Banishing the Darkness

This sermon was given on 12/10/10 at Temple Beth Ami in Rockville, Md by Rabbi Sarah Meytin.

“Nobody tells Latino kids in the high school that nobody cares if they're Hispanic so long as they keep it to themselves. People don't tell black kids they should put up with racism because they've come so far from when they were slaves. They don't have to defend why there is black history month, or why people want black studies included in the curriculum. People don't say, "That's so Korean!" when they mean something is stupid or weird. People don't tell disabled kids that the community isn't ready to defend their equal rights and inclusion yet. You never hear anyone argue that breast cancer is God's way of killing off the women, and it's a good thing. If a teacher hears anyone use a slang insult for a Chinese kid, they jump on it. When foreign exchange students ask teachers about dating in the school, they aren't sent to see a guidance counselor. 

But every day in the high school, I hear it's okay if I'm gay so long as I stay in the closet, that I'm an abomination against God, that I can change if I want to, and that people like me shouldn't be taught about in school. I'm told I should be satisfied because our school is far better than it used to be, and that I shouldn't push for my equal rights and inclusion because the community isn't ready yet. I hear, "That's so gay!" all the time, and I hear that AIDS is my punishment for being who I am, like I hear the word "faggot" all the time. It's hard not to walk around angry all the time.”

--Anonymous Massachusetts High School Student

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