My name is Dani Roberts. I am many things, I am a son, brother, cousin, nephew, uncle, and a friend, but most of all I am a proud homosexual male. I have grown up in a world of freedoms. I have been able to walk the streets as my flamboyant self without extreme ridicule. I have been blessed with the opportunity to be myself. No matter what I go through I have always been true to myself. People who know me know that I strut myself across the campus as if I am walking the runway. I hold this confidence because I know that I live in a safe environment, and knowing that I won't be taken down for being who I am. I love having my freedoms, like the freedoms to be myself, to love who I want, and to express what I want.
Now many of us love the technology of today, but we don't appreciate the hard work that went into receiving that jewel of the new age. We always want the newest thing, the next greatest invention' the thing that will single us out from the crowd which makes us the envy of the populous. After thinking about this, however, I've come to question what we really do value these days? What do we take into consideration nowadays? Do we understand the concept of true cherishing?
So let's throw the shades off of our eyes and reflect on what we should take hold of. Let's forget about the glitz and glamour of the new generation and appreciate the past. Like I said before, I am an extremely proud homosexual male, and I love having the freedom that I possess. I am thankful I have said freedoms, and I thank those who fought for me to have these freedoms. I appreciate every day of my life because of these people. If we have issues with social structures and stigmas today, think about what they went through during their time.
I will especially be rejoicing about being a homosexual this October, because October is Lesbian, Gay, Bi, and Transgender (LGBT) History Month. This October we will be celebrating those who are in the community and those who are allies to the community. I will reflect everyday on those who have helped me be the person I am today. Hence why I think we should think about those who actually gave us this opportunity and understand the hardships they had to encounter for us to walk the streets freely. For example, after the release of all those contained within concentration camps during WWII, people were still criminalized for being homosexual. They were the only group post-WWII that were still considered criminals for being who they were. That makes my heart ache every time I think about it, but their hardships gave the LGBT community the power to make a change. It is thanks to the LGBT community and allies that I can now serve my country openly as a homosexual in the military (if I wanted to), I can go to a formal event with a male partner by my side, I can now run for a political office.
I not only appreciate the past generations of homosexuals before me, but I also appreciate the Koreans of the past. Without them integrating into the American culture, I wouldn't have even been born. It's thanks to the South Koreans who fought during the Korean War, that my family is able to live in a free democratic country that has its own culture and ideals. Not just Koreans, but all of the diverse nationalities among the Asian Continent. Without them I probably wouldn't even be able to attend a University here in the United States.
I feel that everyone should embrace the history of who they are. No, I am not talking about your own past. I am speaking of your ancestors. No matter what your background is, whether you're gay, transgender, Asian, Black, White, Hispanic, physically abled, mentally abled, short, thin, tall, curvy, think about the past and the aggression and hardships those before you had to go through. Appreciate the freedoms you have today and the friendships you have thanks to those of a different lifetime. Love every single day that you walk on this Earth because it was thanks to your ancestors that you can live freely. Recognizing your past gives you the opportunity to let yourself grow into a better person.
