Life in the rainbow

Anita

I get a text from my best friend Dana. It is a crying emoji.

"I never told you this," she says. "But I'm lesbian."

I'm shocked. I wonder how this could be. At the time I am very stereotypical and I go through all the things she does. She is a gymnast, she is an artist, and never said anything to me about a girl being pretty. So I am shocked.

This is when I began to become a straight ally. I begin to realize that now my best friend may be thought of as a lower class citizen of society.

I realize that I want to help Dana. I want to fight for her rights. I realize that equality is now what matters to me.

I know that there is a pride march next Wednesday.

"Hey Dana, it's okay," I text.

She sends back a tear emoticon.

"So there is the pride march next Wednesday," I say. "Wanna go?"

Dana is shocked by this. But she says okay.

This is the beginning of when I became a straight ally.