Thursday, June 16, 2016

Tearing Down Fences After Orlando

A  L  O  H  A !

“Homosexuality is regarded 
as shameful by barbarians 
and by those who live 
under despotic governments 
just as philosophy is regarded 
as shameful by them, "
                                      Plato












           "Not appreciating 
what we have now, 
robs us of our 
abundance even 
when it exists." 
                  Marshall Sylver





                     



Birds of a Feather

" I would not worship a 
God who is homophobic… 
I would refuse to go to 
a homophobic heaven.”
              Archbishop Desmond Tutu





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Friend, it would take a novel,
or hours of conversation
for me to really explain
my connection to, and
my feeling of belonging, 
to the GLBT community.

Brave people were 
visible for 
Homosexual Rights
when I was just a 
child. But
I do remember when there
was NO GLBT community,
no rainbow flag,
no "pride."

What I remember
- and you do too -
is slurs, labels
like mental illness,
harassment and
institutionalization.
It was a life of  real
danger and fear.

But I also remember
finding a secret world,
invisible to most.

Gay was a code word.

Miraculously, one might
meet a friend
despite hiding,
and be introduced
to a secret place,
a hidden life.

And when you walked in
to your first gay bar,
it was the first time
in your life that 
you were NOT Alone,
not the only one.

A place of belonging existed;
A hidden place to be true
to yourself. To drop the
exhausting vigilance and
corrosive secrecy.

I remember the first marches
in my town. I was in them.

Those were the times of
Stonewall and Anita Bryant
bigotry. I was there when the
word  PRIDE  was claimed.

How Audacious it seemed to me!
How counter-intuitive!
What a challenge!
How revolutionary!

Today, 
June is Gay Pride Month
throughout the civilized world.

The vision, hopes,
determination,
and life's work of a 
comparative few people
has changed the world!

We have accomplished 
SO MUCH.

Just remember the disgust
and the jokes in the world
you & I grew up in.

They are still there,
if no longer
assumed and
unquestioned.

Remember the losses
to the plague of HIV
and to violence
every day.

I have my own losses;
Friends of a lifetime
that no one should 
ever have to live without.

The martyrs of Orlando
are friends of friends
in at least one case.

But they are ALL my
people, my children.

I think Orlando is 
really changing the world.

I think a lot of people
who were 'tolerant' before,
now really FEEL
what GLBT humans go 
through in this world,
and really care on a
gut level now.

Who knows, perhaps
together we are ALL
ready for commonsense
gun laws in this country.

My GLBT Family
and our allies have
already accomplished
miracles!


Thank You 
for 
Jumping
the Fence!
                          cloudia





20 comments:

Elephant's Child said...

Tears.
And solidarity.

eileeninmd said...

Hello Cloudia, beautiful post and words. My prayers go out to the Orlando victims and their families. I grew up and worked with many gay friends, they were all loved as much as any other person. I can not understand the hatred and I can not get started on the gun issue. Wishing you a happy day and weekend ahead!

TexWisGirl said...

beautiful scenes to go with your thoughts and those of others. a traumatic tragedy.

21 Wits said...

Yes they have, and a worthy fight is well worth bringing home the peace. We must keep our hearts open at every turn.

Cloudia said...

I love each of you very much. Thanks so much for today and every day!

Teresa said...

Great post! I love that you started with a quote from Plato, no less!

William Kendall said...

Wise quotes, and very eloquently said, Cloudia.

Tanya Breese said...

beautiful post cloudia :(

eViL pOp TaRt said...

Great wisdom about people who are LGBT. They need love and tenderness like others do.

Small City Scenes said...

Beautiful post. "Tearing down fences" great line~~hindsight
Thank you Cloudia
MB

Mike said...

Plato? Wow.

RedPat said...

A wonderful post, Cloudia!

Sandi said...

You are loved, Cloudia.

A cloud has been hanging over me since I heard about Orlando. I have been thinking of what I could do to lift the cloud. Well, really, I read your post and then I thought tell Cloudia she is loved. That lifts the cloud, doesn't it?

Also, write that novel.

Ida said...

Today I feel for those who've lost loved ones in Florida and else where in the world due to hate. It also saddens me that those who may not agree with that lifestyle are being (labeled) as well with words like "Homophobic" - I may be in the minority here but just because I don't feel that the Gay lifestyle is right doesn't mean that I hate Gays or want to see them dead or hurt or beat-up etc...

Acceptance comes in many forms and to truly have peace in the world means that you have to accept to that sometimes others may not agree with you.
This is what I was taught,
Romans 12:18
If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

I hope that what I've said does not offend you Cloudia. I so enjoy your blog and wonderful posts, quotes, and photos and will continue to enjoy your blog and hope you do the same with mine.

Cloudia said...

Thanks Honey. God Bless You Both

Cloudia said...

Many religious faiths have evolved in their understanding of human sexuality and Scripture. No we do not all have to agree to treat each other by the Golden rule. But I would be remiss not to point out that religious judgemental pronouncements are a proven cause to violence and abuse. I am grateful the ALL of us can share here in Love.

Cloudia said...

Glad we could share about this in our emails Ida. Agape & Aloha

Cloudia said...

Amd also with you my dear Friend

Cloudia said...

Reading each of your comments fills me with a Heavenly gratitude

Su-sieee! Mac said...

I think hateful and violent persons are very insecure people. I feel sorry for them because they do not allow the positive light in them to grow and bathe the hurt inside them. But, that is no excuse for the harm that they inflict verbally, emotionally, and/or physically. These hateful and violent personalities don't realize that they cannot destroy the people whom they fear and envy....Hugs, Cloudia.