National Coming OUT Day, For many it is a no go!

National Coming Out Day is coming up on October 11 and will be celebrated by many who have the luxury to live out and open lives.  It amazes me when I look over the stats for this blog and see we have readers from all over the world. Readers from some countries that if they were caught reading such material they certainly would be tormented, persecuted, jailed, become a victim of an “honor” killing or executed. On National Coming Out Day my message is to our people who are in those situations.

We send our greetings, our love and good thoughts to you. Those of us who pray will do so for your safety in your everyday and we love you in a bond of sisterhood and brotherhood. We cry for you when you are beaten in the streets, chased out of your homes, clubbed and burned to death. When you are imprisoned let our spirits come and comfort you and if you meet those who will kill you, let a thousand of our people who have gone on before come and stand with you. When the tyrants fall and with them the cultural ties that bound you in silence are ended we rejoice with you. We must work to hasten that day, for you must be free.

May someday all that holds our people back be chased from the planet and let us once again establish on earth our rightful place.

Human Rights Activist Peter Tatchell’s web site, http://www.petertatchell.net/, has these inspiring words:

The only liberation struggle worth fighting is a struggle inspired by love.
Love is the beginning, middle and end of liberation.
Without love, there can be no liberation worthy of the name.

From many small streams, a mighty river flows.
We are the small streams that can make a mighty river for human freedom.

Every successful emancipation struggle is a collective one.
Every true emancipation struggle is for the sake of the individual.

Check out Peter’s site for some right on essays concerning human rights, democracy and global justice.

Essays on QWB:

“Happy PRIDE Everyone!” Around the world it just isn’t so,” written by William Urich. Essay is found here.

“Leaving the Family PRIDE: Are we there yet,” written by Kyle S. Smith. Essay can be found here.

How Can I Keep From Singing. 

My life flows on in endless song
Above earth’s lamentation.
I hear the real, though far off hymn
That hails the new creation
Above the tumult and the strife,
I hear the music ringing;
It sounds an echo in my soul
How can I keep from singing?

What through the tempest loudly roars,
I hear the truth, it liveth.
What through the darkness round me close,
Songs in the night it giveth.
No storm can shake my inmost calm
While to that rock I’m clinging.
Since love is lord of Heaven and earth
How can I keep from singing?

When tyrants tremble, sick with fear,
And hear their death-knell ringing,
When friends rejoice both far and near,
How can I keep from singing?
In prison cell and dungeon vile
Our thoughts to them are winging.
When friends by shame are undefiled,
How can I keep from singing

This version of “How Can I keep from Singing” was taught to Pete Seeger by Doris Plenn in 1957.