Today

You have been persecuted. You have been oppressed and depressed, Wronged and aggrieved, even violated, And for what? Because of gender, Because your body lacks a certain appendage, Your chest is more pronounced, or your voice more pleasant? You have been slighted. You have been affronted and blasphemed against, Insulted and abused, your rights neglected And why? Because of your orientation, Because you chose to love another man, You’re not attracted to the same thing that men like me are? I know you hear me, Because we all have been disregarded. Why have you been dismissed? Punished and censored, Rebuked and cast aside, sometimes battered, Ask the world why? Because of the color of your skin, Because your tan does not match that of another, Your lips are fuller and your hair has more texture. You have been shunned. You have been ostracized and badgered daily, Bullyragged and junked, even tainted, And for what? Because of your religion, Because you have faith in God, You say grace or pray five times each day? Hear me NOW! You have been besmirched and blemished Shackled and shattered Crucified and cursed But why? Why? Because you must persevere You must triumph and persist You must overcome and conquer, even rejoice And for what? So that the next man who loves another man Or the next woman who feels unequal Child that feels different Or for the next man’s whose faith becomes fragile For them. For these people we suffer We take their burden So tomorrow they can walk with their heads high above adversity. For their children. So their children will know not of the experiences of these hardships. Today we brave the senseless hatred, Tomorrow we smile As the next generation finds a love we were able to receive. Today we must not judge so that tomorrow they will not judge us. We will not be angry at those who cannot understand us, Instead we show pity. PITY! We pity them, Their incapacity to open their minds and welcome anyone who differs from them. Today we live this day Today we wear the garbs of misfortune Today we live so tomorrow will not live today over Today TODAY!!