| The Gifts Of Being Different |
| Written by Howie Holben | |
| Tuesday, 20 October 2009 | |
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The Stonewall Riots happened in New York City forty years ago this June. The riots started with a police raid on the Stonewall Inn in New York City. Persecution of homosexuals and raids on homosexual gathering places were common at the time.
The Stonewall Riots happened in New York City forty years ago this June. The riots started with a police raid on the Stonewall Inn in New York City. Persecution of homosexuals and raids on homosexual gathering places were common at the time. The police got quite a surprise when they raided the Stonewall Inn on June 27, 1969. This time instead of just running or hiding, the patrons of the bar, joined by many others, stood their ground. Standing outside the bar, the crowd began yelling and soon began throwing bottles and trash cans at the police. The Stonewall Riots have become known as the first time gay people fought back as a group against their persecution. On June 27, 1969 people were arrested and were injured, some severely. There was a repeat the next night, with a larger crowd gathering outside of the Stonewall Inn. The police eventually had to send in a riot squad to control the crowd. The modern day Gay Rights movement began with the Stonewall Riots. Over the past 40 years, we LGBT people have come a long way in gaining equal rights and acceptance. Attaining our goal of being accepted by others has not easy. Demonstrating that we are no different than anyone else has taken many years, but our efforts have been rewarded. We are now represented, mostly positively, on TV shows and in movies. We have almost come to expect there to be at least one gay character in a new TV show or in a movie. Domestic partners are now recognized at many companies and cities. At the state level, domestic partners, civil unions and even marriage has been legalized. Advertisers now direct marketing directly to the LGBT community, especially for gay travel packages. Yet, our work for acceptance still goes on. Homophobia still exists in the United States and in countries the entire world over. Gay teenagers still kill themselves and gay hate crimes are even on the rise. We still have ignorance and hatred to overcome. We have made great efforts to be accepted and to show the world that we are the same as everyone else. But the fact is we are not like everyone else. We were Created different from most people and in our Creation we were given talents and gifts to offer the world. Let us not hide these talents and gifts. Being gay, we walk between the worlds of typical male or female gender roles. We are more keenly aware of both our masculine and feminine attributes. This awareness allows us to more easily see, and be open to, many aspects of life that others cannot see. Thus, many of us are known as being unifiers; people with the ability to bridge gaps between others and heal relationships of all kinds. Walking between worlds can also make us more receptive to the "unseen" things in life and we become healers and shamans. We are known to be intensely creative and many of us are involved in the arts. We are musicians, dancers, poets, singers, teachers, painters, song writers, actors, and yes, hair stylists and fashion designers! We are also world class athletes and Nobel Prize scientists. There seems to be an innate need in us to "give back", to help others and in general make the world a better place for everyone. The following quote from Marianne Williamson is wonderful. It is not directly addressed to gay people, but it expresses eloquently the gay experience of hiding ourselves and our gifts from the world: "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." So, let us acknowledge and celebrate our differences. Every person on this earth is different; there are no two of us that are exactly alike. All people, gay and straight, and no matter what skin color or religious beliefs, have been given talents and gifts unique to them. Let us all shine together. The Article Author: Howie Holben is the owner of Spirit Journeys, a spiritual gay travel and retreats organization. His goal is to help others uncover their potential by setting their hearts and minds free. You can learn more about Howie, his work and gay spirituality at www.SpiritJourneys.com. |
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