Rohan Lokanadham ’23
As said by the author “Some people think that it is so easy to come out. They say that people care for some time but then forget about it. But that’s not how it is. Every time someone says any one of these things that I have stated in the poem, it shows their homophobia. These are things people in the LGBTQ+ community have to deal with every single day, and not only that, but they hear from their friends and family. I feel like I can’t ever truly be myself, because people will look down upon me for that. I get scared to have a “gay voice”, so I make my voice deeper when talking to strangers. I have to go through all of this just to hide my true self, and sometimes it makes me not want to be myself anymore. My anger and frustration about this, reflects who I am. This is how I feel. I feel that society needs a change, a major one, and it needs to happen soon.”
Why can’t I be myself, I don’t understand. Wherever I go, there's the judgement, The prejudice of the gay kid. That’s all I am, isn't it. “Shut up, you like men” “You’re gay” “You don’t count ‘cause you gay” Why? Why am I invalid because of my sexuality? These are the questions I ask myself everyday. These are the questions that make me wonder if I’m valued. I don’t wanna be myself.
the len(z) 