"Because I care."

Pittsburgh Pride2013

來美國之後，不只一次，這裡的朋友問我：你為什麼去參加「那個」？

請先讓我講兩個我在匹茲堡遇到的故事：

今年RCC合唱團的公演主題是「Family」。在每段節目中間，會穿插不同的團員上臺，在觀眾面前講述自己各色各異的家庭故事。最後一段，一個垂垂老矣、幾乎無法久站，講話也斷斷續續的老太太，在旁人攙扶之下上臺。她的故事是這樣開場的：「我和Susan在一起36年了。」


Susan不久前去世了。老太太說，雖然這兩年要照顧Susan，沒有機會跟大家一起唱歌，但在葬禮上，她看到許多年輕的、她不認識的團員。非常感謝大家，你們就像我的家人。

另一件事發生在我把匹茲堡同志遊行的照片上傳到臉書之後。我的美國朋友Ｅ突然丟訊息給我，對我說：「我爸爸是GAY！」我說，什麼？你爸爸是GAY？

他說，他的父親在73歲那年向家人出櫃。我問他：為什麼呢？都73歲了？Ｅ的答案簡潔有力：他父親不想帶著這個秘密入葬。

我有許多LGBT的朋友，他們有些是少女、有些是賤人。而由於我的擇友標準非常嚴格，他們大多兩者皆是。我非常非常珍惜他們。在我有生之年，我不願見到我的朋友與相伴36年的愛人無法結婚，或必須隱藏真正的自己整整73年。

我為什麼參加 CMU SafeZone 的訓練、我為什麼參加同志遊行、我為什麼支持同性婚姻與多元家庭。

因為我他媽的在乎。

I'm straight. I'm an ally. I fucking care.

Pittsburgh Pride 2013
( After we took this photo, she said, "Like a man. Text me, honey." )

After I came to the US, not only once, friends asked me: Why did you do “that”?

Please let me share two stories I’ve heard in Pittsburgh.

This summer, the theme of Renaissance City Choirs’ (RCC) performance is “Family.” Between each song, different members of the choirs would step up to the stage and tell their own family stories. Right before the very last piece, an old lady stood up. She’s so old that she can’t stand long or even speak steadily. After the members helped her walking up to the stage, her story started like this: “Susan and I have been together for 36 years.”

Susan passed away recently. The old lady said, though the past two years I didn’t have chances to sing together with you, I saw a lot of young and totally stranger RCC members went to the funeral. I appreciate that. You’re like my family.

Another story happened right after I uploaded the photos of Pittsburgh Pride 2013 to the Facebook. One of my friends pinged me on Facebook and said, “My dad is gay!” I said, what? Your FATHER is gay?

He said yes. His father came out at age 73. I asked, why? At 73? His answer was simple and powerful, “He did not want to take the secret to his grave.”

I have many LGBT friends. Some of them are little girls. Some of them are bitches. Because I’m quite picky about friends, most of them are both. I value them a lot. In my lifetime, I don’t want to see any of my friends are not able to marry their loved ones who’ve stayed 36 years with them, or have to hide their real face for 73 years.

Why I joined CMU SafeZone. Why I went to Pittsburgh Pride. Why I support same-sex marriage and alternative family.

Because I fucking care.

I'm straight. I'm an ally. I fucking care.

Pittsburgh Pride 2013