My Sexuality Is Not An Apology

Now that you know who is back in the White House, his hateful and dangerous policies targeting us once again has gotten even worse. He lacks empathy and compassion towards certain groups of people. This manchild has no soul. I refuse to mention him by name, because I've always seen him for who he was: a childish, petty, out of touch individual who hasn't had a dose of reality and refuses to take any responsibility for his actions. It's always everyone else's fault and refuses to do some self reflection. The next four years will be hell and his right-wing policies are becoming more extreme.

I have a few things to say to those who are so offended by us existing and anything else that has to do with us.

1. Your perception of us is a reflection of you. I bet you have sons, daughters, friends, and so forth or know someone who has come out as LGBTQ+. However, you use your own personal religious beliefs to deny their existence. I feel like it's a defense mechanism to make yourself look like a victim and more superior than everyone else. Speaking of my next point....

2. Hate is not a family value. It's neither holy or godly. You can't be religious and have a pure hatred towards a group of people you don't know or haven't met. It comes off as hypocritical and you don't practice what you preach. Besides, no one is that damn perfect. Not even me. Also, you can't "politely disagree" with someone being gay, transgender, non binary, or other. It comes off as you being insensitive. Do you have the right to your own personal beliefs? Yes, you do. Everyone is entitled to them. However, having a religious belief is not a reason to dislike someone you don't know personally. You don't have to accept us, but we deserve to be treated with dignity, compassion, and respect.

3. You say that we're "pushing an agenda" towards you and children. This is demonstrably false. The only agenda that we're spreading is telling everyone that we deserve to be treated like human beings. Nothing more, nothing less. I find it ridiculous that you're more offended at pronouns, books mentioning gender identity, and Pride related events and themes than mass shootings. And don't get me started on the whole "think of the children" nonsense. You only say that whenever it's convenient. To be honest, you're the one who's pushing your religious beliefs on us, trying to "fix" or "cure" our sexuality, when it has been proven to have harmful and deadly consequences. So who's pushing an agenda now?

4. While we're on the subject on your claims that we're pushing an "agenda" towards you and children, what do you mean by "stopping the indoctrination" of children? If teaching them how to treat everyone, especially regardless of one's sexual orientation or identity, is indoctrination, this isn't it. Treating everyone with dignity and respect is not us trying to indoctrinate children. It's what we were taught to do growing up. We're not trying to force your kid or anyone to be gay, transgender, etc. As I've stated in my second point, we deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. So stop reaching.

5. Respecting one's pronouns is not a personal attack on your character or beliefs. You believe that doing this is beneath you and is meant to guilt trip you, when this is not the case. It's all about having common courtesy and showing compassion for that person. Maybe you should practice displaying both of these traits instead of finding ways that you're oppressed. You're not being held against your will.

6. My final point is something that I haven't talked about in years: LGBTQ+ people being represented in all aspects of media. That includes television, movies, and comic books. Two characters sharing a kiss in either or all of these fields is traumatizing to you and you're offended by it? Last time I checked, this was 2025, not the 1950s. LGBTQ+ characters have been on our screens since the 1970s. This is the kind of representation we need and is still alive today. There are no signs of it disappearing anytime soon. If those are so "traumatizing" to you, don't watch or consume it. I have one piece of advice for you and I say this in the most respectful way possible: please get over yourself. It's not that deep at all. It's good to see characters who look like us on television and such being represented, because they're people that we can relate to.

As I've stated in my first Clayton Kershaw story, it's not a good idea to always search for problems in everything, because you'll be seen as an unlikable and unpleasant person to be around with. It's also not a good idea to make connections that aren't there. All of the things I've discussed in this story is fake outrage. If you want to be outraged at things that are actually affecting the American people, focus on the high cost of living, expensive health care costs, and the people taking advantage of the welfare system. Heavily focusing on a group of people who are just living their lives and aren't bothering or harming anyone isn't it. You're focusing on the wrong things and people, so please gain some perspective, stop being self-centered, and stop looking for problems when they aren't any. Focus on yourself and leave people alone. Finally, let me make the following things crystal clear to you:

•There are more than two genders

•Trans men are men and trans women are women

•Trans lives STILL matter

•Pronouns matter

•We will never go back in the closet

As for me, I'm an out and proud gay man who refuses to change for anyone. I won't and will never apologize for being me, because I supposedly make you feel uncomfortable. I'm not responsible for your feelings, because I shouldn't have to tiptoe through them just to make you happy. I also won't apologize for freely expressing myself. How I live my life shouldn't affect you at all. I love and accept everyone in this loving community I'm proud to be part of. I don't regret being me and I embrace it every day. I don't need your permission or tone down my personality to appease you or anyone. If you have a problem with me simply existing, a wise person online said this:

"That's a YOU problem."