As I begin writing this article, there’s a protest organized by students against the canceling of Philadelphia school teachers’ contracts. It reminds me that, whenever an injustice occurs in a society, it becomes the people’s task — like bacteria attempting to cleanse the cancerous cells — to fight against it. However, sometimes we don’t win and the cancer takes another victim like Matthew Shepard, Diamond Williams and tragically so many more.
On Sept. 11, a day already drenched with tragedy, a gay couple was viciously attacked in our own city, robbed and had to go to the hospital for the severe injuries they received. The people, some of whom probably never even met the couple, found the culprits shortly thereafter, thanks to our age of digital media connection. However, even after the suspects were found, the city of Philadelphia, and the entire state of Pennsylvania, were reminded of the fact that our home ignores the plight of the LGBT community members who are targeted for who they love, or who they identify as, without the necessary repercussions. In response to this outrageous policy, state Rep. Brian Sims called for a rally to show the support of our fellow LGBT members and to work to get this discriminatory policy eradicated.
I arrived there a few minutes after it began (buses will do that you), but I arrived to see a large crowd with various banners, posters and symbols to show their support and to demonstrate their resolve to combat a united “righteous anger,” as Chris Bartlett of the William Way Center excellently put it. In addition to Bartlett and Sims, other speakers included Richard Ross Jr., Elicia Gonzales, Tom Earle and other inspiring great figures who each gave excellent speeches. Personally, I have been very blessed with little trouble on the fact that I am gay, although sometimes I can’t help but wonder if that will always be the case — like when I start dating, am I now drawing a target not only to myself, but also to someone I love?
The fact of the matter is, hate will always exist. It’s an unfortunate truth in human biology. However, despite this one thing, I remember keenly, and perhaps most prevalent in the cold and the light rain, the words “Love against hate.” I don’t remember exactly who said it, but the sentiment is the same no matter who did. Hate and love are in constant conflict and battle with each other, and perhaps we can enter a world where love just wins a little bit more. A world where perhaps, as Bartlett put it, “a hate-crime law will become unnecessary.”
Sean Morris, 16, is a junior at Science Leadership Academy.