LOUD AND PROUD
LOUD AND PROUD
You won’t see this when you’re reading this online, but I’m writing this essay in red ink. Back when I was in high school my French teacher only graded in red ink when she was mad. Well, right now mad feels like an understatement for how I’m currently feeling.
I live in Florida. I’ve lived here my entire life, basically within the same twenty-minute radius. And I have never felt more disappointed to call Florida my home. Leaders of my state have decided that one narrow minded school of thought is the “right way” to think and live. Laws being passed within my state are making living an authentic life for some people boaderline criminal.
It feels like the state is hard at work, killing creativity, intellect, and imagination, by banning books. Growing up the stories told through books were a constant in my life, from participating in reading challenges hosted by my local library, to crafting a magical forrest beyond the trees in the park, across the street from my childhood home. To this day books are a binding thread of my life. Both as an avid reader, and as my chosen career path as a writer and adovocate.
As I watch the next generation grow up, it breaks my soul to know that they don’t have the same access to books that I did while growing up. All because aduilts not directly involved in their lives think they have the right to censor the masses. A.K.A lawmakers. Books and stories in any form, are in my opinion an excellent avenue to understand lived expxpirences outside of our own personal life bubbles. I think the ability to understand people’s differences expands the depth in which we can feel empathy. Simply put, representation matters! I would argue seeing yourself is vital! Especially when you live outside of what society deems “normal” or “acceptable.”
There’s a show called Station 19 which aired on ABC. It followed the dynamics of firefighters working at a fictional firehouse in the heart of Seattle. LT. Maya Bishop is a main character. At the start of the series, she’s very non-committal in terms of romantic relationships. Throughout the series we watch Maya fall in love with aniother woman, Dr. Carina Deluca. Fast forward to the final season of the show Maya and Carina are now married, focused on starting a family of their own. Maya is having an argument with her estranged brother about a pride parade. He asks her why she cares so much?
Her response is, “because Mason it’s me. Those are my people.”
Maya Deluca- Bishop is one of my favorite characters, and this one quote from her has been on a loop in my mind constantly for months now, because these are my people too!
Yes, I’m in a straight passing relationship. Yes, I have a boyfriend. Yes, I love him, I’m in love with him. Yet here’s a reminder I’m bisexual, disabled, and a woman. About as marginalized as you can get I would say.
So yes, the people who are being affected most by the narrow-minded views of our lawmakers. The marginalized. The people who zigzag throughout life. The ones who color outside the lines to create their own pictures. These are my people, and we must continue to be loud and proud about who we are. May we live our lives and then write books. Hoping their just good enough to be banned!