No one
likes to be stereotyped, and I mean anyone not just gay men and women.
Worse, is
being subjected to verbal/physical/ psychological abuse simply because we don’t
tick the ‘right’ boxes; right for some
people, that is. So what can we do about
it?
As a
child, I was sometimes bullied and teased (by adults as well as peers) because
I had a very bad lisp. I finally confided in someone and asked what I should
do. ‘Don’t do anything,’ I was told, ‘just be yourself, and when these nasty
people see they are not getting to you, they will get bored and stop. Too
often, we only see what we want to see in others, for better or worse. The
trick is to let everyone know that what they see is what they’ll get, end of
story. The chances are they will respect you for it. They may not like you, but
they will respect you…’
Years
later, this advice served me in very good stead when I came out as a gay man.
This poem
is a villanelle.
I, PERSON
[NOT BOX]
Be brave,
and to the self be true
(none of
this playing a part);
let
others see, for looking at you
Bigots,
though (relatively) few
leave good
folks sick at heart;
be brave,
and to the self be true
We all
run life’s gamut, it’s true,
(few of
us make a good start);
let others
see, for looking at you
Gossips
have little better to do
(innuendo,
a poison dart…);
be brave,
and to the self be true
Get a life,
and then see it through
(challenge
the stick, try carrot);
let
others see, for looking at you
Just rewards
may well seem few,
(don’t
let it break your heart);
be brave,
and to the self be true;
let
others see, for looking at you
Copyright
R. N. Taber 2009