On the Differences Found Amongst Men

The following is a speech that I gave today at the Break the Silence Conference. The subject was the Acceptance and Toleration of LGBT Youth in society. But as I wrote my thoughts down, I realized that the mere recognition of differences, the traits that make us stand out as individuals, should be addressed. I knew that I could speak through the lens of someone gay to talk about people who are different. The result is a guide that could be incorporated into your own ideology. Thoughts? Comments?



Ladies and Gentlemen, I stand before you a man of many attributes. Some that are heralded and lauded amongst adversaries and supporters alike, some that are locked away, never to be discussed. Yet in my eyes, I see every part of me equal and whole, worthy of the same amount of admonition and praise.

Every part of every individual should never be forced to live it’s life as a shadow. As an individual who has witnessed the beauty of unlocking such parts one by one, it can be said that these parts locked furthest within are the most beautiful and unique. It can also be said that these parts are worthy of basking in the sunlight of recognition, acceptance, and tolerance.

So, my fellow minds, to the benefit of our social health, do not turn these parts away. For you may never know what you destroy by casting someone’s true self into outcast. The Classmate that never speaks, the friend that melts to the niche of conformity, even your dearest and truest friend may harbor fears of letting go the part of themselves that truly and wholly represents who they are.

Though I do not ask that you push your peers into the spotlight premature and unsure, no, I do ask that you appreciate and understand the differences that bring us together. And though I cannot say that I, nor my fellow [peers], have completely followed this message, we can say that we’ve taken strides to not close ourselves to new people, to new experiences, and to new interpretations of life.

Ladies and Gentlemen, you must realize that the second you choose to build bridges over burning them, you begin to form your own personality from a pastiche of others. So many times, I see people foolishly pushing people away from them, believing that with each “blemish” they remove, they come one step closer to becoming someone accepted and lauded by all. To that, I ask, what becomes of you? The more you work to distance yourself from difference, the easier it becomes to forget your identity.

Similarly, people foolishly compartmentalize their lives, in fear that some part of them is too ugly, too misunderstood to be celebrated by their peers. To that, I ask, what becomes of your peers? The more you keep yourself from your friends, the more they miss out on how awesome of a person you are.

To the benefit of our social health and to the ability to discuss our differences freely, take the practices I discussed, ladies and gentlemen, and get rid of them. You’ll see that when you do, you bring levity to yourself, and to those around you. Two simple changes can make the greatest difference.

Though we can enumerate many differences, I know of only one commonality: Our Differences bring us together. Each unique. Each accepted. And Each recognized equally.

Thank You.