Diskriminasi, kebencian, pelecehan, dalam berbagai tingkat, dari lingkungan straight mungkin bukan hal asing bagi kaum minoritas gay. Bahkan diskriminasi dapat berupa hal sepele seperti gurauan-gurauan yang sebenarnya dapat dikategorikan sebagai pelecehan. Tapi aku pikir kita terlalu fokus menjadi korban dari semua kebencian tersebut, karna terkadang kita lupa bahwa kita pun bisa menjadi pelaku diskriminasi terhadap kaum kita sendiri.
Pagi ini, aku membaca tentang diskriminasi dalam komunitas gay. Mengingatkanku tentang cerita seorang kawan, bagaimana dia diperlakukan dengan sangat buruk oleh orang terdekatnya pemaksaan, pemerasa, penipuan, ancaman membeberkan identitas nya sebagai gay ke keluarga dan lingkungan kerjanya, bahkan kekerasan fisik. Seorang waria berbicara tentang diskriminasi yang dia alami - bukan dari orang straight, tetapi dari dalam lingkungannya.
Kita selalu memperjuangkan persamaan hak pada dunia, menghapus diskriminasi terhadap LGBT. Namun kita seperti menutup mata terhadap hal-hal buruk yang terjadi dalam komunitas kita sendiri.
Menyadari diskriminasi dalam komunitas gay merupakan langkah pertama yang sangat besar dalam mengatasinya. Mungkin hal yang paling efektif dapat kita lakukan adalah memperlakukan satu sama lain - dalam pikiran, kata dan tindakan - sebagai saudara dan saudari kita yang sebenarnya.
Kita semua bisa berbuat lebih baik...
It happened in the past. And it happened once. But in your memory, you’re letting it happen over and over again, each and every day. You can’t change that it happened, but you can change that it continues to happen to you.
It’s time to let it go, and no longer haunt yourself with shame, remorse and guilt.
And the truth is, it happened for a reason. Though it may be hard to understand that reason from where you sit in time and space, my vantage point allows for a clearer perspective. Learn the lesson being offered, and allow yourself the freedom to move forward with these simple but powerful words: “I am sorry. Please forgive me. I love you. I thank you.”
Love,
Truth be told – and perhaps very predictably – I don’t really need a reason to smile. I think joy and bliss are our natural state, and that we learn the unhappiness that so many of us experience.
But if you do need a reason to smile, here are six of them:
1. You are loved. If you’re not loved by yourself, you are at least loved by me. And probably a whole bunch of other people to which you mean the world. Best of all, you have the ability to reciprocate that love – and doing so is guaranteed to make you smile.
2. Smiles make new friends. There’s no better way to open yourself to other people than by smiling at strangers. Smiles attract attention, and your smile may spark a new and fulfilling friendship.
3. Because you’re worth it. Not a single one in this wold is more deserving of love, more beautiful, or more magical than you. Knowing that, how can’t you smile?
4. A smile looks good on you. In fact, smiling is my best-kept beauty secret. A radiant smile works with any outfit, any season and any combination of colors or prints. Wear it proud!
5. It’s good for you. Smiling doesn’t just make you more attractive, it reduces stress, boosts your immune system, lowers blood pressure and releases endorphins.
6. Because it’s contagious. Your smile lights up a room – and other people take notice. Your smile helps others connect with their happiness. If you won’t smile for yourself, do it for others.
And I know what you’re thinking, there are certainly a number of reasons not to smile today. You don’t need me to remind you of those. But by focusing on the negative, you’re probably only ensuring a negative mood, attitude and experience.
Why not focus on those things that will lift you up, and align yourself with a more loving and positive energy? The choice, as always, is yours. :-D
Aahh... butuh bahu untuk bersandar... atau tangan yg mengusap kepalaku... atau kata-kata yang membesarkan hatiku...
"Hai Floo... semuanya akan baik2 saja."
