Just for the record, fellas, when these suicides started happening last month, I wrote several emails - with links and videos - to some of my last remaining kinfolks and said pert near everything that Joel said later, and what Gene Robinson said, and so many others. In practically the same words, mind.
Difference being, while Joel and the rest are praised and applauded by all the world, my relations wrote back that they thought I should go see a counselor; being an "activist" - code word, right? - had obviously unhinged me. In other words, guys, they think I need professional help, pronto.
What can I say? It's kinda scary when your own flesh and blood think you're a crazy man for talking the way you do. Even though I emphasized this wasn't just about me, it was about dead children - which I thought they might consider important enough to care about. But no. So I just STFU and they ain't wrote me no more, guess we'll leave it at that down here in Redstatistan.
Really hurt this old shitkicker, but what the hell. Ain't the first time I got my feelings busted, probly won't be the last, neither.
But here's the clip from Ellen, thought you boys would enjoy this:
Update: My fellow Texan hits the nail on the head when he says, "You know you're a redneck when your mom is more excited about meeting Jeff Foxworthy than Ellen DeGeneres." Yup - I tell you what.
Honk to Joe.My.God.
'Nother update: Joel and husband J. D. Angle, a political consultant, appeared on MSNBC's The Last Word on Wednesday; video here. Burns says he has "a small army of friends and family" working on responding to the more than 20,000 messages he's received from gay teens so far.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Ellen Talks with Joel Burns and His Mom
Labels:
bullying,
Ellen,
gay teens,
homophobia,
It Gets Better project,
Joel Burns,
my life,
suicide
5 comments:
buddy - thanks sooo much for keepin us posted on the goings-on of joel burns. it's truly amazin what he has accomplished in just one short week after sharing his very honest heart-felt life story at the city council meeting. joel is a very eloquent spokesperson - what started out as just a reaching out to the local schools in forth worth has gone global so quickly. it was time!!! the right time!!! so many people have become aware of the tragedies connected with bullying. and so many of our lil brothers and sisters have become aware that it REALLY DOES get better!!!
as for you my bro, you've got a whole lot of kinfolk who care about you and respect what you have to say!!! we all very much look forward to what you have to share everyday!!! you have a very intriguing, intellectual manner of writing your thoughts, ideas and feelings. and we all appreciate ya for that!!!
we all have to remember to look back to that 13 year old self that we still all have inside of us and appreciate the fact that "it gets better" each and every day. every experience that we have each and every day, the good stuff and the tough stuff, adds to who we are becoming. and we never stop becoming more of who we are!!!
love ya bro,
scotty
Thanks Scotty, appreciate ya man.
Hang in there, buddy. Family members so often haven't a clue about what it means to be a caring human being, but you have friends that are happy to hear you out and to to tell you that you're doing just fine.
Thanks dave.
It gets better, but it never gets perfect...some folks are just unmovable to the core.
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