Remember when you were younger and you would watch shows like "Arthur", "Hey Arnold", and "Recess"? Remember how each show had a designated "bully" figure? I personally feel that we are living within the scripts of these shows. I remember when I was younger and I did not know who I was and what I was interested in. I would be pushed around and mocked for being more feminine than even some of the girls and for even looking different than the majority. I have thought about punishing myself because I thought I was not the "social norm". That all changed when I found out who I was.
Many of us have been bullied in our past, and some of us may have been the bully. I like to think that we can all act like adults now that we are in college, but after being in college for quite some time, I've realized that the bullying never seems to die out. I am tired of it. I am tired of all of my brothers and sisters in life being pushed around by my other brothers and sisters because one group is slightly different than the other.
Thanks to the bullies, we have homosexual youth too afraid to be who they are, because they don't want to be teased or ridiculed for who they love; so instead, they would rather torture themselves for not letting the world see who they are. We probably have the next greatest fashion designer in our eyes, but she's too afraid to show the world what great talent she has because she's teased for being "weird". There might be a young man out there who was born to be a thespian, but instead is forced to close himself up and focus on being the star football player.
People who have been bullied are sometimes martyrs for their cause. For example, any young man who puts on a pair of heels and a wig on is a hero to me, because as drag queens, we put ourselves in the line of danger just so we may entertain a selective group of people. Any young woman who has aspirations to become the next boxing champion gives me pride, because she is pursuing what she loves to do, even though she could possibly undergo great scrutiny.
To those who are being bullied: You are an amazing individual with spectacular interests. No matter what you do, I shall follow you every step of the way with my full support. You are the superstar in the spotlight of your life. Do not let those who find themselves superior than others, rule who you are. Do not let those people degrade you; do not let those people pressure you into being someone you're not. Life is full of surprises and opportunity, but you can't experience them if you aren't yourself. Forget about what they say about you, the only people who agree with what they say are themselves; take the "sticks and stones" philosophy to the next level. Just be yourself, because you are a rock scratched and scarred by sandpaper, but in the end you will end up smooth and polished, and as for the sandpaper, it's just worn out and dirty.
To the bullies: Who do you think you are? You were not granted by some sort of higher power, the right to persecute others for being who they are. We are all human beings and equal beings in the same spectrum. One day the tables will be turned, and those who you have condemned for being themselves will have the opportunity to get back at you. The thing is they will take the high road and will keep it cute. Since you haven't put it on mute, I suggest you do so now, because you never know what problems may come your way.
"You're a Champion, Greatest of the all
You're a Champion, Never gonna fall
You're a Champion, still standing tall
You're a Champion, and you'll always be a hero"
-"Champion" by RuPaul
