âThey call us âHomophobicâ! I ainât scared of no queers! They are the ones going to hell! They should be scared!â That was the line shouted by my red-faced, Independent Baptist pastor from behind his sacred pulpit nearly fifteen years agoâŚ
Let me first back up even more to my childhood. Born in 1977, I was primarily raised during the 80âs. It was a time when there were no obviously gay characters on regular TV and âMoney for Nothingâ by Dire Straights had the lyric âthat little faggot with the earring and the make-upâ playing on the radio. The 1980âs saw the end of the golden age for those who wanted a primarily gay-free pop culture. Outside of the correlation made between the outbreak of HIV/AIDS and homosexuality, I donât remember many other references to gays by the media during my childhood.
I didnât have any inherent dislike of gay peopleâŚ
I’ll keep this one short and hope you read the link to my other blog. Gay marriage is now legal in ALL states and has been recognized as Constitutional by the Supreme Court. It has been a long, hard road for LGBT couples and it is about damn time.
Many people, gay, straight, and everything in between, are overjoyed. Many others are not. They range in their reactions from being mildly bothered to foaming at the mouth, calling down fire and brimstone upon the ungodly.
I primarily want to address the angry folks. Years ago, I was a homophobe due to my former religious conviction. Last year, I wrote an article about my transition from being against the LGBTÂ community to being a strong supporter and advocate. I ask that you take several minutes to read my story, especially if you don’t like me already. Please click the link below.
To those who are on the side of marriage equality, but know others who are not or are anti-gay, I ask you to please share my story with your family and/or friends who are still on the “other side” of this issue. (I, for example, used to be for the right for gays to marry, yet believed homosexuality to be a “sin”) We are all in this thing called “life” together and are all living this American Experience. Let’s do what we can to encourage togetherness and change rather than division.
“You Never Really Know a Person Until” by Luke Austin Daugherty. Typed on a vintage Royal Mercury manual typewriter. Words and photo Copyright 2015: Luke Austin Daugherty, All Rights Reserved
Words and picture copyright 2015, Luke Austin Daugherty- All Rights Reserved
This is the second poem that I’ve written on an old Royal Mercury compact manual typewriter that I picked up at a thrift store last week. I love how the thing types!
My new/old Royal Mercury typewriter. Photo: Luke Austin Daugherty Copyright 2015