More and more as I get older I forget and perhaps
willfully dismiss how insanely lucky and privileged I
was to grow up in a very supportive family and
school system in so many ways but especially in
regards to my homosexuality. The fact that I can
count on one hand where I've been verbally gay bashed is a blessing compared to most.
When I started the band there were a lot of
questions about how to address my sexuality. I
said put it in the first bio and let it be. Despite taking
longer than most to come out perhaps just because
I wasn't comfortable in my skin, by age 24 when we were getting ready to release Horn of Plenty I
was comfortable enough to be proudly out in the
music community.
Initially I never thought much about that decision
because nobody was coming to our shows.
However, as we grew young teens would approach me at the merch table, sometimes
trembling and crying, thanking me for simply being
openly gay and in the indie rock world. As these
instances increased, the importance of being loud
and proud and caring to the community hit me
harder and harder. I would receive DMs on all social media platforms from scared people in the LGBTQ
community asking my advice. As best I could I
would try to help, but knowing not everyone is as
lucky as I was, simply saying "don't worry, come
out you'll be fine" seemed often like reckless and
dangerous advice. Today is a reminder that we all can still feel
rightfully scared and angry but let us try our
hardest to reach out to one another and provide
support and love, especially to those that need it
most and are living in unsafe or unsupportive
communities. These vulnerable LGBTQ people need as many messages of success, love and support as
they can get in order for them to ever fully feel
comfortable celebrating their innate greatness.
There have been many times I've felt lesser than
within the gay community. Now is not one of them.
Now we are all the same and all mourning. My love goes out to everyone in Orlando but everyone
world wide who has to struggle just to be gay.
There are multiple countries where being gay is
served with a quick government sanctioned death
penalty. We must remember these millions too. Even
when I think we have it lucky here a horrific tragedy like this happens and is a sobering
reminder how much further we have to go.
It would be tone-deaf in the same post not to
address the disgusting gun problem the US has.
How many people year after year need to be
slaughtered to enact tough gun laws? Children, Planned Parenthood workers, Movie watchers,
Office workers.....nobody is safe from this violence
because we as a nation encourage it with our gun
laws. This has to and MUST stop. We are at a serious
risk of being completely desensitized to this in a
few years, and with every lessening response, we are losing our humanity.
I've never marched in a pride parade but if I get the
opportunity to this month, or next year I will....and
as soon as I see any of them, I will hug all of my
LGBTQ friends as hard as possible. Right now I'm on
the top of a mountain making music sad as one ever could be. Stay strong and safe. ❤️

I wonder how a functioning, real man will go after a fellow man in the name of GAY.......God forbid

I saw this few days ago, it was heart broken.

Jambsupport:
I saw this few days ago, it was heart broken.

Seriously, even though he's gay buh it's still heart broken

these Americans self...Homo is evil...period!

I'm too much in hurry these days to read this wikipedia of a post, no matter how touching
*next pls*

Francis95:
these Americans self...Homo is evil...period!

It doesn't justify the killings

What's it with that grammar
"I'm tell I'm bathroom"
Wonder if it's Gay talk

ThreeGEEKS:
What's it with that grammar
"I'm tell I'm bathroom"
Wonder if it's Gay talk

have u ever had a close call with death?...Tension can make a grown man wet his pants...
I dont blame him.

Jambsupport:
It doesn't justify the killings

yep true