Over it yet?
2:56 AM on Wens morning, Oct. 7th, my yesterday is finally coming to an end. Looks like I might be in for a good four hours of sleep before class. Ill take that. You see, much like you, most of my energy is invested, simply in keeping up with myself. At one point or another, whether it be years ago or yesterday we have both: found ourselves trying to do the math on how we can eat off 20 dollars for a week, gotten a call that brought us to our knees, thought we would never get over the pain, or felt the ground fall from underneath our feet. One way or another, we figured out on our own or with someones help (a team mate) that we were gay. In doing so we joined a community. For some that community has been much stronger than for others. I really think that is what this news outlet is about.
When you read this, on Friday. I will be in Florida. Ill be giving a speech at the Equality Gala within feet of Harvey Milk’s gay activist nephew. That night I will be the guest of honor at Florida Pride’s military night. Saturday, at 145pm East Coast time, CNN will send a car to pick me up from the Washington DC Airport. After meetings and socials, the next day I will stand on stage in front of thousands at the foot of the Capitol to demand equality, dignity, and social justice for our…community. The Washington-Post and over 600 newspapers across the country will publish my editorial for the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. This all begs the question,
“Joseph Who?”
At seven years old, I sat in the back of my mothers bright red Camero, as she took me on a drug induced 20 minute high speed chase. For the next decade my step mother would beat me to the point of cracking my skull and stabbing my eye. At 16 my grandfather was murdered on the porch. By seventeen I opted to run away. On my eighteenth birthday, I joined the United States Armed Forces.
I served 28 months in the Middle East tasked with utilizing and training attack dogs to keep explosives and insurgents out of Iraq and Afghanistan. During that time the Navy reports that I was brutally abused by my military leadership under the assumption I might be gay.Homosexuality a choice? Who would choose this!
I lost my best friend while I was out there, and a good part of myself.
None the less. I excelled in my career, defying my environment and was accepted to the United States Naval Academy Prep School. There, with a new perspective on life, I came out. Determined to give a voice to those who are forced into silence. I am now a national political activist and junior at the University of San Diego.
I am just as interested in discussing a fashion forward outfit as I am to talk about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. As stoked about the beach, as I am to ride 665 miles across the state on a bicycle to benefit aids research. As quick to watch a drag show as I am to go to jail to defend our rights.
Being treated as inferior:
Over it yet?
