In the know as of 07/26/06

http://www.spreadtheknow.com
http://www.weallhaveaids.com
http://www.knowhivaids.org

Celebrating Independence

On this weekend, I will be traveling to my home state of Louisiana to a town just on the outskirts of New Orleans which from what I hear are bursting at the seams in Katrina evacuees. LaPlace for the most part is very much country living although most there would not want to believe. It has been ten years since I had relocated from this area in which I was raised. While there, as with many small towns, the expectations for others were very low. It was predicted that I was not to live past the age of seventeen and if I did my life would be nothing worth mentioning. To the amazement of all there, I was the first in my family along with my mom and sister to attend and complete a degree from a four year college. Yet again, breaking the forces that had my life planned for destruction, I attended and completed graduate school. These accomplishments would be monumental in most cases, but in a small town like LaPlace it seems to be the seed of envy.

Attending college, as many of you may know, is no easy feat. There were many days when family was unavailable to assist with living and college expenses and those who could just simply refused to do so. I recall being in undergrad and being asked my own dad ‘what does your education have to do with me.’ Now being the first in his entire family to attend and complete college twice, I would think the pride alone of this accomplishment would have a lot to do with you. Yet when my first job came along at Upscale Magazine, he was first in line calling for a copy of my issues. Graduation, he is the last to put up cash to travel to Atlanta but the first to argue over pictures that my siblings and aunt took.The same occurred for my MFA degree; he did not attend but argued over photos. He never put a single dollar towards my college education.

It lately had been brought to my attention that he along with others was spreading the word that I am gay. The issue that I have is not that you could possibly be stating facts, but is an issue of motives. It is not as if I was called and asked by these people if the rumors were true or not. I am talking about people that I have not spoken to in years. It is of no interest to them if my bills are paid, if I am eating or in good health, neither is it of interest if I am mentally sound or accomplishing my goals. It is more important to these people to know who I decide to love and lie down with. Now we are talking about folks who never completed high school, never lived away from there parents more than five years, can get a decent job to save their lives and raised children who are common criminals and whores. It is great to see that the knowledge, or of lack there of, of my gayness has enriched so many lives. I would love to think that this info has inspired them to get their GED, continue on to college, receive great jobs and that they would prosper forever more. Yet the reality is that it has not. They are still living the lives that I left them with ten years earlier and their progeny have found it worthy to follow in their footsteps, accomplishing nothing.

Sometimes I think about my life and I can only thank God for the mother that he has given me. When all others told me that I could not achieve, she set the path for my achievements. When after her divorce all thought that she was too dependent to survive on her own, she showed me that a setback is only opportunity for greatness. Therefore I thank God for giving her the wisdom to rear an independent young man. So if my independence says that I am gay, then you are damn right I am. Maybe some of these KATRINA STIRRING, FEMA CHEATING, DEPENDENT “CHILDREN OF GOD” can get off of their asses and become productive independent/gay members of society and stay out of my business, unless they can add more positive blessings into my life.

Independence IS Dapper!!!