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On a visit to my hometown in the Midwest, I've been realizing that I often take D.C.'s LGBT community for granted. Any fear of being gay in D.C. is minor compared to the fear felt in some cities in the Midwest. Talking with some of gay men in Indiana has made me realize that being as openly gay there as I am in D.C. would still be dangerous. I don’t really care about what others think or what their views on my life happen to be. But when it comes to being in a place where I can be completely comfortable as myself, I know that Indiana is not one of them. There is definitely not a “gayborhood” in my hometown where one can go and see fellow LGBT people hanging out. The gay bars are less than exciting, and the closets here are full.
This visit has renewed my drive to fight for equality. I have to admit that I was somewhat comfortable with my day-to-day life in D.C. Here in the Midwest, I’ve found myself thinking about what I wear, what I say and how I act in public more than I have in many years. I feel true sympathy for the gays who live here. I'm sure that some of them are possibly quite happy living here, but I suspect that if they were to experience life in a much more liberal city, they would not want to stay in Indiana.
Why do so many gays settle for living their lives in the shadows? Why have so many Midwestern towns been able to continue to oppress the LGBT community? One thing's for sure: it has to stop! We need to take every step toward achieving complete equality and a higher quality of life for LGBT persons everywhere. We need to not be complacent in thinking that things aren’t that bad just because we are able to be ourselves most of the time. Most of the time is not acceptable. And for many in the Midwest, it's almost impossible to live openly in their communities.
So, my LGBT friends, it’s time for the revolution to begin. If you are from the Midwest and are planning a trip home for the holidays, take your partner, boyfriend, girlfriend or just another gay friend. Always be yourself and be proud of who you are. Make sure you are not sacrificing your quality of life just to make other people more comfortable.
You can follow Curtis on Twitter @CurtisDorgan.
 Posted by Curtis Dorgan,
Twitter: @CurtisDorgan | Nov. 4 at
10:45 AM | editor@washblade.com
Permalink: http://www.washblade.com/blog/blog.cfm?blog_id=27933
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