To Love a Person and Not a Gender

I believe that one day I will be given the freedom to freely love a person and not a gender. One day I will be free to love who I want to love, to feel what I want to feel, to be who I want to be. The day will come when I feel truly and completely free to, as a young woman, act on my love towards those of the same gender. I will be shown the equal dignity and respect as other human beings, as I too am a human being just the same.

I am not sick everyone, so please stop asking. It’s not like I woke up one day and came down with “the gay”. I will not be calling in “gay “to work tomorrow either; it’s permanent people. If anyone believes I would choose to inflict this much societal oppression on myself, you are severely mistaken as well. And as much as you would like to believe that this is just a phase that will go out of style like leather, it’s not. My sexuality is as much a part of me as my bumpy skin, my bleach blonde hair, my pale skin.

Mom and Dad, please don’t let Catholicism interrupt your unconditional love for me. I am screaming to be heard in a society where I have no voice; I need you to listen. We’ve been friends for seven years Jenny; I believe you can support me despite all the people and that little black book telling you to walk away from me. Boss, can you judge me on my work quality and not my sexuality. I swear I won’t harass your employees, I swear.

Lucy is the reason the caged bird sings. I was aware of my sexuality, of loving women, but was too afraid to explore this love. Society had told me it was wrong over and over; I thought if I ignored it it would just disappear. Through Lucy’s sharing of her coming out story, her hugs, and her constant support, I am no longer afraid of my identity; I have a voice at last. I am currently working to share with others what I’ve learned by serving as Gay Straight Alliance president on my campus.

It is because of her that I believe the day will come when people stop assuming I will heal from this illness or that I will surpass this phase. The day will come when I can walk down the street with my hand with my girlfriend, smiling and laughing, and not be stared at. The day will come when I can vote, have equal health care benefits and not be judged based on something I cannot control. I believe that I will one day not be afraid to love, and will be alive to see the day when each person has the freedom to act upon love towards not a gender, but a person and I can’t wait.