Tag Archives: equality

This National Coming Out Day I am grateful for

This National Coming Out Day I am grateful for … each time I have to come out to my maternal grandma (because the mind is a tricky thing as we get older). She continues to love me each time after being slightly shocked. This was alarming the first time, but it has been kind ofContinue reading “This National Coming Out Day I am grateful for”

Everyday I Live in Fear

“Homo sum, humani nil a me alienum puto. I am a human being, nothing human can be alien to me.” ~ Maya Angelou Every day I live in fear for two main reasons that are separate but not mutually exclusive. I’m gay, and I’m black in America. Some homophobic person could physically attack me for beingContinue reading “Everyday I Live in Fear”

Try Harder

I believe people are doing you a disservice in your career when they tell you to expect what is historically standard. Does that mean I shouldn’t want more for myself? Everyday there are people breaking new ground and defying the norms and expectations set for them. Is this person telling me that I can’t be one of them?

5 Years Out as Gay – Beyond a 17 Years Old’s Love

Five years later, I think how awed, at points disappointed and overall proud a younger Jarryd would be of what’s transpired since then. If I could tell him what I know five years later, it would be…

Back to Yesterday

I thought about today so many times. The day my first love would get married. Throughout college as I came to truly embrace my sexuality and date, I didn’t know when gay marriage would become a focal point for my home state, but I knew one day it would happen. \While same-sex marriage was obviouslyContinue reading “Back to Yesterday”

It Could Happen to You

One day I want to marry a man that makes me want to be a better man. On our wedding day I want to look him in the eye and feel like I won’t find anyone better, because of the bond we have. At times I may feel insecure that he chose to be with me for theContinue reading “It Could Happen to You”