Revolution Progress and Gay Marriage

Dear Adam,

I recently went to the movies with a date; he opted to watch ‘Lincoln’, I resisted at first since I usually prefer mindless romantic comedies that desire no mental strain whatsoever, I chose not to show my true colors just yet and agreed. The movie is based on biographical events that shaped Lincoln’s life in the White House and his proposed 13^th Amendment that outlines federal law to abolish slavery in the United States. This was a difficult time in the U.S. as it was going through a lengthy civil war and its casualties where high. The deep portrayal of Lincoln’s passion towards changing the world as he saw it struck me dumbfounded. His keenness to pass a law that abolishes slavery was a stepping stone for African Americans back in the day and was pivotal towards where we stand today, voting for a second term, a US President of African descent. The sequence of events in our world’s history is immense and there are two factors that are genuinely desired for such milestones to take place: Time and the collective will of a group of individuals. Lincoln claimed that the time was ‘Now’ for the United States to abolish slavery. I believe it was pioneers with the likes of Lincoln that will one day push the world to adopt gay marriage.

The entire movie I felt like I was an African slave caught in chains and this white humble man is freeing me. Being gay in the Arab World, as I am sure cannot be compared to the plight of millions of men and women that toiled their entire lives, is somewhat like being in chains. I feel there is a strong message in the winds towards this world’s progress. 150 years after the abolishment of slavery, they got their rights, were able to vote and were no longer second class citizens. Women as well also fought for their rights towards the right to work and the right to vote, the very right to be equal. It takes a very delicate tipping point to put these cataclysmic movements in momentum.

Lebanon as we know it today is struggling with prejudice against other races, marital rape and victims of domestic violence run high. We suffer so many daily ailments that we have shelved topics like civil marriage. Until today! The time is now to build a collective society and break the chains of the priests and imams that speak for God yet do not really hear when he speaks. One day I do see us moving forward, I do see us moving towards a better life, a freer life with more tolerance and acceptation and a life where we celebrate differences. All it requires is a little time and a little fight from the heart. I hope I see gay marriage in Lebanon one day... one day.. its inevitable it might not happen in this lifetime, but it damn will happen.

Love,
You.

Happy Valentine's Day - Same Love

Dear Lovers,

A Happy Velvet Valentines Day! I wish all the lovers the best and I hope you spent the day walking in the park, strolling on the beach or bathing in the Sun. Even if you are single, I hope you shared the love of other couples, however hard that may have been.

 I recently stumbled on this video that I wanted to share; I actually heard this song on a Lebanese radio station, and it put a smile on my face. A pro-gay song on Lebanese radio, was it a mistake? Do they not know the meaning of the words? I hope they do, I hope they know exactly what it means. It's amazing and uplifting. 

The singer's uncle is gay and he hopes that his uncle and his partner can marry and live together and build a family without prejudice and without judgment. I showed this video to a straight guy friend of mine, Yussef. He paused a few seconds after watching it and turned to me and said "I hope you can get married one day, and I hope I am at your wedding. "

Love,
Adam.

The Birds and the Bees

Dear Adam,

I am sure you remember it better than I do, it was almost 2 years younger than you are today. It was a pivoting point in your pubescent life.  

A classmate approached me and asked me  “Do you know where babies come from?”

“Yes” I uttered with certainty “…from their mommy’s belly”

“Yeah –  but do you know how the hell you get into your mommy’s belly?”

I  paused, “Um… I think when they kiss they make a baby” I flush like a ripe tomato. How am I supposed to answer such on the spot questions, I was still playing with my Ninja Turtles back then!

“Hahahahah, you are such a kid Adam… to get a baby the man puts his penis in the vagina”

I couldn’t believe what I had just heard; I know it is horrible being the youngest in class. It is horrible, when everyone discovered the truth about the tooth fairy and Santa Claus first and you’re still a firm believer. It was impossible to grasp, your father’s penis goes into your mother’s vagina EWWWWW. I couldn’t wait to get home to put this lie to rest.

“Mom, where do babies come from?” It was her turn to blush…“Ask your father, Adam” I grumbled, I knew something was fishy, I have had my mother memorized, and she was certainly hiding something. Why would she wait till we got home? She only did that when my brother and I were in trouble, I felt in trouble just asking the question.

“Dad, where do babies come from?” He sat me down and we had that man to man talk. “Well Adam, when a man and a women love each other, and decide they want to start a family they get married and –”

“But some guys at school said that the man puts his… thing into the women’s va –… thing. Is that true??”

“Yes it is true, but it happens out of love and that is a part of nature, it’s how things move forward, all animals do it, even the birds and the bees” excuse the irony. “You will understand a bit more when you are a little older”

“But why?” Oh, I had so many whys and buts and what ifs. An hour passed and I kept on asking questions. I loved that my father sat me down and explained things like an adult but this took me off guard. “You can’t talk about this stuff in front of your brother and sister; they are younger than you are.”

“Fine…” I walk off to my room, I pass my mother’s room and see her reading on the bed, she stares up at me and knows the conversation with my father must be over, I continue off to my room and hear her scurry over to the living room to find out “how it went” with Dad.. I lay on my bed and I stare at the ceiling, my world just broke a little. I couldn't imagine myself putting my penis in a girls vagina.

Adam.