This is an open letter to the hateful and homophobic among us. You know down deep in your heart who you are, even though you may try to make yourself feel better by believing you are just standing up for what you believe. It is time to ask yourself what you do believe.
Children are dying. Right now, right here in this country, and in epidemic proportions. Most people with a pulse have heard of, and are devastated by, the recent string of teen suicides. I think it is important to take the story one step further and understand where this is coming from. Our entire society needs to take on the task of reigning in bullying and vow to not let another slander pass by our ears unchallenged.
...but this is also more than bullying.
We need to see how this got to be so huge and what created the current climate that has emboldened some children so that they think it is alright to make other children feel so alone and unwelcome in this world that living no longer seems like a viable option.
These children were killed by their own hand when their hand was grabbed and pushed toward the gun, or the rope, or the pills by the small minded, hateful and homophobic among us.
Why now?
Think about it. Recent elections across the country have included long awaited equality measures for our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters. These measures intended to finally right longstanding wrongs and ensure the protections guaranteed in the constitution for all of our citizens were met not by rational discussion or argument, but by hate, intolerance and fear. Why? There is no sane rationalization for denying equality to all, so fear and hate have become the tools of choice to scare and motivate the masses to vote against their fellow Americans.
I hear you call yourselves “social conservatives*.” What a pleasant sounding term. I for one will no longer let you hide behind this euphemism and will call you what you are - Hateful, resentful, and inhumane. You are the killers of children.
You think this is too harsh? Well maybe it takes harsh words to get you to understand what you have done. The hate-filled, fear motivated, and intolerant language you bombarded the airwaves with (and possibly even your own family discussions) during these elections has empowered your soon to be hate-filled, fear motivated, and intolerant offspring to torment their peers. They are following your lead. You have successfully taught them to ignore the golden rule you used to talk so much about when they were younger.
You have unintentionally turned your very own children into killers of children. You have created a climate where children no longer feel safe, hopeful, or welcome in this world, all because there are those that are different from you and who dare to dream of equality, who dare to dream of love...of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
You are NOT the righteous! You are the killers of children. I know that I am being painfully blunt, but look at what you have done. Yes, look... and then look deep within yourselves.
Is this what you really set out to do? Is this really who you want to be? Is the death of children really the desire of your religion? Do you want your child to live his/her whole life knowing they were the one who pushed another child over the edge?
I sincerely doubt this result was what you had in mind when you joined in with the hateful rhetoric. Yes, words can hurt and even kill. Most especially words designed to make someone feel as though they are less and deserve less than you just because of who they are. Most especially when they are constantly picked up by the ears of a vulnerable teenager.
I'm guessing that you were concerned and fearful of changes to what you have known your whole life. I'm guessing that you do not understand how someone can be so different from yourself or perhaps you see yourself in them and that scares you. I'm guessing that you just didn't consider the effects of the shouts, signs, and rallies and that you were caught up in the fear you heard from others you have always trusted.
If the death of so many children is not your desire, you should know that you have the power to change this for those who remain.
You have the power to turn hate into love and fear into understanding. It does get better.
*Editorial Note: I had a wonderful conversation with someone who identifies himself as a "social conservative," but agrees with everything else written in this post. I just wanted to add that I know there are those of you out there who have long considered yourselves conservative and do not fall into the category of people I describe above. I do feel that the term has morphed over time and perhaps has always meant different things to different people. I am concerned by those that hide behind this phrase because it sounds nicer than the ideas they are actually supporting.
When a person's hard fought "conservative" beliefs move away from personal responsibility and towards suppressing the rights of others, creating 2nd class citizens, and infringing on personal freedoms, then I think they threaten freedom and equality and have become simply hateful, resentful, and inhumane.
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