly before about wanting to secede from the union. And now you want to run this same union? This makes no sense to me.

It's time the Democrats, or liberals, or anyone opposing the Republicans, take a lesson from their book. GET IN PEOPLE'S FACES. TEAR THEM APART.

This ain't the kindergarten playground anymore. This is the BIG BOY'S CLUB.

So, President Obama, you had better go and find your balls, wherever John Boehner and whoever have put them in a jar, because everything Rick Perry says are what we here in Texas refer to as "fightin' words."

IT IS TIME TO FIGHT BACK FOR OUR FREEDOM. IT IS TIME TO FIGHT BACK FOR OUR RIGHTS. IT IS TIME TO FIGHT BACK AGAINST HATRED, BIGOTRY, RACISM, HOMOPHOBIA, MISOGYNY, AND WHATEVER IT'S CALLED WHEN YOU HATE ATHEISTS.

BECAUSE SOME ATHEISTS ARE AMERICAN, TOO. Just like you, Rick. JUST. LIKE. YOU.

You may wonder why I'm so vocal and adamant now. It's simple. I'm tired of being treated like shit. I'm tired of being asked out on a date by the popular jock, who I believed never knew I existed, who then proceeds to feel up my dress and rip off my panties all the while i'm screaming "NO!"

THIS IS AMERICA, AND THIS IS MY HOME, TOO. And I will not let you take it over with your legions of misguided, and yes, sometimes stupid and ignorant CULT that feels the need to defend their bigotry and racism and homophobia with lies and half truths and complete and utter BULLSHIT.

So let this be a lesson to you, Rick Perry, Michelle Bachman, Rick Santorum, and others...

I WILL FIGHT. And while I may not win...I'm a Texan. I sure as FUCK won't give up.

Because...

YOU. DO. NOT. SPEAK. FOR. ME.

PRIDE, Part I

Being from Texas, I have a lot to be proud of. The Texas Rangers, always. The Cowboys...only marginally these days. The Mavs...sure. But I'm not a sports guy. I'm a theatre guy, and to most people in texas (read, most STRAIGHT people), that doesn't fly. Well, sorry to burst your bubble, but sports isn't everything.

I am a proud and out homosexual. I am now 28 years old, less than six months from turning 29. And I have been out to my family and my friends, and pretty much everyone, since I was 16 years old. That's twelve long years. Not quite half my life, but long enough. I've seen ups and downs and sideways and no ways, but through it all, I have always known who I truly am, deep inside.

Some of my friends chastise me regularly on how much I talk about, or care about, gay issues. I have one friend in particular, who, several years ago, during a presidential election race, called me a "one trick pony," because he thought all I cared about was same-sex marriage.

Let me be clear...there has never been, and never will be, only ONE issue I care about. I do, however, consider it a VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE. And why not?

The thing that a lot of heterosexuals don't understand, and they take for granted is, they can marry pretty much whomever they want (as long as that other person consents). Meaning, no one can tell them what to do. This is a BASIC FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHT. And they've been doing it so long, that they can't recognize it when the exact opposite is true for others.

My friend tells me I can marry whomever I want...as long as it's a woman. Well, NEWSFLASH, I DON'T WANT TO MARRY A WOMAN!!

It pains me, TO THE CORE, to think that someone can legally do something that I am not allowed. I just don't understand how someone can't see the difference. Those who argue that same-sex marriage will bring about the downfall of American society are just ignorant, biased, and bigoted. Yes, I said bigoted.

Every single person who has ever said something against gay marriage in this way, just look at their track record. Not a single one of them has ever supported gay rights, as far as I can tell. Pat Robertson? One of the biggest homophobes ever. Same for Jerry Falwell. This is a guy who actually blamed 9/11 on gays and lesbians, and people who have had abortions.

Um...correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't we discern that the perpetrators of 9/11 were fundamentalist Jihad Muslims under the direction of Osama bin Laden? Who is absolutely AGAINST gays and abortion? I mean...come on!



My point is simple. Leave us be. Just let me and my friends and my loved ones enjoy the SAME RIGHTS as you do. Not SPECIAL RIGHTS. Because while marriage may be SPECIAL in the eyes of its partakers, it is NOT A SPECIAL RIGHT. It is an EQUAL RIGHT.

I rejoice with my gay brothers and lesbian sisters in New York today with the news that same-sex marriage is legal in that state. This brings the number of gay American citizens who can marry to double the number it was before yesterday. So, six states, plus the District of Columbia (Washington, D.C., for those unaware), can now offer full marriage benefits to all human couples. Notice I said couples, not groups of one man and several women, or one woman and several men. Notice I said human, not animal, seeing as the most an animal can decide is where or where not to shit, and not sign a legal document.

Notice I said EQUAL, not SPECIAL, and most of all, notice this America...the time is here. The time is now. EQUALITY WILL REIGN.

ATTENTION ALL NAYSAYERS AND HOMOPHOBES--YOUR TIME IS COMING TO AN END. YOUR REIGN WILL BE OVER SOON. TAKE NOTICE. THIS IS A CALL TO ARMS FOR THE PRIDE OF HUMANITY. THIS IS A CALL TO ARMS FOR EQUALITY.

God bless you, New York, and God bless EVERYONE, NO MATTER who they love.


AMEN.

--DG