Love Don't Need a Reason (Michael Callen)

I think it's interesting that the recent Black Lives Matter protests have led people to also explore the history of the LGBTQ movement, and to surprisingly discover that the latter was sparked by black trans women (Stonewall Uprising, June 28, 1969).  I am saddened that we cannot march this month (June) for Pride (one of the most transformative moments of my life a few years ago) so, in solidarity, I watched Disclosure last night, and The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson and From Selma to Stonewall: Are We There Yet? tonight, all fascinating and eye-opening, as well as horrifying.  We believe we've come so far, and there are still many murders of transgender or gender non-conforming people (27 in 2019, and already 16 in 2020).  When will it stop?

SONG:  Love Don't Need a Reason by Michael Callen

BOOK(S):  We Are Everywhere: Protest, Power, and Pride in the History of Queer Liberation by Matthew Riemer, Leighton Brown

Julián Is a Mermaid by Jessica Love

POEM:  A Litany for Survival by Audre Lorde

For those of us who live at the shoreline
standing upon the constant edges of decision
crucial and alone
for those of us who cannot indulge
the passing dreams of choice
who love in doorways coming and going
in the hours between dawns
looking inward and outward
at once before and after
seeking a now that can breed
futures
like bread in our children’s mouths
so their dreams will not reflect
the death of ours;

For those of us
who were imprinted with fear
like a faint line in the center of our foreheads
learning to be afraid with our mother’s milk
for by this weapon
this illusion of some safety to be found
the heavy-footed hoped to silence us
For all of us
this instant and this triumph
We were never meant to survive.

And when the sun rises we are afraid
it might not remain
when the sun sets we are afraid
it might not rise in the morning
when our stomachs are full we are afraid
of indigestion
when our stomachs are empty we are afraid
we may never eat again
when we are loved we are afraid
love will vanish
when we are alone we are afraid
love will never return
and when we speak we are afraid
our words will not be heard
nor welcomed
but when we are silent
we are still afraid

So it is better to speak
remembering
we were never meant to survive.

QUOTE:  “When all Americans are treated as equal, no matter who they are or whom they love, we are all more free.” ~ Former U.S. President Barack Obama