G-A-Y, At Home and Abroad

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R._N._Taber

As regular readers well know, I belong to a generation raised in an era that saw gay relationships as a criminal offence; homosexuality was a dirty word and gay-bashing more prevalent a hate crime than even racist motivated attacks. In some parts of the world, times have changed for the better although, as most if not all of us have discovered the hard way, there is no legislating for human nature's being accountable to itself.

Yes, there are now many gay people of both sexes whose families and friends have no problem with their sexuality, but there are also many others who - by whatever means, for whatever reasons – are made to feel they have no choice but to say nothing; a choice all the more tragic for being made not out of any real sense of shame for their sexuality but real love for those unable or unwilling to accept it. Like it or not, those socio-cultural-religious bigots who persist in any LGBT relationships need to accept that they always have been, and always will be integral to any society' social history. 

Many people insist ‘blood is thicker than water’. While I have good reason to dispute that, I prefer, in any case, to believe that true love, if not always the stronger, is by far the better and worthier match for hate and hate crime any day, and the more enduring. A favourite quote of mine, all the more profound for its simplicity, springs to mind:

‘Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.’ - Martin Luther King, Jr. [A Testament of Hope: the Essential Writings and Speeches]

“Perhaps home is not a place but simply an irrevocable condition.”- James Baldwin, Giovanni’s Room

G-A-Y, AT HOME AND ABROAD

At home, G-A-Y

was a dirty word (or worse);

at school, fuel

for the bullies and bigots,

and scapegoats

for home truths in dark closets;

at work, something

best left hanging out to dry

in staff rooms

Slowly, but surely,

political correctness entered

the arena,

pro-LGBT legislation,

a warning to certain 

socio-cultural-religious forums

bent on feeding

feelings for hate crime as milk

to a new-born

Slowly, but surely,

G-A-Y began winning hearts

and minds …

if only among those intuitive

of formative years

surreptitiously (or openly)

shaping various

forms of socio-cultural-religious

nemeses to order 

At home, G-A-Y

becomes no less of a dirty word

for being ignored;

at school, it might well be OK

with (some) parents

but only for staying well clear

of the curriculum;

at work, still making the best

of good intentions

On the street, G-A-Y

starting to coming out, get a life,

despite the bullies

and bigots hogging headlines

meant to expose flaws

in any social history if (invariably)

perpetuating stereotypes;

Stonewall forever chipping away

at tablets of stone

Copyright R. N. Taber 2010