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I’m going to share something I’ve only shared with a few people. But I feel may be necessary to help people understand a little better why equality is so important. Sometimes when the story comes from an unlikely source, the shock helps it set in a little better…

I’m scared. I live in fear. Some days it’s a lot of fear and I think about it periodically throughout the day, and some days I don’t really think about it at all, but it’s there.

I live in fear because I live in a country where I am not exactly “free” to be myself. Yeah, I’m denied rites, and yeah, this is the “land of the free” but politics and government aside- I live in the bible belt, and while I know there is hate everywhere- it is especially predominant here. I have to be afraid someone can tell that I am a part of the LGBTQ community based off how I look, based off of who I hang out with and based off of who I date- because there are people around here who won’t bat an eyelash before whooping my ass because of who I love. Shit, I even wore a wig to my last job just so I looked a little more “hetero”. I have been told before (by a co-worker, who did not receive any disciplinary action after I reported him) “you want to look like a man, then I’ll fucking hit you like a man” do you know how terrifying that is?! I’ve been told I couldn’t kiss my girlfriend in straight bar because it was “inappropriate” while I watched a heterosexual couple make out on the other side of the bar. A guy got beat nearly to death in my city for having a pride sticker on his car. Another girl chased, because of hers.

THIS IS NOT OKAY! I am so tired of living in fear. I’m tired of wondering if someone will come into my office and see my rainbow key chain (that I always try to remember to hide) and open fire on me.

I’m a very strong, opinionated, not easily effected woman. But this, this gets me. It needs to stop. I’m ready to feel what it feels like to step outside for my day with no fear, knowing I can go my entire day and not once will anyone even LOOK at me as if I’m anything other than human.

Love… not hate. Why can’t we just cut the bullshit on both sides, let it all melt away and focus on what the important issue at hand is… love, acceptance, equality.