Went to a rally/vigil last night...

Last night I went to my first ever gay rights event. There was national coming out day, and there was a student who killed himself over the things said in the norman city hall. People showed up, candle in hand. I showed up a bit late, everyone already in a circle, but they hadn't lit their candles yet. I was amazed by the passion and resolve there, and the love shown by everyone. I didn't feel alone. You know sometimes in this fight, we can feel alone, despite all those we have around us who love us so very much, and support us. Myself I was having one of those days. I'd come home from my friends house and been given 6 weeks to get out of my parents house, again. From things said to my sister in a fight that arose from me ...being pansexual or genderfluid...one or both of those two. Anyhow, I'm not voicing my dirty laundry on the internet, this is about more than that. This student thought his only way out was death. It's not true, I want you all to know this, that I too am not yet in the "oh look at me it's going to get better I promise, see it got better for me" stage. I'm in the shit. The thick of it. IT isn't as bad as it looks though, and it's getting better, a little, or maybe not. I'm choosing to see what is good in my life. If you are alive you have something good. Sometimes life brings things to you, that you'd never expect. All of you will sooner or later get through this. That was the message last night and the message I send. Everyone lit their candles and we told stories last night, coming out stories, what we are going through stories, fruit fly support stories. All sorts. We were invited to go to gatherings, and help with the movement. Most importantly though we felt loved. It was what I needed that night. God or whoever gave it to me. There was a boy there, who said you can have your god and your sexuality too...he made a good point. Don't let people take your "you" from you. I'm getting off topic here, but your you...people won't like you and that's fine but there are people who will try to take your "you" away from you because they don't like it. Don't let them. If anyone is reading this thinking they are NOT amazing for who they are...well you're wrong. Even if I don't think so, someone does. This world is big enough for all of us, and there is no taking your "you" away. No need. Nobody CAN take it away. All they can do is try to scare you. Don't let them. Back to the topic, we broke up into smaller groups to tell stories in a more private setting. This is where I told mine, what I have of it. What I could think of. My brain was reeling from the whole thing so I couldn't think of much, but I think my story prompted a boy to come with his, who needed to share more than I. There were others who shared, a person on the board of regents for UCO came out to say hello, and share his coming out story. That said something. It said to us that we were a force to be reckoned with, that we won't be silent and we won't stop. We have power as a community, and change is coming, attitudes of young people change every day, more decide they are ok with those of us who aren't straight, and more who are in the closet come out. The day soon comes when we WILL be able to marry in oklahoma. We WILL be able to come out in small towns without being afraid. We WILL be able to go to work in ANY field without the fear of being discriminated against or bullied or harrassed. YOU the reader will see this in your life time.