June 2, 2000
What does that day, bulan and tahun mean to you? President Bill Clinton used that particular hari to declare ”Gay and Lesbian Pride Month”. Nine years later, on June 1st, President Barack Obama spoke to incorporate an even wider group. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered citizens alike could all have this bulan for recognition, respect and appreciation. However, I am aware that not all minds meet equally about the rights and respect that we should pay to others. As each generation leaves their footprints, and paves the way for what is to come…to some, change is an impossible idea atau action to put in motion.
anda know what? Often, this unfortunate reality is because of learned behavior! As much as we may often preach that we like to speak for ourselves, atau outside the box, how many times have anda caught yourself, atau someone anda know repeating the thoughts of another before them? Sometimes without proper information? And how many times have anda felt that perhaps further knowledge on an issue atau subject matter might result in a different voice, a different understanding? Perhaps even going against the ideas they’ve learned, heard, atau grown up around? We have the ability to fly planes, send astronauts into space, develop technology such as cellphones! Things that once were unfathomable. I can sit at this small computer and type this message. Once I push send, this message can be seen oleh anyone who’d like to engage, all across the WORLD.
As many of anda know, we (the glee cast) have been storming the country at whirlwind speeds to put on a forty-two show, month-long tour. It has been a constant reminder of why we do this. We’ve witnessed the impact our tampil has had, from the very beginning, to these moments, three years later. anda LOVELY & AMAZING fans! Just indescribable. The love, affirmation, and dedication anda provide! We see it all, value it all. Trust me, we do! On stage, the excitement that we absorb from your ball of energy brings our adrenaline levels to highs that often-times, we aren’t sure we can reach. Bottom line, we cinta anda guys. And our crew! Without this diverse group of hard-working people, this venture would be impossible.
Yesterday was June 11th, and we were tackling our newest location, Toronto! We had finished our first konser of the day, and I was about to take a moment to relax before the second. On the way to our dressing rooms, I passed a stack of shirts lined up on the merchandise tables. The white T’s were modeled after shirts we wore in a performance set to Lady Gaga’s, “Born This Way.” In case anda are not familiar here are the lyrics:
[Verse:]
My mama told me when I was young
We are all born superstars
She rolled my hair and put my lipstick on
In the glass of her boudoir
“There’s nothing wrong with loving who anda are”
She said, “‘Cause he made anda perfect, babe”
“So hold your head up girl and you’ll go far,
Listen to me when I say”
[Chorus:]
I’m beautiful in my way
‘Cause God makes no mistakes
I’m on the right track, baby
I was born this way
Don’t hide yourself in regret
Just cinta yourself and you’re set
I’m on the right track, baby
I was born this way
Beautiful. True. Words to remind yourself, words to live by. Doesn’t matter if you’re not a Gaga supporter, atau one of her “Little Monsters” as she lovingly refers to her fans. Kindness moves mountains. Acceptance opens doors, makes room for change, diffuses misunderstanding. Every day, people commit hate crimes because of misunderstandings. Hate effects the target, and consumes the person behind the gun. It is crazy to realize that we have been in war for almost our entire existence on this planet. Many times for reasons of greed and hate.
Anyone that has experienced the death atau abuse of a loved one can tell anda that, “IT HURTS BEYOND EXPLANATION!!! AND WE SHOULD DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO MAKE ANY CHANGE POSSIBLE.” Raise your hand if you’ve spent nights crying yourself to sleep, raise your hand if you’ve felt as if you’d rather hide in tempat tidur all hari than face the people that make anda feel small atau powerless! Raise your hand if you’ve felt as if you’d rather lie to people than tell them the truth about who anda really are, because at least anda wouldn’t be the victim of hateful behavior atau prejudice! And raise your hand if lying feels almost as bad.
I was not raised in a family that accepted prejudice atau hatred. For that, I thank my Mom and Dad each and every day. Look, we are human, we make mistakes. I will gladly shout from the rooftops that I AM NOT PERFECT. Nor will I ever be. But I can happily say that to my knowledge, I do not ever intentionally cause people pain. I cinta my family, my friends, my co-workers…and they all consist of girls AND boys. I do tell them that I cinta them. Yesterday, during our detik show, Instead of wearing my usual kemeja during “Born This Way” I decided to wear one that berkata “Likes Girls”. It should actually have read, “Loves Girls”, because I do. The women in my life give me things that the men in my life can’t. And vice-versa. No, I am not a lesbian, yet if I were, I hope that the people in my life could embrace it whole-heartedly. And let me tell you, I can easily spill (quite comfortably) what I admire, respect and think is beautiful about any of the women in my life. Piece of cake!
Last night, I wanted to do something to tampil my respect and cinta for the GLBT community. Support that people could actually see. Which is why I decided to change my kemeja for the show. I happened to read a few komentar that were diposting on twitter. Many of anda asked, “why?” This is my response. I am not asking for anda to agree with what I am saying, but if anda are listening, thank you. That is all I can ask. And a step further would be to take a moment to (honestly) answer the pertanyaan that I have raised. We can’t always put ourselves in someone else’s shoes. But we can try.
I am lucky to live in a place where I can wear almost anything that I want to express myself, and that jail is not a probable consequence. Which makes me feel as if I should exercise my right to do so every now and then. Think of the people that have died because of their passion and heartfelt hopes of change? So many good men and women. All because of an inherent wish for tolerance, cinta and support.
Our tampil celebrates the GLBT community. We are proud to be a part of something that embraces an often avoided topic. Hate is terrible, especially when we pass it down to a new generation of innocents. Recently, I heard a lament about San Francisco. How SFO just didn’t sound like a fun place to be, atau visit, because that person wasn’t gay. Wait, really???? I wanted to laugh! But that would have been a response that wouldn’t have encouraged that person to be open-minded. To see that perhaps, their statement was foolish? Why won’t San Francisco be fun for you? Do anda think the whole city is gay? Do anda think they will judge you? Won’t feed anda good food? Perhaps they won’t let anda have fun, the way THEY have fun?
Sadly, we’ve gotten letters from people who explain that they cinta the tampil but hate the gay story-lines. That we shouldn’t be polluting their children’s heads. To this I’d sometimes like to sarcastically reply, would anda also like us to tell them that a bangau is dropping off our offspring? That the sky is purple? That it is not practical to be true to yourself, because there are mean people in this world that will make them feel wrong for being honest? That instead of embracing themselves, they should lie to the world? THEY should be the ones being untrue and unhappy?
I believe that if anda are bringing a child into the world, anda should be willing to accept them in any reality. Whether they are Black, White, Asian, have four fingers, are disabled, gay….that the only wish should be for a happy and healthy baby. We are each other’s children. Unless someone has committed a violent atau hateful act, why should we judge? We can so quickly resort to anger, often, the product of a whole other issue. Most often, an issue with our own self.
I understand that I am sitting behind the protection of this computer screen, in this hotel room, and to many I might sound “preachy”. Especially now that I have written an essay. I hope my intentions sound pure, and just. I speak, because I am passionate. I write with this passion because I know how it feels to be hurt, to be depressed, to not value yourself, atau your feelings. If any of this has inspired atau moved you, even just made anda think….I encourage anda to tweet atau reblog a picture, quote, anything that anda feel will continue to spread the love. And if any are interested in tracking the chain, perhaps visualizing the greater collective, include the hatch tag, #letlovein.
Affection is responsible for nine-tenths of whatever solid and durable happiness there is in our lives. - C.S. Lewis
Being deeply loved oleh someone gives anda strength, while loving someone deeply gives anda courage. - Lao Tzu
Fortune and cinta favor the brave. - Ovid
AND remember that sometimes….
People need loving the most when they deserve it the least. - John Harrigan
To thine own jantung be true. Many thanks for your time, your love, and the gift you’ve diberikan me.
Sincerely,
Dianna Elise Agron
What does that day, bulan and tahun mean to you? President Bill Clinton used that particular hari to declare ”Gay and Lesbian Pride Month”. Nine years later, on June 1st, President Barack Obama spoke to incorporate an even wider group. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered citizens alike could all have this bulan for recognition, respect and appreciation. However, I am aware that not all minds meet equally about the rights and respect that we should pay to others. As each generation leaves their footprints, and paves the way for what is to come…to some, change is an impossible idea atau action to put in motion.
anda know what? Often, this unfortunate reality is because of learned behavior! As much as we may often preach that we like to speak for ourselves, atau outside the box, how many times have anda caught yourself, atau someone anda know repeating the thoughts of another before them? Sometimes without proper information? And how many times have anda felt that perhaps further knowledge on an issue atau subject matter might result in a different voice, a different understanding? Perhaps even going against the ideas they’ve learned, heard, atau grown up around? We have the ability to fly planes, send astronauts into space, develop technology such as cellphones! Things that once were unfathomable. I can sit at this small computer and type this message. Once I push send, this message can be seen oleh anyone who’d like to engage, all across the WORLD.
As many of anda know, we (the glee cast) have been storming the country at whirlwind speeds to put on a forty-two show, month-long tour. It has been a constant reminder of why we do this. We’ve witnessed the impact our tampil has had, from the very beginning, to these moments, three years later. anda LOVELY & AMAZING fans! Just indescribable. The love, affirmation, and dedication anda provide! We see it all, value it all. Trust me, we do! On stage, the excitement that we absorb from your ball of energy brings our adrenaline levels to highs that often-times, we aren’t sure we can reach. Bottom line, we cinta anda guys. And our crew! Without this diverse group of hard-working people, this venture would be impossible.
Yesterday was June 11th, and we were tackling our newest location, Toronto! We had finished our first konser of the day, and I was about to take a moment to relax before the second. On the way to our dressing rooms, I passed a stack of shirts lined up on the merchandise tables. The white T’s were modeled after shirts we wore in a performance set to Lady Gaga’s, “Born This Way.” In case anda are not familiar here are the lyrics:
[Verse:]
My mama told me when I was young
We are all born superstars
She rolled my hair and put my lipstick on
In the glass of her boudoir
“There’s nothing wrong with loving who anda are”
She said, “‘Cause he made anda perfect, babe”
“So hold your head up girl and you’ll go far,
Listen to me when I say”
[Chorus:]
I’m beautiful in my way
‘Cause God makes no mistakes
I’m on the right track, baby
I was born this way
Don’t hide yourself in regret
Just cinta yourself and you’re set
I’m on the right track, baby
I was born this way
Beautiful. True. Words to remind yourself, words to live by. Doesn’t matter if you’re not a Gaga supporter, atau one of her “Little Monsters” as she lovingly refers to her fans. Kindness moves mountains. Acceptance opens doors, makes room for change, diffuses misunderstanding. Every day, people commit hate crimes because of misunderstandings. Hate effects the target, and consumes the person behind the gun. It is crazy to realize that we have been in war for almost our entire existence on this planet. Many times for reasons of greed and hate.
Anyone that has experienced the death atau abuse of a loved one can tell anda that, “IT HURTS BEYOND EXPLANATION!!! AND WE SHOULD DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO MAKE ANY CHANGE POSSIBLE.” Raise your hand if you’ve spent nights crying yourself to sleep, raise your hand if you’ve felt as if you’d rather hide in tempat tidur all hari than face the people that make anda feel small atau powerless! Raise your hand if you’ve felt as if you’d rather lie to people than tell them the truth about who anda really are, because at least anda wouldn’t be the victim of hateful behavior atau prejudice! And raise your hand if lying feels almost as bad.
I was not raised in a family that accepted prejudice atau hatred. For that, I thank my Mom and Dad each and every day. Look, we are human, we make mistakes. I will gladly shout from the rooftops that I AM NOT PERFECT. Nor will I ever be. But I can happily say that to my knowledge, I do not ever intentionally cause people pain. I cinta my family, my friends, my co-workers…and they all consist of girls AND boys. I do tell them that I cinta them. Yesterday, during our detik show, Instead of wearing my usual kemeja during “Born This Way” I decided to wear one that berkata “Likes Girls”. It should actually have read, “Loves Girls”, because I do. The women in my life give me things that the men in my life can’t. And vice-versa. No, I am not a lesbian, yet if I were, I hope that the people in my life could embrace it whole-heartedly. And let me tell you, I can easily spill (quite comfortably) what I admire, respect and think is beautiful about any of the women in my life. Piece of cake!
Last night, I wanted to do something to tampil my respect and cinta for the GLBT community. Support that people could actually see. Which is why I decided to change my kemeja for the show. I happened to read a few komentar that were diposting on twitter. Many of anda asked, “why?” This is my response. I am not asking for anda to agree with what I am saying, but if anda are listening, thank you. That is all I can ask. And a step further would be to take a moment to (honestly) answer the pertanyaan that I have raised. We can’t always put ourselves in someone else’s shoes. But we can try.
I am lucky to live in a place where I can wear almost anything that I want to express myself, and that jail is not a probable consequence. Which makes me feel as if I should exercise my right to do so every now and then. Think of the people that have died because of their passion and heartfelt hopes of change? So many good men and women. All because of an inherent wish for tolerance, cinta and support.
Our tampil celebrates the GLBT community. We are proud to be a part of something that embraces an often avoided topic. Hate is terrible, especially when we pass it down to a new generation of innocents. Recently, I heard a lament about San Francisco. How SFO just didn’t sound like a fun place to be, atau visit, because that person wasn’t gay. Wait, really???? I wanted to laugh! But that would have been a response that wouldn’t have encouraged that person to be open-minded. To see that perhaps, their statement was foolish? Why won’t San Francisco be fun for you? Do anda think the whole city is gay? Do anda think they will judge you? Won’t feed anda good food? Perhaps they won’t let anda have fun, the way THEY have fun?
Sadly, we’ve gotten letters from people who explain that they cinta the tampil but hate the gay story-lines. That we shouldn’t be polluting their children’s heads. To this I’d sometimes like to sarcastically reply, would anda also like us to tell them that a bangau is dropping off our offspring? That the sky is purple? That it is not practical to be true to yourself, because there are mean people in this world that will make them feel wrong for being honest? That instead of embracing themselves, they should lie to the world? THEY should be the ones being untrue and unhappy?
I believe that if anda are bringing a child into the world, anda should be willing to accept them in any reality. Whether they are Black, White, Asian, have four fingers, are disabled, gay….that the only wish should be for a happy and healthy baby. We are each other’s children. Unless someone has committed a violent atau hateful act, why should we judge? We can so quickly resort to anger, often, the product of a whole other issue. Most often, an issue with our own self.
I understand that I am sitting behind the protection of this computer screen, in this hotel room, and to many I might sound “preachy”. Especially now that I have written an essay. I hope my intentions sound pure, and just. I speak, because I am passionate. I write with this passion because I know how it feels to be hurt, to be depressed, to not value yourself, atau your feelings. If any of this has inspired atau moved you, even just made anda think….I encourage anda to tweet atau reblog a picture, quote, anything that anda feel will continue to spread the love. And if any are interested in tracking the chain, perhaps visualizing the greater collective, include the hatch tag, #letlovein.
Affection is responsible for nine-tenths of whatever solid and durable happiness there is in our lives. - C.S. Lewis
Being deeply loved oleh someone gives anda strength, while loving someone deeply gives anda courage. - Lao Tzu
Fortune and cinta favor the brave. - Ovid
AND remember that sometimes….
People need loving the most when they deserve it the least. - John Harrigan
To thine own jantung be true. Many thanks for your time, your love, and the gift you’ve diberikan me.
Sincerely,
Dianna Elise Agron
