I am not proud of myself for many things. One of which is my cowardice.
I grew up with an actor mother, and that naturally means gay men and women are a normal part of my life. One would think that that would omit any possibility of prejudice toward them on my part.
And although I do not hate or fear them, I sometimes barely catch myself looking at someone and at least mentally labeling them as gay. I have even joked at how it’s cool that I have a a pretty precise gay-dar. I’ve expressed how I have no problem with gay people, as long as they’re not my family. Because then it would be awkward.
I come from a Muslim family in an Islamic nation. One that blows it’s own trumpet by thinking of themselves as forward and liberal, when in actual fact the hidden truth is much more grotesque then one could imagine. Homosexuality is not allowed to be discussed openly in our local cinema, save if the gay man "reflects upon his sinful ways and repents".
Reading PerezHilton, I stumbled upon a video of Larry King, speaking about a 15 year old boy who shares his name, and was shot dead by a classmate while sitting in class, reportedly for being gay. Hundreds of thousands of students have taken a vow of silence today, as they have for the past 12 years to fight against discrimination of the LGBT community. Their silence today is dedicated to Larry.
I missed the day as I only found out about it tonight, but I felt I needed to do something. Somewhere, at least one person is reading this, even if it is only myself, and this post will hopefully allow that person to "reflect upon HIS sinful ways and repent". To undo this mistake we have been making, and that is intolerance.
Today, I ask forgiveness from those of you who I have so inconsiderately judged, even if you hadn’t known it. I have been stupid, I have been a coward, I have been inhumane, for not acknowledging you for who you are- One of Us.
Do your part.
End The Silence.
