stop.

normally i try not to post reactive emotionally charged writings.

but, perhaps, i have been wrong in holding back. it seems that people do not realize the impact of their statements and comments. and if they do, i am deeply saddened and frightened at that much malice and hatred.

a local news story about a gay child being bullied.
an informal poll.
ignorance and nonacceptance.
spewed hatred in the name of the One who saved and saves me.

comments saying gay people deserve to be bullied, that we have demons which need to be cast out of us, that our relationships are "in fact" sinful, that gay kids should be put in a room alone (only derogatory terms were used), that a group to form bridges and connections between gay and straight people would be unfair or wrong in schools, that being gay is just trendy...

trendy.

as if we would choose to be ridiculed.
as if my girlfriend and i like the fact that we have to look around before we hold hands even if "straight" couples are practically making out at the same venue.
as if students are just looking for attention, in the form of death threats and bullying...

wake up.
stop.

i sit here and type these words while crying tears.
tears over the hatred for people like me.
tears over the people like me who are bullied.
tears over the fact that i can't find words which are good enough to get my message across.

just stop.
please stop.

stop making comments like that.
stop being silent when you see comments like that.
stop talking so much you never listen.
stop pretending to listen while you formulate a response.
stop listening to all the hate and ignorance so much that you never speak up.
stop teaching people to look down on other people, no matter the reason, no matter the degree.
stop using derogatory language, making disgusted faces, and flippant "jokes."
stop laughing at that behavior.

stop using my Savior to support hateful comments.
stop blaming my God for the hatred of wayward misguided ignorant people.

all i know is Love.

Love.
Please, love.

i haven't posted in a while.
i've never been so happy. so flourishing. so incredibly blessed.

when she holds me, i thank God for every moment. i feel held by her and kept by the One who made me and who held me and preserved me and sustains me. the One who blessed me with such a beautiful relationship. i feel a little safer, even in the middle of such a dangerous world.

the storms: rains, wind, lightning, thunder, and even tornadoes of pain, loss, judgment, discrimination, and hatred rage on. but her love, and the love of our Lord still and comfort me.

stop minimizing this love. and others like it.
it is real. it is good. it is sacred.