queernewworld-blog

[queernewworld-blog]

Come Out Already!

As long as people are being executed in foreign countries for their sexuality, you must come out!

As long as children are being bullied for their sexuality, you must come out!

As long as teenagers are killing themselves because of their sexuality, you must come out!

As long as kids are made fun of because they do not fit into strict gender norms, you must come out!

As long as your neighbor speaks as if he does not know any homosexuals, you must come out!

As long as your mother laughs at the expense of her gay hair stylist, you must come out!

As long as your brother says 'faggot', you must come out!

As long as your sister is uncomfortable around lesbians, you must come out!

As long as your pastor condemns homosexuals to hell, you must come out!

As long as young people are lacking queer role models, you must come out!

As long as transgender people face the threat of trans-phobic violence, you must come out!

As long as bisexuals are considered confused, invalid, or not real, you must come out!

As long as gay movies are gay movies and not simply movies, you must come out!

As long as two lovers are wary about walking down the street holding hands, you must come out!

It is wrong to stay in the closet.  The closet only exacerbates the fear, the hatred, and the misconceptions.

Come out of the closet and help us build a better world together.  Help us tear down society's dichotomous conceptions of gender and sexuality.  Let us start anew.  Let us build a Brave New World.  A Queer New World.  For Each Other.  For Us All.  For Everyone.

Come out of the closet and let everyone know:

We're Here.  We're Queer.  Get Used To It Already!

[queernewworld-blog]

Gay brothers and sisters,… You must come out. Come out… to your parents… I know that it is hard and will hurt them but think about how they will hurt you in the voting booth! Come out to your relatives… come out to your friends… if indeed they are your friends. Come out to your neighbors… to your fellow workers… to the people who work where you eat and shop… come out only to the people you know, and who know you. Not to anyone else. But once and for all, break down the myths, destroy the lies and distortions. For your sake. For their sake. For the sake of the youngsters who are becoming scared by the votes from Dade to Eugene.

Harvey Milk

"That's What America Is," speech given on Gay Freedom Day June 25th, 1978, San Francisco