The night air was muggy and thick, as we set up our tents and staked
our torches in hopes that the mosquitoes would be warded off. Our
rally was coming together, and our community was determined to be
heard. Despite the ants assailing our ankles and feet we would
prevail. We would be itching for days, but none of that mattered.
Neither did the threat of rain, nor the perilously dark bridge in the
distance. We weren't even overly concerned about the very real
possibility of danger, despite the fact that a community of people
(not even a mile away from where we were assembled) had be called to
battle against us.
We were undeterred by the history of
hatred that the LGBTQ community had become accustomed to from some of
the religious communities here in the Deep South. We, a group of
people from various backgrounds, sexual preferences, races, and
religious beliefs, came together as Mississippians to say NO to the
latest affront to our existance. Enveloped by the deep woods of Paul
B. Johnson State Park, we would make our stand, in peace, against the dangers of reparative/conversion therapy. Against the idea that as
though we were broken, we could be fixed.
Some of us were born and raised in the
South. We grew up sipping our cool sweet tea, and picking
elderberries in the woods for grandma's pie. Southern Hospitality
dictates that we bless the hearts of those who are less fortunate
than us, and in this instance, I feel extremely fortunate to be a
member of such a cordial, and supportive community. We would like for
people to recognize that just as the silhouette of the longleaf pines
in the night sky we, in spite of our sexuality, were at home in
Mississippi. Others of us came here for school, or moved here from
California -- whatever our geographical backgrounds, we all call
Mississippi our home. We are a community that continues to be
unfailingly positive and vibrant, mistreatment and discrimination
notwithstanding. In the comfort of our homes, we crafted the signs
that would be used in our rally with a jovial camaraderie and they
stood as bastions of joy between us and the oncoming traffic. We
believed that the flames from the candles in our hands would inspire
a sense of hope within those who were made to go to this conference
by family members. Family members who are unwilling to accept their
loved ones.
We shared stories, and learned more
about each other from the inspiring, moving and even horrific details
of what it was like to “come out” in the South. Each of these
stories added fuel to our smoldering flames of righteousness. We are
determined to foster a community, within Mississippi, wherein those
who are lacking can find an abundance of love and acceptance. Those
who drove by, with hateful and rude commentary were met with a
gracious, “Thank you” or told to, “Have a nice night.” We
refuse to be pulled into the hatred because we have learned the hard
way that the only way through which we can overcome our adversity is
love. It's simple, Love Wins. The prisms within our hearts will
continue to shine a kaleidoscopic vibrancy over this wonderful state
of Mississippi because we are unyielding in the belief that our
sexuality is merely one dimension of our multifaceted existence.
We are equal, tax-paying, law-abiding
citizens of this great nation and we deserve the right to be happy,
to live without fear, and to love who we please. All of that being
said, we would like to say thank you and wish a nice day to those who
have hurt, discriminated against, and belittled us. Thank you,
sincerely, for your part in creating this community of genuinely kind
and helpful people. We say thank you because it is better than
responding in kind, and because despite the hatred we receive daily,
we understand that some of the people who were taught to hate us
don't know any other way (nonetheless, this doesn't excuse the rude
behavior). We wish you a nice day, a nice life, really, with peace
and happiness because we know their true value and we encourage you,
in kindness, to honestly --and critically-- consider the actions and
words that you send our way. Come and discover for yourself the
people, to whom you send your hatred.
