The Glow of the Rainbow

Outro

It's been a few months since I wrote this.

I've just done another edit on it, 

It now stands at 10,451 words.

I could have written so much more, but during writing this short story, I found myself mentally drained. I wrote some bits in tears, I wrote some bits laughing. It may not necessarily be the words I wrote but much more the emotion behind them.

I have been outed before. I've also had my photos taken off of social media and posted elsewhere with rude comments under it. 

I'm not ashamed to be transgender. I want to make that perfectly clear. But if I can live my life passing as a cis male in my everyday life, then I want to. Some people don't, and that's okay too. It's our choice to live how we want to. Don't take that choice away from others.

I know, however, that I have made some choices which contradicts what I've just said. I've published a poetry book that clearly states in it that I am transgender, as well as my name (I don't include my last name on anything). But I controlled that, I made that choice. I am fully aware that if I ever become a semi well known writer, that this is something I will face and it will be out of my control. And I will own it.  However, again, that is a choice I've made. I control what I put out there, when I put it out there. But for now, I hold all of my cards close to my chest. 

Unfortunately, the story of William holds an awful amount of truth behind it, even though it is a work of fiction. I'm sure it is something that many lgbt+ people have faced or will face. But I also wanted to make a point. At the end when everyone starts holding hands with William in order to face the bullies, that's something I'd love to see in real life. Maybe not the action behind it, you don't have to out yourself to a room full of people, but I'd love to see LGBT+ people supporting others. 

The community can be really toxic at times, it can also be incredibly supportive. But we are stronger together. We can face so much more, change much more if we fight as one whole unite. Yes, some gender identities and sexualities may face different discrimination and may have battles to fight on their own. But you can always support them, back them up, but don't drown out their voices. But overall, we are fighting for the same thing. We want our basic human rights globally, we want to be accepted. We want to walk down the streets holding the hand of the people we love and not fear for our lives. 

Some people want to split the community down the middle so we fight against each other, making us weaker, making us less tolerable. But we are stronger together. 

This goes for people who aren't LGBT+ or Queer, you can back us up, fight with us. Grab your friend's hand and go to pride with them. But remember, pride started as a protest, not a party. 

We are stronger together.

Thank you for reading.

Love always,

Kyle William Urban, August 28th 2020