No amount of practice could ever prepare me for what I was about to do.
I had spend months writing,rewriting,and reading this speech. And now I'm standing here,on a stage at pride with a microphone in front of my mouth. I wasn't standing alone because on my right was my pansexual girlfriend and on my left was my gay friend,Justin. But,man,did I feel alone.
Anxiety is something I never thought I'd be able to conquer in my life but that all changed when I found a cause to speak. A cause to want to be heard.
I felt Justin pat me on the back and my girlfriend,Randorea,fix my transgender-colored shirt and kiss my cheek. It was too late to turn back. They were counting on me to speak. To say something to give us all hope. So I took a deep breath and began.
"I am a human..." I say,pausing to hear my weak,quivering voice echo over the speakers. "I think,I feel,and I have a desire to understand..." My words gain more strength as a few passerby's stop to listen. "My spine is as weak as spider's silk but I have a heart of gold. Every waking moment of what society calls my 'sorry existence' I can't help but wonder and dream."
I make eye contact with a few humans and smile,"I dream of a day when I'm not scared to bring my girlfriend home to my religious parents. A day when we ask for pronouns instead of assuming gender. I know a day will come when I,and everyone seeing this,will not be merely described by their pronouns,name,or who they choose to love."
By this time,most the people I could see had stopped moving and it felt as if the whole world had stopped. I glanced at Justin who gave me a nod of reassurance and I continued, "I am a human. Born in and with love and programmed to decency and understanding. I came into this world with the words 'Be yourself' fried into my innocent,naive mind like a searing branding iron on an oxen's side. But the definition varied. Who am I,exactly?
I am strong. I am determined and intelligent. I am depressed,stressed,and repressed. I am flawed but I am human. Complexed and not always completed but compelled to find truth,unity,and equality. That is who I am and who I will always be because I know what I am not.
I am not scared. I am not ignorant and will not be ignored. I refuse to be silent in a world full of intolerance and buried intelligence because no one deserves to live in a closet." Clapping sounded in the distance and I felt the spirits of everyone brighten.
"Our generation is amazing. So advanced and so filled with love. We can overcome the stereotypes and the oppression if we stand together. Every gorgeous lady,handsome man,and beautiful gender-less person deserves the right to be called by their name and their pronouns. Every lesbian and gay person should be allowed to love who they want to love and every bisexual,Pansexual,and asexual person should be respected."
I took in a final breath,letting fresh air fill my lungs as I observe the expressions of all the people around me,knowing that they needed me. It finally made sense. In the first time in my life I knew I was valid and that I could make a difference.
"I am human. I am strong. I am intelligent. I am flawed. But above all else,
I am proud."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hey guys,Player here.
Happy Pride Month! If some of you didn't already know I'm a big supporter of LGBTQ+ and decided to enter their #wpcontest challenge.
This is the first contest I've ever entered so I doubt I'll get recognize but hey,I enjoyed writing it. So let me know what you think in the comments below!
And as always I will see YOU
In the next story. Bye bye!
