ask and tell

The Ask and Tell Movement

Every civil rights movement has their own way of fighting back. Almost every minority thus far, who has gained their share of deserved rights, has found their own way of making themselves known, that they deserve as much as everyone else because they are not a lesser people. because one trait does not make them a lesser persons.

during the black civil rights movement, there were the freedom riders. and you know what they said? they said no, we will not ride in the back of the bus, while all of you get the ride in the front. they said no, we will not be deprived of the same privileges that everyone else seems entitled to. we are not a lesser people.

so i say we, the gay people, do the same thing. we are too passive. we are not doing enough. we are not doing enough of the liberal states of california and new hampshire pass laws AGAINST gays. we are not doing enough if gay children are being shot by their peers.

it’s time to make ourselves known. it’s time to say, no we will not hide and be afraid while all of you can fearlessly bask in the light. it’s time to say no, we will not be deprived of the same privileges that everyone else seems entitled to. it’s time to say, we are not a lesser people.

so let’s stop hiding. let’s make ourselves known, my friends. because i guarantee you, the majority of those who are anti-gay simply do not know us. they don’t know that we are, indeed, not sick. they don’t know that we are not all inherently evil. no more than the straight man. but if those anti-gays knew that their brother or sister, or son or daughter, or best friend, or coworker, employer or employee was gay, than maybe they will think again. because it’s true that in coming out, it is not the gay person who has inherently changed, but the views of everyone around that gay person.

but do not forget, that among the freedom riders, there were white people too. this is not a movement limited to the gays. it’s for the straights, for the bisexuals, the transexuals, the pansexuals. it’s for everyone. if you know someone who is gay, don’t be afraid to let people know. don’t be afraid to tell your fellow straight man that, hey i know someone whose gay, and he/she really isn’t that bad. make your peer think again.

and this is the ask and tell movement.