I am more

To the man who held a sign

Of hate

Inside of my sanctuary

Today

I have a few words

For you

Hello 

Here’s a few things

About me

My name is Dakota

I am a psychology major

I find the mind to be fascinating 

I love to help others

To take my heart and pour

My love into them

I love the stars

I find myself

Dancing to any

Song that plays

I truly am just like my

Mama

I love women

I find them to be beautiful

Sculpted by the most

Gentle hands

And their smiles

All light up rooms

Their very presence on this earth

Is a gift

From the man you call

God 

I also love men.

This god you speak of

Comes in many forms

But

The god you spoke 

For

Would send me to hell

For more than

Just being

Gay. 

He would send me to hell

Because of the time

I tried to

Take my own life

He would send me to hell

For using his name in vain

For the years I spent

Carving chunks

Out of my flesh

That he created

For having

Premarital sex

(Sorry ma)

I’m sure you believe

He would send me to hell

For being outspoken

Not letting men silence me

Not letting men walk all over me

Would he send the men

Who hit me

Who abused me

Who used me

Would he send those men

To hell?

And my mama

That beautiful 

Strong woman

She has seen more hate

Than I could ever imagine

She has walked miles

In shoes you could

Never ever fill

She is a flame

You can never blow out

Her flame

Would survive in the depths

Of the ocean

But this god

You spoke for

Would send her to hell

For being with

the woman she loves

My mama was a cop

She was a cop in 9/11

She worked in New York

She risked her life

For everyone

She is more than 

Gay

She is a hero

My mama had to see

Her child with

Self inflicted cuts

Littering their body

And she held me close

She is more than gay

She is a mother

My mama had to 

Bury her own brother

After addiction took his life

She had to hold her parents close

She is more than gay

She is a daughter 

And a sister

My mama is more

Than gay

I am more than gay

I left a man

Who would hit me

And abuse me

I made a police report

I was not silenced

I stopped cutting myself

I got help

I am more than gay

I’m a survivor

I didn’t let my 

Mental health battles

End my life

Im more than gay

I’m a fighter

I have more love

In my fingertips

Than those who spew this hate

I am more than gay

I am a friend

I am a daughter

I am a big sister

And if your god

Would send me to hell

For just being gay

Then I accept my fate

Because I’d rather

Be living my true

And authentic life

And know that I am more

Than just being gay

Author's Note

ignore grammar problems, its personal