I Have a Voice!
10 years ago, I was a scared and confused young boy in high school. My parents had told me I would go to hell for being gay. My peers called me names like “fagott” and “queer”. I lived in a small midwestern town and felt the whole world was against me. I felt as if nobody was supporting me or standing up for me. I felt like a second class citizen.
But last night, Senator Kennedy, a 76-year-old heterosexual man, stood before the world and said this:
- Barack Obama will close the book on the old politics of race and gender, and group against group, and straight against gay.
And the audience cheered!
I have a voice in this world. I have a team fighting for my equality. I have a nation coming together right now as I write this, opening up its views and realizing I am a person too.
Someday, the fight will be over. Someday, there will not be any more scared boys and girls in high school who feel the whole world is against them.
And it will be in my lifetime!
Some of you may have noticed that as I’ve updated my website design, I’ve also modified my tagline. It used to read “The naked truth about my gay life” but now the word “gay” has been removed.
When I started this blog in 2005, I was still nursing the wounds of many years of endured homophobia. And at the time, I felt it important to define my blog as a “gay” blog.
But 3 years later, I am no longer nursing wounds. I am no longer defined by my sexuality. This is a “human” blog, not a “gay” blog.
As you can see by my recent posts, I am very inspired by what’s going on in the world right now. I am passionate, and opinionated, and pushing for change. And I see things getting better every day. 
I have a voice. And in politics, I feel that I am finally being heard.
Did you like this article? If so, please share it.
Every one of us over age 18 is empowered with the right to vote, to let our voices be heard. I agree, Nathan, that this time it feels like our voices may really matter!
We really do have the opportunity for change, which this country desperately needs. It’s an awesome feeling, isn’t it? To have hope again?
Ted Kennedy said it so eloquently–and bravely. Maybe we will see the day when equal rights will be truly and totally meaningful. When it just won’t matter that you are gay, or that I am Jewish, female and disabled!
I know how good it feels to make that progress, as silly as it sounds sometimes, from “gay” to “human.” Congrats and soldier on!
And you kept the trousers!
congrats on so many things, the hair, the change in feelings, the new website. been reading your site for long time and am so glad to know you are happy! And I’ve always loved the jeans and barefoot pic, nice!
You guys (and gals) will never know how much your kindness means to me. You inspire me and motivate me, and really make me happy.
THANK YOU!!!