by KELLY ZEN-YIE TSAI
“Tyler Clementi playing in the orchestra in 2009 at Ridgewood High School. His exposure on the internet as gay caused him to kill himself.” PHOTO/Ryan Pifher/AP/Guardian
what does it say about the rest of us,
if three lives can be ruined so quickly?
two teens deemed homophobic. they have been drinking
from the kool-aid of american culture. webcam surveillance.
our lives for other people’s entertainment. reality tv. youtube
humiliation. one boy is dead. he has been drinking from
the kool-aid of american culture. another facebook status
(we are all dying) flung into digital ether. what use is instant information
without instant care? three families grieve.
two have second chances. one does not. they have been
drinking from the kool-aid of american culture.
one school is in shock. the dorms must stay full. the classes
must continue. it has been drinking from the kool-aid of american culture.
ten people jump off the george washington bridge each year.
how many gay kids are silently dead not just this week
but every week? how many people are silently gay not just
this week but every week? hear it said, “fag, you fag, faggot.”
“fag, you fag, faggot.” “fag, you fag, faggot.” and worse every day,
everywhere. repeat again. how many children are refused
by families and swallowed up by streets? told you are love not worth loving.
you shame me, do not belong to me. please rot in hell.
poll time: how many think all gays should be dead? how many think
all gays should be alive but without the same rights and privileges? how many think
all gays are fine but don’t need to make a big to-do out of it? how many think all gays
are equal? okay, let’s move onto lesbians, bisexuals, trans women, trans men,
genderqueer, gender non-conforming, butch, femme, two spirit, questioning.
how many do not fear? others or ourselves.
children and adults absorb mixed messages.
our psyches feast on contradiction.
it is only the first 3 weeks of school.
see how things fall apart.
Kelly Tsai’s website is Yellow Gurl