Eleven years ago, President Clinton officially declared June as Gay and Lesbian Pride Month. In a landmark proclamation dated June 2, 2000, he noted:
“Gay and lesbian Americans have made important and lasting contributions to our Nation in every field of endeavor. Too often, however, gays and lesbians face prejudice and discrimination; too many have had to hide or deny their sexual orientation in order to keep their jobs or to live safely in their communities.”
While the United States has come a very long way in recognizing that homosexuals are in fact human beings also, we still have many issues we need to work out.
For many straight people, unfortunately, Gay Pride™ has become synonymous with over-the-top parades, flamboyant attire, explicit displays of tacky intimacy and a general atmosphere of anything goes. Quite frankly, because of this, it is extraordinarily difficult for many heterosexuals – particularly male athletes – to open up to gays and lesbians.
Believe it or not, I am a gay man and happen to be equally offended by such conduct. My friends are all straight athletic guys, so I do not fit into the aforementioned sector of Gay America either. Just watch the debut episode of LogoTV's 'Setup Squad' and see how awkward I am around most gay people.
Hence, I am not a straight guy or a gay guy: I am a stray guy.
As a result of my unique gayness, I’ve spent most of my life in a state of involuntary celibacy. It is extremely lonely at times and I often cry myself to sleep. Many people suggest I lighten up and partake in random hook ups; however, knowing the statistics about HIV/AIDS, particularly in New York, I honestly cannot bring myself to do it.
So, what should the misfits of Gay and Lesbian America – like me – do?
My advice, which may not be worth much in this arena, is to be the person that God created you to be. You have to be comfortable in your own skin and not worry about what other people think. Anybody can be gay, including actors, star athletes and prominent sports executives.
It is also true that many gay men are drawn to femininity, as lesbians are drawn to masculinity – in either scenario, you have to be true to you. Look into the mirror and have dignity and pride in the person you are. We don’t have to be what society-at-large thinks we should be or must be.
I don’t have to walk around half naked in leather to be gay; concurrently, I am not here to judge those that choose to express themselves in this fashion. If that’s your cup of tea, so be it, but always remember to be safe sexually and have self-respect towards your body. STDs are not our friends.
Gays and lesbians, like straight people, can choose to be promiscuous, or we can choose to fall in love and have a beautiful life with another person.
In most places, however, we cannot enter into a legal spiritual union before God and our loved ones. As a gay Catholic man – who is very aware of the corruption within all religions – I find this wholly unacceptable. Just as no man or woman shall deny me God and Jesus Christ, no man or woman shall deny me the right to get married. Period!
People have the right to not agree with homosexuality – but they do not have the right to keep good-hearted folks in a perpetual state of inferiority because of our differences. We need to encourage gays and lesbians to aspire towards committed, honorable unions; by doing so, old stereotypes, such as the claim that all homosexuals are perversely promiscuous, will start to evaporate in the wind.
For me, the future will be difficult, but I must press forward in the hope that my dreams will one day become reality. More than anything, I want to fall in love and get married in a beautiful ceremony before my friends and family. Years ago, this would have been impossible, but the world is changing. Hopefully, God will hear my prayers and bless me with a soul mate.
I yearn for a romantic communion along the lines of David and Jonathan. Even though many fundamentalists will take exception to this, I don’t care: David and Jonathan, throughout history, have provided Biblical proof – from God – that two men can fall in love and enter into a commitment with one another. Thus, the Bible shows us that gay marriage can be a truly divine occurrence and that’s good enough for me.
In the end, no one can provide you with better advice than Lady Gaga:
“I’m beautiful in my way, ‘cause God makes no mistakes, I’m on the right track baby, I was born this way; Don’t hide yourself in regret, just love yourself and your set, I’m on the right track baby, I was born this way!”
Comments