As someone who grew up gay and Mormon in the center of Utah, I had no sense of what it meant to be gay, other than the horror stories I heard about gay people and the parodies I saw on television. I had no concept of a gay community, and I felt a tremendous sense of isolation and perpetual fear of how being gay would poison my future.
But I was lucky.
For me, it got better. I went to college and finally met openly gay people. I learned the stories I had been taught about gay people were fiction. Finally, I began to learn the truth about the queer community.
I learned about the queer community’s struggles and successes fighting for basic human rights; about the painfully recent time when being queer meant you were, by definition, a criminal with a mental illness; about the AIDS crisis and its warriors who demanded dignity, attention, and care when the President of our nation could not even say the name of the biggest threat that hung over the gay community.
Most importantly, I began to feel the grit, compassion, resilience, and pride that permeates the gay community. Against all odds, and throughout history, queer people have found each other and found joy.
Coming together as a community alongside AIDS activists organizations like Lifelong was a catalyst for change that opened doors for queer rights. It has reduced the stigma that unfairly attached to the gay community, which accelerated the queer rights movement. What was once a radical notion that gay people should not be discriminated against is now the law in Washington State, and, in some respects, nationally protected by the constitution.
Today, I hold hands with my fiancée without hesitation as we step on crosswalks painted as rainbows. But I remember growing up without that comfort, and I know many others still live in fear.
We must keep fighting until everyone can feel safe, loved, and included, and Lifelong continues to be a safe haven for the queer community to gather and celebrate together. Every time I go to Gay Bingo or an AIDS Walk, I see generations of the gay community active, together, and jubilant. I delight in seeing those unabashedly queer events that manifest the visibility, joy, and pride of the gay community that I did not see for too many years.
As someone who enjoys the privileges fought for and earned by AIDS activists, it is my obligation to continue their work and my honor to serve on the board of Lifelong. Continuing the legacy of the AIDS movement means so much to so many and is a tribute and testament to the community that fought to improve the lives of queer people.
Join me in supporting Lifelong to continue their work of opening doors of love and inclusion.
Andy Murphy
Lifelong Board Member