Against My Right to Marriage, Really?

 

For many years marriage equality has been a topic all over the world. Here, in the U.S., many have fought for that right just as many have been against it. Marriage equality has been an ongoing battle. Prop. 8 and DOMA were recently dismissed from Supreme Court, meaning that I am now able to tie the knot with the love of my life. Which I am all for and stoked. (Keep in mind many states are still fighting for that right.)

Then my rejoicing and excitement went dull when I began getting comments such as, “I am against Gay Marriage!” or “Instead of Gay Marriage there should be an Immigration Reform, now that’s more important!”

I was taken aback by this. Especially when your own family was saying this. I understand that there are people who would benefit from an Immigration Reform. I, personally have always been an advocate of the Immigration issue and never bashed immigrants by saying, to hell with an Immigration Reform, I want Marriage Equality. I have been a huge supporter of both issues and I feel they both are just as important. Out of anybody, I think immigrants would understand how it is to go day by day being a victim of discrimination. The same effect that a Green Card would have to an immigrant, so would a marriage have to an LGBT couple.

Some may argue that Marriage Equality goes against their religious believes, but we are not asking to be married before God. We just want a legal marriage. At the end of the day if someone will not approve my marriage then it comes to show how much I do not really need you in my life, simple as that.

Just remember Gay or Immigrant, we are all fighting and will always be fighting for one thing, Equality!

Immigration Issue

I am tired of the way in which the media has altered the immigration issue. One of the things that bother me is how the only ethnic group being attacked continuously by this issue is the Latino community. I mean there are many other ethnic groups that are also immigrants. For which I find it unfair that the only ethnic group that is always being pointed out is us the Hispanics. I think that if anyone is going to say anything regarding this matter should point every ethnic group in the nation. I know that coming to this country illegally is a crime for which I don’t condone anyone entering this country illegally. I am just tired of how every time the media brings up the immigration issue, the Hispanic community is always involved. I wonder if the Hispanic community is the only one that is trying to make a change.

I am also quite bothered by those who say immigrants are here to take jobs from them, when in fact that’s not true. I really don’t see many immigrants working a white collar job. Everyone who comes here as an immigrant gets to have a blue collar job. I think that if anyone is going to say that immigrants are taking jobs away, they should think twice before speaking. No one is going to want a blue collar labor, I mean I know I wouldn't.

Did Not Go According to Plans!

At this moment in my life, I thought I would had accomplished a lot of things. Before graduating high school I had my life planned out for success. I was going to attend college and major in journalism. Soon after I would live in New York and pursue my dream of becoming an editor of some high end fashion magazine.

The thought of going to college and pursuing my dream at the age of 18, thrilled me. Graduation was just around the corner. Sure, I had my mind made up. I was ready for the next step! I had applied for college and basically had everything ready. So graduation came, I was ready to walk the stage and kiss high school farewell.

Now at the age of 22, I am nowhere near those dreams and plans I had. I did start college, but my plans had changed. I no longer was going to major in Journalism, but Sociology. When I first even consider majoring in Sociology I was apprehensive and had no clue of what Sociology was. I began my research. Soon after I found out it would also lead me into a career I wanted.

I later began college and prepared myself for what would come next. It wasn’t until a year and half through college that I realized I wasn’t really doing something I wanted. I had so many plans, but never really made my mind up.

I was not sure if whether my loss in interest had to do with being uncertain of what I wanted at the time or just fear; fear of failure. Being the first in your family graduating from high school and going off to college is not easy. All eyes are on you and you do your best to make everyone proud. I remember staying up late studying, doing homework, and reading books. It was not easy. Sure I was not a straight A student, but the few A’s I got were well earned.

My plans did not go according to what I had in mind, but that does not mean I do not have a chance at making something happen. At the moment I am not in school or employed. This is a huge setback, but it will not stop me. Many see me as a disappointment, but my life is not over yet. I have time to get back on track and get thing done. I know it’s going to take some time, in the end it will all be well worth the struggle!

It Gets Better!!!

In consideration of the Trevor Project. In this post, I will open up in a personal level no one has yet seen me open up in. I am not doing this to cause any pity on my behalf, but I am doing this to help those who have and are still going through the bullying I went through in high school as a young gay teen. Does “It Get Better?” Once you are done reading my experience the answer to this question will unravel.

My bullying began in middle school. At the time I was unaware of where being bullied would take me or the decisions I would make. In middle school it was all easy for me to get over since I had a few amazing friends or so I thought I did. This is where I came to the conclusion that not everybody you call a friend is really your friend. I trusted many and many turned their backs on me, only to gain the courage to bully me. The easy part though, was that when I had friends they would defend me from bullies. So I found it easy to get over it. But when the bullying came from my so-called friends, that’s where it affected me.

I as many of you have, thought of suicide. When it came to acting upon it, I never had the courage to do it, so instead I would always question God, why was I put on earth to suffer? A question I just found the answer to, but I will later explain.

By the time I was a freshman in high school I really did not have many friends I could talk to or rely on. This is where the bullying really affected me. It affected me mentally, emotionally, and physically. With no one to defend me or no one to run to, my life was about to go down the drain. I was not only being bullied by my classmates, but also teachers. At this point I was so sucked in the idea that being gay was wrong. So I was afraid to come to my parents and ask for help. Sure my mom would always ask me if other students would bully me, but I would always deny it. Only if she ever knew not only did students bully me, but also my mechanical drafting teacher, Mr. Little. I always thought that teachers were there to help students, but he was the total opposite. There was not a class where I was not bullied. In school I was an outcast and the only friend I had was the wall where I would always hang out during lunch. It came to the point that if no one cares about me, I should just end my life, but as I earlier said, I never had the courage to do so. Since I was too afraid to end my life I became a wrist cutter.

Having no friends, being gay and being bullied for it, and a wrist cutter made sit down one day in my room with a bottle of pain killer pills and a blade and think if I wanted to keep on going on suffering in this world. I came to the conclusion that the issue was only in school not at home. So all the bullying made me decide that I would drop out of school. So I did, at the age of 14 years I had made my first big mistake and all thanks to the bullies and teacher. My parents, brother, and sister were all disappointed with my decision, but I had made my decision and it was FINAL. A few months later I began to think things over and I came to the conclusion my life was better, but I was not entirely happy. I realized that I gave up my education to a bunch of bullies who really have no say in my life. At that point it was too late for me to go back to school. Knowing I was going back to school only gave me that thrive to go back and let all those bullies know they could not hurt me anymore because for once I was happy with myself. The only thing I had in mind when going back to school was to succeed and do not let anyone bash me. I was going back to school with a twist which was me starting back in ninth grade again. I was only able to think of it as a new opportunity to start over and the idea thrilled me. This was only the start of a new life for me. I found friends and the acceptance no one had given me before. Bullies were out of the picture and if they ever reappeared I would stand up for myself. I am now out of high school and in college. At the age of 21, I am happy with who I am and who I have become. My family accepts me and that’s all that matters to me. I can only tell you that what does not kill you can only make you stronger. I honestly am thankful that all those bullies bullied me because instead of giving up I just became stronger mentally, emotionally, and physically. Thanks to all these I now know why I was placed on this earth and that is to prevail and understand that life is not easy. I also want to inspire and be inspired.

So in conclusion, does it get better? Of course it does. It is up to you to stand up and prove those who do not accept you that you do not care because you are happy with whom you are. Do not let anyone get in the way of your journey because you have a lot of us waiting for you to succeed.