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
Copyright R. N.
Taber 2010
“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
