I have never been beaten that savagely, but growing up in the sixties and seventies I have been exposed to some racial violence. When i was twelve or so, I remember being attacked on a subway by two hoodlums who singled me out because I was a "spook."
But I never really had to face the kind of antipathy the Freedom Riders had to face. I have never felt like my whole world wanted me dead. Some close relatives have strong religious beliefs about homosexuality, but none have disowned me for being outspoken in support of basic human rights and dignity for LGTB people.
I feel blessed to live in this time, and I feel like my whole existence is owed to people like them and those who fought in the Great War.
Agreed. Last halloween, I dressed up in full drag as my costume and had a great time, until someone assaulted me for it in the washroom at the end of the night. He fractured my skull in 2 places, and it looked pretty bad, but in the end I was fine. It really just made me sad that that sort of hatred and judgement still exists in our place and time. My business partner is homosexual and because of his family's religious views didn't come out until he was 30. Having to hide who he was in order to be "accepted" is tragic, and really messes a person up emotionally. And others who carry such blind hatred around, it saddens me that I can heal in a week or two, but they're just broken human beings who may never get over that. One can only hope something happens to help them change...
But I never really had to face the kind of antipathy the Freedom Riders had to face. I have never felt like my whole world wanted me dead. Some close relatives have strong religious beliefs about homosexuality, but none have disowned me for being outspoken in support of basic human rights and dignity for LGTB people.
I feel blessed to live in this time, and I feel like my whole existence is owed to people like them and those who fought in the Great War.