10-20-10

Awareness. Perfect awareness. That sweet feeling that washes over you, enveloping you in a complete knowledge of place and time. Who you are. Where you are. Why you are.

While sometimes this awareness can be frightening, it is still necessary to life. Today, 10-20-10, is a day of remembrance. A day to mourn the loss of souls that have left this world far before their time. Today is a day where the world has decided to say that enough is enough. It is time to make the world aware of the pain that we are causing. Of the hatred that we are breeding. Of the lives that we are stealing. All because we are unaware and we like it that way.

Six young boys took their lives into their own hands. They took the one thing that they have complete control over and handed it off to god. They didn’t hear kind words. They were told that they were different. They were wrong. They were abominations. Just because they love differently than the majority.

These boys were gay and they were taught that that made them unworthy of love.

I am here to say that this needs to end. Love is one thing that we have no choice in. sometimes we fall in love when we don’t want to. We fall for people that we know will never fall for us. Love is decided by our hearts and our hearts only. And our hearts are the purest things that we are given. To know your heart is a blessing. And because these boys knew what their hearts’ deepest desires were, they were persecuted. They were remonstrated. They were hated because ignorance is bliss and the world isn’t ready to embrace their pure hearts.

I know that the holes left behind in the families of these boys are unfixable. They will forever be there to haunt them. But there is something I want to say to their families:

Do not blame yourselves.

You may have said or felt or done things that you wish you could take back. But these things happen. Take this lesson and speak out. Tell other parents of the lessons you have learned through the passing of your child. Although your son is no longer on earth, he will look down and smile if you tell your story and save the lives of other children who aren’t receiving support. Spread the message of love and forgiveness. Spread the word that your son did not die in vain- his untimely death has brought awareness to you and the world around you. Be strong. Forgive yourself. Be aware. And live your life for yourself and for the son you have lost.

To the rest of the youth out there dealing with a world that does not accept you for who you are:

You are not alone. And it will get better. This world that we live in is changing. Awareness and the message of equality are spreading like wildfire and no one can tame those flames of honesty and love. When you are persecuted, remember that you are not alone. When you are harassed, remember that someone else out there is feeling the same things you are. And one day, you will meet that person. And you will know their pain and they will know yours. When you watch two people hold hands in public and you wish that you could too, remember that you will find love. And that love will be stronger than most because of the struggles you have dealt with. You will be loved without limits.

We may never meet. We may walk past one another on the street. We may live in completely different lifetimes. But I want you to know that I love you for who you are. Be brave. Be strong. And always remember that you are not alone. You are accepted.  You are who you are for a reason. And you are loved.