Young Queers, there is too much Fabulousity coursing through your veins.

In light of the recent Suicides of several Gay Teens, I have decided to dedicate this blog to them. Rest in Power, Young Troubadours. Even in this life's sleep, you have inspired many to action on your behalf. My heart Breaks for you even as I Celebrate you.

*SILENCE*

To anyone that reads this that is feeling as they felt... Baby, It Does Get Better. I have been gay bashed, I have been spat at, I have been called more names than I can remember... Starting in Middle school. And like a good little suburban boy, I tried to ignore all the teasings, the taunts; my own feelings. But I got older. I grew up, and I realized that there is a thriving world that loves me; that there are a million different people who dig me for just being me. I have discovered in my life that I have a mission, a purpose. The ME that I am is no accident. Everything that I have experienced is by my own life's design, to provide me with the best, most conscientious ammunition to be able to grow into the most positive, productive, loving, and fabulous me that I can.

I don't know you, but I, too, love you. You too have a marvelous gift to offer the world, even if you have NO idea what that is yet. That's just the details. As my Mother used to say, "Baby, Keep Livin'." You will be amazed at just how wondrous your life truly is. It's a BIG world out there, and if you can just hold on, You will surprise yourself at how strong you will become to get thru it.

You may not believe this now, but the day will come when you need to twirl, or not, and someone will be there to applaud you. Times change, and the day will come when sexuality is viewed with the same nonchalance as fashion, or food choices. What you eat and what you wear are your personal choices. But that fact that you've a cabinet full of Ramen Noodles ain't gone stop you from eating, right? It's YOUR Food. So eat up! And while some will absolutely LOVE how you serve up your chicken dinners, some people will prefer to wear your chicken dinners. (i.e., Lady Gaga's meat dress)

You feel me, Children? Now I don't if you are or aren't an uber-queen, just salivating to wear your first ball gown and tiara, (and there is absolutely nothing wrong if your goal for the next year is to win Mother RuPaul's Drag Race!), Nor are you all super studs waiting to go ultra butch, sag and use your brother's clippers, but I do know that all over-the-top stereotypical gay models don't necessarily fit some of you, and that, too, is perfectly fine. That doesn't make you any less or more a member of the tribe, and gives you neither less, nor more of a right to hide yourself from yourself.

I recently ran into a large group of young queers. Possibly, 18-22, at best. They were cutting up, queening out and just being in general... very... j'ne c'est quois? Well, hell, they were being Loud, Young, and Gay. Now I am of the mindset that that foolywang bullskit has it's place, and amongst your friends, Do What You Do! But just being ignorant for the sake of ignorance just makes you look stupid. Having pride in yourself is about carrying yourself with your utmost best self, putting the best you out for the world to see. Now there are times when we all do the goofy, but I digress.

I pulled the Young Queens and Studs to the side, and gave a brief little tutorial on the Life. Like anything else, honey, the Life has it's rules, it's players, and it's boundaries. Learn them, and learn them well. Anywho! I pull the Young Queers to the side for a little Chit Chat, and they say to me, "We won't be gay forever, we're Christian. we're just doing this for a little while..."

Hmmm...

This brings me back to my original point: No one. No Person, No Situation, No Setback, No Obstacle can EVER determine Who You Are. I am not a Christian, though I was raised one. I practice Nichiren Buddhism, meaning I chant Nam Myoho Renge Kyo. Yes, just like Tina Turner in What's Love Got To Do With It?. I chant because this practice doesn't discriminate. It doesn't tell any person no matter who they are that they are incapable of accomplishing anything that they envision for their lives. Including being in a happily committed relationship with someone of the same sex. This Buddhism, at its core is about each person fulfilling there own dream of unshakable, unflappable happiness; even in the face of life's challenges.

Now I am fully aware that often the mindset of the Church is damnation and hellfire for all LGBTQIA people everywhere, and people can pull out that Leviticus quote til the cows come home, but Jesus loved everyone. No matter who they were, where they from, or who they were sleeping with (Ahem. Mary Magdalene). Hallo? Then of course, there is the story of the beggar woman who touched Jesus hem, and exclaimed: "Oh Thank You Jesus! You Healed Me!"(or something very near to that) To which Jesus replied: "Woman, your faith hath healed you." God said to love thy neighbor, but to love thy neighbor, You got to Love Yourself. Mama Ru says it all the Time! "If you cain't love yourself, how in the Hell you gon' love somebody else?!" I didn't come here to preach about the merits of religion, I use this context to simply illustrate the point that nothing about your present is set in stone, baby. You can change it! It will get better. The rough times will subside, and you WILL find your Happy!

You just have to let that seed grow. Have faith in your own strength. When that seems weak, seek a hand. Seek a friend. If you're feeling like their are none around, just as sure as you can read this blog, you can go to a website dedicated to Gays and Gay Youth.

The Gay Youth Corner: www.gyc.com
QA: Gay Youth Community: www.queerattitude.com
Bonus Round Gay Youth Page: www.bonusround.com/gayyouth/ :An Invaluable resource.

In most large cities, there is some type of gay youth friendly place to go. Even if you have to sneak away to get there, if it saves your life, if it can save someone else's... Just Go. For more information, click the titles for the links.

In Chicago:
The Howard Brown Broadway Youth Center:
3179 N. Broadway Chicago, IL
(773) 935-3151 x 0

The Center on Halsted
3656 N. Halsted Chicago, IL
773.472.6469

In New York:
The Center: The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center
208 West 13th Street
New York, NY 10011
The Center is between 7th and 8th Aves (map)
Phone: 212-620-7310

In Los Angeles:
L.A. Gay Center
www.lagaycenter.org
Youth Program info: http://bit.ly/ctItCg

Trust Yourself Enough to LOVE Yourself
Yours will be a storied Generation.

REALLY?!?!?! Barack! You got 2 babies.

     I just ran across a story about a ten year old child in my hometown city of Chicago that committed suicide.  At Ten Years OLD!!!!!  Is anyone else shocked alarmed or completely thrown off by this fact?  A 10 YEAR OLD BABY!  Suicide is bad at any age, but damn it Gina, a ten Year Old?!?!  I cannot believe that this child took his own life!  This happened in Evanston, and if I know anything about Chicago area politics, somebody is trying to keep somebody out of trouble.  Regardless this shit just makes no sense whatsoever.  I wish those truly responsible would come forward...  I know his Momma GOT to be sick right now!  I am so angry about this....

      I love how the medical examiners office is expecting us to believe this shit in GP.  Knowing good and well that  (forgive the truth)  suicide amongst boys in the 10-15 age group in highest in little white boys. But, this was a black child in Evanston, and it seems like the M.E. just went back to his standard protocol without so much as looking for another cause, like some ignant little bastards at this boys' school.  The school says they don't even know where this child was supposed to be when he was found dead.  The cause be damned, can anybody explain to me why NOBODY knew, nor noticed, this child was gone?  For Hours?!?!

    Now...  Mr. President, I know you have been officially in office for less than a month, and everything that needs doing is going to take some more time than this to fix,  but we have got to do something about these babies!  I know that I am not alone when I say that Bush's No Child Left Behind policy has done nothing but leave more children lost in the shuffle than it has helped.  Classroom sizes are out of control, teachers are overworked and underpaid, textbooks and digital supplies are all but nonexistent in some cases, and babies are left to die in a bathroom while not a single person notices they are gone.  The implications of what the next generation is growing into incites my ire daily.  We as Americans have GOT to do better.  I can't condone the state of this union.  None of us can.  It's why we hired you in the first place, brother.  Cause your plans are different.  You charge each of us to incite the change that we wish to see, and to Actively Participate in it's creation.  

     Alright.  I accept.  Now can you tell me how we are to fix schools so that my daughter can have an English book to use?  She's in the fourth grade!  Almost the same age as this boy who was killed! And She doesn't have an English book.  She's being tested on mastery of this nation's primary language without a textbook to study from in the process!  Fortunately for her, both of her parents are writers, so she has the opportunity to ask us, and we can assist.  How many of her classmates and grademates the country over don't have that luxury?  She attends a public school because at this point in her life, neither her mother, nor I can afford to just send her to the University of Chicago Lab School.  At $17-22,000 per year, it's a little outta my budget.  But is she to suffer because of the failed policies of your predecessor?  How many other mothers are to receive a call from a coroner saying that their babies just committed suicide? caught a stray bullet? were malled by angry pits? All because this school system as it stands is not giving them the proper tools to be able to arm themselves on all fronts?  

    Like I said, I know you just got into this position recently, and you warned us on November 4 that it would take you a while to settle in and get things going.  I was in Grant Park that night, and I felt your inspiration waft across it like so many auric blankets.  But I just would like to remind you, bruh, that I am your constituent. I know the financial woes of the US are pressing like never before, but...  

    Sidwell Friends is not an option for most of us right now.  Neither is The Lab School, nor its contemporaries.  I need you and Arne, and whoever else you have in Education right now, to get this ball rolling as soon as you can.

I'm out ya'll.

O.