My Life & My Happiness Is Ours

I sometimes, wish, I could be anonymous. Walk down the street of life. Before I moved to the states, I was a boy. In the music school, on the piano. I was just a boy who wanted a view of the beautiful beach. And now that things changes under circumstances, I think it's very difficult to do very simple things. Things without consequences. I think it's the hardest thing to give up. But my mother always taught me to be strong. And never to be a victim, never making excuses, never expect anyone else to provide me things that I know I can provide for myself. I have dreams. And I actually think I have the power to make those dreams to become a reality.

When you have a stand in the music industry, no one looks at you as a human anymore. You become the property of the label. There's nothing real about it. You can't put your finger on who I am. I can't put a finger on who I am. I am... Complicated. I've grew up with a lot of conflicts and traumas and I've been through a lot. Just like everyone else. My escape is always music. And I'm so lucky that that's my job. But if I've accomplished all of these things, and had no one to share with. It will be worth nothing. You know that you need something real. In order to need any of see stuff matter. You have to have something, that is FOREVER. Something that is invisible. 

I was brought up the same way my mother try to please and make everyone comfortable. And I always felt like its my job to fix problems. People pleaser. But, I'm no longer afraid of conflict, and I don't think conflict is a bad thing. Because I know, when you grow up, when you learned a few things, you no longer afraid of letting go. You no longer afraid of the unknown. You no longer afraid going to places and you're biting your mind and soul that make you feel uncomfortable. And it all starts from if you can look at yourself in the mirror and say, I like that person. You know.. If I hadn't gone through some of the painful experience in my life, I would not be me. 

I feel like my body is borrowed in this life. And it is very temporary. I watched my friends body deteriorate, and see someone pass on so gracefully and puts everything in perspective. We do not value ourselves enough. Especially young people who don't really appreciate how brilliant our bodies are. I've always been very specific and choosy. About my body and who I wanna share with. People thinks that they lose something when they get into a relationship or marriage. But it doesn't have to be that way. There is nothing more exciting to be able to have a witness to your life. 

I always consider myself as an humanitarian activist, or something. All the while, I've always afraid of that word, cause people place so much on it. When honestly, it's very simple. It's just a person who believes in equality for men and women. Men and women balance each other out, and we have to get to a point where each other is comfortable with and starts to appreciate each other. Not just for the rights of humanity, or anything. It's just a general term. I have a lot of empathy for people and the pressures they go through and the cultures that has been created. Especially for all the LGBT and people who are going through terminal illnesses. Not because I am one of them, but because I understood how hard it is having to go through cancer, and I know a lot more people are far worst than I am. I have the same empathy for women. They women has to provide, so many things for their children. I consider myself, a humanist. 

You know, everybody is not good at everything. It's always okay to depend on someone. It's actually what we are suppose to do. We're supposed to depend on each other. And when you find the person that you trust, and you love, and you feel is going to respect you and take all the shit you have and turn around and bring out the best in you, it is indeed the most powerful thing in your life. 

Happiness comes from you. No one else can make you happy. You make you happy. The love you have just amplified that happiness that you already have. And one thing that's for sure, the love I have, the music, my lover, my friends, and my future, it's something that will last far beyond in my life. 

I'm thankful for embracing me, for understanding me, for being patient with my crazy. This is the life I am living. This is what I wanted it to be.

Stop Bullying : Hypocrisy

Sometimes it really saddens me from what we are surrounded with. The ugly side of human nature. Bullying can happen anywhere and to anyone. I've been fighting for a cause for few years now, and yet, out there somewhere there is still people who are in pain out there somewhere.

I wanted to write this just to highlight a few things that I read recently that is hypocrisy in our society. I am not saying that most of them are, but there are such individual among us. In a way, I wonder if it was the age, culture, or the exposure around these people. When there is a cause to fight for such as the bullying of LGBT in our society, there were among the first to stand up for what they think is right for them. Kudos to them for believing in their cause. But where is the ugly side of this? It is among the LGBT themselves.

I recently read something on twitter. To be honest, a friend of mine actually. It is sad to say but truthfully it is an ugly side of human. To me, bullying is a no reason to act on. Don't gimme the excuse of being young and ignorant. But the thing is, to tweet publicly about your disgust for fat people is just as disgusting as the people who were homophobic.

I know that staying healthy and fit is like a "must" thing for most LGBT. But yet, for someone who you do not know and publicly tweeted about them is also a form of bullying. Maybe not to them, but for the people who reads it. What makes me sick is the friend of mine was actively fighting against bullying by homophobe.

And it just triggers me that "why you?" Of all people, this is the last thing I am expecting from you. The hypocrisy, and I do wonder if you really deserve all that you were fighting for. I know that we do for a greater good, but I have to get this outta my chest. I makes me wonder the people around, and their true colors.

No matter what a life choice that a person do, we can't judge them. I really do wish that all these will stop one day. If only everyone will be treating everyone like what they want others to threat them. The world would be a much beautiful place.

There are so much going on around us. Stop and take a look. Do we really wanna live in a world like this? Shouldn't we be the first to take that stand instead of waiting for others to do so first? We can't tolerate people who are homophobic and racist. But we can tolerate ourselves to saying bad stuff and shaming others who we don't like? Where is the common sense in that? 

Why We Should Judge a Country On its Attitude Towards Homosexuals

Last November I wrote about Olympic hopeful Jake Holden. The Olympics are here but I noticed a great deal of air time has been given to discussing gay rights, probably because Russia had made its anti-gay position clear ahead of the Games. J.J. McCullough put this into perspective when he pointed out that Russia is not as bad as so many other countries.

In 2012 in Iran, Ayatollah Abdollah Javadi-Amoli an influential cleric and an Islamic scholar referred to homosexuals as "inferior to dogs and pigs." Iran is under Shari'a law.

Attacks against gays in Iran are so heinous there was an international uproar in London and San Francisco and Russia!

The person who posted this video wrote: "I made asylum in Israel in 2010, where its OKAY to be GAY."

Are you aware that it's illegal to be homosexual in 78 countries? (Only 49 ban lesbianism.) Five countries have the death penalty: Iran, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Yemen and Mauritania. Even though Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the UAE already outlaw homosexuality, they're toughening their stance. And there are "Gay medical tests" that must be taken to gain entry into Saudi Arabia.

According to Ali Hilli founder of Iraqi LGBT. "Instead of protecting sexual minorities, the Iraqi government facilitates their murder by arresting the victims and handing them over to militias who kill them."

Gay rights abuses take place in Malaysia where under Shari'a law gay activity can lead to whipping and up to a 20-year prison sentence. Homosexuality is illegal in most Africancountries and in Uganda, homosexual acts are punishable by 14 years to life in prison;Qatar which has a poor human rights record in general, has declared homosexual acts between men illegal and punishable up to seven years imprisonment. United Arab Emirates, Jamaica, Libya, Moldova, Chile, Cameroon, El Salvador, and Zimbabwe also have laws against gays.

While I was researching these abuses I read about pinkwashing and gay rights. Never really understood it, but now I do. Pinkwashing is a term attached to "cause marketing" that I understand began with companies hitching their wagons to Breast Cancer Pink Ribbon campaigns. They wanted to "wash" their products with philanthropic ideals. I have purchased mushrooms with a pink ribbon on the box.

So how did this pinkwashing make its way into gay rights? It seems there are gay-rights activists who accuse Israel of "branding" itself, selling itself, as a haven for the LGBT community, not because it's the right thing to do in a democracy, but to obfuscate nefarious behaviours.

President of Israel Shimon Peres said:

"Even a person who is a homosexual is a human being, and he has rights. We have no power to take away [their] rights. We cannot take away someone's rights because they are different. We cannot take away their right to breathe, right to eat or right to start a family. We must allow everyone to live as is natural to them."

Israel is one of the most progressive states regarding the rights of gays and lesbians in the West -- certainly more forward thinking than the USA. American Airlines rated Tel Aviv "the best 'gay city' in the world, with a whopping 43 per cent of the vote, more than tripling second place New York."

Tel Aviv is host to an annual gay pride parade that celebrates gay life and has a memorial to remember the gay and lesbian victims of Nazi persecution.

Israel allows openly gay individuals to serve in the military and without affecting eligibility for promotion.

"Amnesty International believes that all people, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, should be able to enjoy the full range of human rights, without exception."

That's Israel. It is the only country in the area -- the Middle East and North Africa -- that treats the gay community with respect and dignity. Not good enough for some gay-rights activists.

Nada Elia, a professor of gender and global studies at Antioch University in Seattle claimed Israel, "uses 'gay-friendly' as a mask to distract from the reality" and Israel is "sending out the 'cool, hip people' to distract from the reality of war." She calls this "propaganda."

Sarah Shulman wrote Israeli pinkwashing is "a deliberate strategy to conceal the continuing violations of Palestinians' human rights behind an image of modernity signified by Israeli gay life."

Of all the countries in the world with gross human rights abuses these activists only see Israel as a pariah state, refusing to applaud that country for its good works. Their attacks on Israel demean the fight that the gay community has fought for decades to destroy this stigma. The attacks belittle them and all those countries, including Canada and the USA, who are finally opening their hearts, minds and laws to the this once horribly maligned community.

Professor Jasbir Puar, who teaches women's and gender studies at Rutgers University said the Israeli occupation "is one of the most contentious issues in queer organizing today." That Gaza mistreats the gay population to the point that they flee to Israel has no import on her. She has no empathy for these gay men, or that they prefer a life in the seedy parts of central Israel rather than the virtual death sentences they fled in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

She justifies her position by declaring:

"We can't judge a country by its attitudes towards homosexuals."

Really?!?!?!?!?!?!!?

Same Love

“Same Love” substituted for the traditional wedding march at the 2014 Grammys, where Macklemore and Ryan Lewis sang their paean to marriage equality and Queen Latifah married 34 couples, gay and straight.

The news of the mass wedding only broke this weekend, as did word that Madonna would be joining the Best New Artist winners in “Same Love.”

Earlier, Lewis said it “will be, in our minds, the ultimate statement of equality, that all the couples are entitled to the same exact thing.” His sister was among those who got hitched at the show.

“This is a love song, not for some of us but for all of us,” declared Latifah, who made no announcement about her own sexuality. After Latifah read the vows to the couples, who lined the aisles, Madonna stepped out to sing “Open Your Heart.” She then finished “Same Love” with original vocalist Mary Lambert.

Grammys producer Ken Ehrlich, whose daughter is a lesbian, pitched the idea of an on-stage wedding to Mac and Ryan, who were eager to participate. Erlich says the event reflected his own personal beliefs, “but I would not want to make a broad statement that it represents the views of the academy or the CBS television network.”

Grammy executives are prepared for some negative backlash: “I expect that people with all kinds of opinions might voice them,” says National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences president Neil Portnow. “and that’s healthy.”

Activists: Legalising Gay Marriages In Asia Won't Solve Malaysia's LGBT Issues

While Justice for Sisters co-founder S. Thilaga (applauded the countries' initiative to promote and protect lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights, she hastened to add that it would not solve local LGBT problems.

"It's great that those who want to get married now have a nearer option to do so. However, the condition in Malaysia is completely hostile, so I don't understand how people getting married abroad would help to solve that," said the 26-year-old activist in a phone interview with The Star Online.

Beyond the prospect of individual happiness, a marriage certificate for same-sex couples would also open and advance debates on adoption rights, inheritance law, spouses' rights at the workplace, and more.

"Marriage should not be the only definition of victory for the gay community. There is still bullying in schools and hate crime, so people still can't express themselves openly," she added.

In Thailand, homosexuality was decriminalised in 1956, and now a draft law seeking to offer lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender, inter-sex and queer couples the same legal rights as heterosexual couples is reportedly being readied.

Meanwhile, in October, Vietnam's national assembly will also debate new proposals to modify the law on marriage and family to include same-sex marriages.

As Malaysia does not have a receptive environment for LGBTs, Syariah lawyer Nizam Bashir thinks that the possible availability of same-sex marriages in the region holds little meaning for homosexuals here.

"The Penal Code and Syariah Criminal Enactment have provisions criminalising certain consensual sexual activities.

"With provisions in various states (in relation to Syariah law) affecting Muslims, how can we talk about gay marriages? We are far from that as Malaysia is not prepared to recognise same-sex unions," said the 39-year-old when contacted.

Section 377A of Malaysia's Penal Code prohibits carnal intercourse against the order of nature, which includes oral and anal sex. According to Section 377B of the same, offenders can be punished with up to twenty years in prison and are also liable to whipping.

The Syariah Criminal Offences Act (Federal Territories) 1997 (Act 559) also states that those found guilty of sodomy (liwat) or lesbian relations (musahaqah) are liable to a fine of up to RM5,000, imprisonment for up to three years, whipping not exceeding six strokes, or any combination thereof.

"We need to consider whether there is a way to reconcile our views in terms of their existence. It's a bit more difficult accepting it from a religious perspective, but due recognition must be given in civil law," he said.

"No one should be made to feel 'excommunicated' or suffer a social death after coming out," he added, noting that mainstream Islamic scholars like Tariq Ramadan have called for introspection on such issues.

According to activist, artist and arts consultant Pang Khee Teik, such a ruling in the Asean region would not only affect homosexual societies, but also everyone concerned about such developments.

"For those against LGBTs, marriage equality is a sign of society's decline. For those in support, it is a sign of progress," said the Masters student in Gender, Sexuality and Culture at Birkbeck, University of London in an e-mail interview.

However, there are also many parties who are not bothered about the issue.

According to Pang, while some Malaysian LGBTs have managed to live openly among their friends and families, many others have more pressing things to worry about.

These include being discovered and getting fired from work, being disowned by families, and getting arrested.

"Whether gay or straight or bisexual, there are many who see marriage as nothing more than a social pressure to marry, a legal officiation of a personal relationship," he said.

To him, the issue transcends sexuality, as legal, economic and social privileges afforded to married people create an inequality between married and unmarried individuals that many no longer question.

"It is great when adults are allowed to marry each other, and this right should be celebrated wherever people realise that it should be.

"But it is neither the most important right presently for LGBTs in Malaysia, nor should it be the only socially desirable destination for everyone, whether gay or straight," he said.

Pang feels that the state has no business regulating private relationships, and stressed upon the importance of encouraging parents and communities to respond with equal respect and love.

"Presently, our communities are taught to hate, misunderstand and reject, based on the fear we absorb through state policies and political discourse around who is acceptable as a citizen and who is not," he said.

"I long for the day when people are simply given the choices to determine who they are, who they love and who they want to tell that to, while their families and communities are allowed to support them. And that together, we are recognised through our love for each other rather than our hate," Pang added

Breaking News: US Supreme Court Strikes Down Defense Of Marriage Act

Reports National Public Radio:

In a highly anticipated ruling today, the Supreme Court ruled the federal Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional.

"DOMA is unconstitutional as a deprivation of the equal liberty of persons that is protected by the Fifth Amendment," SCOTUSblog reports.

The 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, or DOMA, was signed into law by President Bill Clinton, barring federal recognition of same-sex marriages for purposes such as Social Security survivors' benefits, insurance benefits, immigration and tax filing.

Section 3 of the law defines marriage as "a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife" and a spouse as "a person of the opposite sex who is a husband or a wife." That provision had been struck down by eight lower courts before the Supreme Court's 5-4 ruling in United States v. Windsor.

The majority opinion was written by Justice Anthony Kennedy.

We're still waiting on another major decision on gay marriage which concerns California's ban on gay marriage.

Related Off-site Links:
Supreme Court DOMA Decision Rules Federal Same-Sex Marriage Ban Unconstitutional – Ryan J. Reilly (The Huffington Post, June 26, 2013).
Supreme Court Strikes Federal Marriage Provision – Mark Sherman (Associated Press via Yahoo! News, June 26, 2013).

It Is Better

When you believe it will get better, it will eventually gets better. Today marks a remarkable day in history.
President Obama said:

"When all Americans are treated as equal—no matter who they are or whom they love—we are all more free." 

President Obama's statement on Supreme Court striking down  Defence Of Marriage Act! California made a great move towards equality. So much I can talk about it but I know it really meant so much for us who kept this fight alive. Change is here and it took us years and years to stand for what we believe.

Honestly, I have a lot of things going on in my mind right now. I over heard things that I wasn't suppose to hear. I am not sure I am ready to talk about it just yet. I told two souls about it. All I can say that I really have the greatest love one can ever ask for. When I told Mr D about what I heard, he just knows what best to say to calm me down. I really didn't know how I feel at this very moment. But what he says was really touching.

To me it doesn't mean you're incomplete. your personality shines more than your physical self & its BLINDING!

For some reasons, I think I am just looking for ways to cope with what I might be facing in the near future. It's not gonna be easy or I should honestly say, I am still in denial hoping it wasn't what I over hear earlier. I believe there are angels among us. They come to you to show us how to live and teach us how to give. To guide us with the light of love.

Life is still a mysteriously beautiful thing that I couldn't or anyone to fully understand. Whenever I think that things were bad for me, there will be something that will somehow shows me that I am blessed. Always be grateful for what you have because you never know if you could lose it all.

Someone told me today on facebook about how things can be in life. The odds is out of 7 billion that walks of life. When you believe it somehow, you can make it happen. I know I kinda stop writing on my Live Today With My All series but I promise I will finish the last few chapters soon. I am looking for answers still. I still question what should I choose from here. Do I wanna live what I am suppose to or I should just choose a better quality of life. There are so many questions but there ain't any answers. Maybe a part of me is just too tired to move on. Maybe for now, I am just ain't ready.

Well, as this title says, it is better somehow. Today is a day that worth celebrating. I just need to give myself a break and sleep on it at the moment. It will get better from here. I believe it will.

Changing The Weather

Just out from a drop in the ocean, it seems harmless but yet somehow it changes the form of peacefulness that lies there. Most of the time it sounded like something that doesn't matter to anyone at all. Maybe to some others, it will still doesn't matter somehow. I wasn't gonna say anything about it at first. But I feel that the more I kept myself in this place, I won't able to understand how what others think.

Before I go on, I send my heart out to all that were affected by the Santa Monica shooting. 4 lives were taken, and may all the survivor be well at all times.

I couldn't really understand what are some of my friends were trying to talk me out from my citizenship. Not because that I would have a better quality of life or some sort. But just because of the continuous shooting spree going on. But I just didn't say anything to the matter. Cuz somehow I know what the answer they will give isn't gonna be any relevant to what I have in mind. I wasn't leaving because of the political issue, or work or even for a better quality of living. A big part is just on a matter that I am not proud of going everywhere to shout about it. But the thing that is bothering me is where are the compassion that a human could give to the others that were suffering out there.

This matter isn't just about Santa Monica, from Boston till the Texas tragedy. It really put me to wonder where does humanity stand when it comes to the pain of others. Everything that happen around us, some people will just made it something from conspiracy to utterly rude remarks given. I am not saying the conspiracy were fake or real, it isn't the issue. But why humanity evolves into such ugly state?

Even from my own suffering, I made an effort to try relief and help others that were going through the same thing. I am actively involve in a few bodies around. From It Gets Better Project for the young LGBTs to Relay For Life for the cancer survivors out there. The point isn't about what I wanna show the world on what I am trying to do. But what really bothers me is whenever something bad does happen, these group of people will somehow just shoot you down. Am I doing any part wrongly to make it better?

Life isn't an easy thing to go through. But I do believe with compassion and love, somehow it might make things a little better. Everyone is hurt in the world, so what is wrong with sharing a little bit more love? I know there isn't a black and white answer for this. It will lies between the grey area. But all I am trying to say why I know I am doing the right thing but it feels so bad by doing it?

I too wish one day there will be a cure for cancer. No one would understood what physical or emotional pain when they are going through treatments. I wish one day there will be a cure for HIV. I couldn't understand what pain or how torturing to live with it. But I can see someone I care and love going through it and I can't possibly do anything. I wish one day there will be a cure for hate. Every hate pushes someone to the edge. And who knows what will happen next. I know I should be angry at the shooters or bombers. But why should we judge? What should we judge them on? Don't we all are to be blame too? Everyone has a trigger, but what triggers them to do such hateful evil to the world?

Every hate is just one step of making havoc a reality. I wanna make it feels better. But why do I feel like I am doing it wrong? Why do I feel broken here? 

Reblog - In Minnesota, An Historic Day by Wild Reed

Credits to Wild Reed.

Write Patrick Condon and Brian Bakst of the Associated Press:

Minnesota is set to become the 12th U.S. state where gay couples can get married after a final legislative vote Monday that will let the weddings start on August 1.

Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton has pledged to sign the bill, and scheduled a ceremony at 5 p.m. Tuesday on the front steps of the Capitol in St. Paul to do so.

Minnesota is now the first state in Midwest to legalize gay marriage by legislative vote, and the third nationwide in just 10 days, joining Rhode Island and Delaware. Thousands of gay marriage supporters thronging the Capitol erupted into deafening cheers after the Senate's 37-30 vote; the House passed it last week on a 75-59 vote.

"Members, God made gays," Sen. Ron Latz, a Democrat from a suburb of Minneapolis, said during the Senate's emotional four-hour debate. "And God made gays capable of loving other people. So who are we to quarrel with God's intentions?"

Griner Says She Is Part of Mission to Help All Live in Truth

Credit to The New York Times

Brittney Griner writes, "I never thought that to be beautiful, you had to look any certain way at all. In my opinion, you're beautiful because you are you."

When the N.B.A. center Jason Collins announced he was gay last week, I was thrilled. Not only was I extremely happy for him, I thought that maybe, just maybe, his courage and the wave of positive reaction meant that we were on the verge of an era when people accept and celebrate one another’s differences. I think that’s what makes life beautiful: everyone is different and we can all learn from one another.

It takes a lot of courage to come out.

I first came out to my mom in the ninth grade. Even though the story is kind of boring (comparatively), I remember it as if it were yesterday. I was leaning against a wall in our house at the time, not doing anything in particular. For whatever reason, at that moment I let my mom know I was gay. It wasn’t planned. It just popped out. She gave me a hug, smiled and told me she loved me, and I went back upstairs to my room. Simple as that.

I knew then that it didn’t matter what my sexuality was; my mom and family would always love me for who I am. For me, the simplicity behind coming out was both powerful and beautiful. No drama, just acceptance and love.

That’s why I never felt the need to publicly announce I was “out.” People have asked me if I’m at all bothered that my “announcement” after the W.N.B.A. draft last month didn’t receive as much attention as Jason’s. Frankly, it didn’t matter at all to me. I simply answered a question honestly and am just happy to tell my truth and to be in a position to encourage others to do the same. It’s all about living an honest life and being comfortable in your own skin. It strengthens me to know that Jason and I (along with so many other out pioneers and allies) are united in a mission to inspire others who may be struggling. I want everyone to feel at peace and O.K. with being who he or she is.

Just as basketball doesn’t define who I am, neither does being gay.

But that doesn’t mean life was easy growing up. I was bullied in every way imaginable, but the worst was the verbal abuse. (I was always a strong, tough and tall girl, so nobody wanted to mess with me from a physical standpoint.) It hit rock bottom when I was in seventh grade. I was in a new school with people I didn’t know, and the teasing about my height, appearance and sexuality went on nonstop, every day.

People called me a dude and said there was no way I could be a woman. Some even wanted me to prove it to them. During high school and college, when we traveled for games, people would shout the same things while also using racial epithets and terrible homophobic slurs.

(That’s nothing compared with the horrendous things people call me online today — if you don’t believe me, look at the comments about me on Twitter and Instagram.)

No one deserves to go through that type of abuse. When I was young, I put on a face as if it didn’t hurt, but it’s painful to be called hateful names and made fun of because people thought my feet were huge or that I looked like a guy. It was hard to hear antigay slurs under their breath whenever I walked by them. It always confused me; I never thought that to be beautiful, you had to look any certain way at all. In my opinion, you’re beautiful because you are you.

Still, some people have it worse. I think about what Matthew Shepard had to face when he was tortured and chained to a fence in 1998 — I am thankful that Jason, as a veteran professional athlete, took the opportunity to remind people so that it never happens again. I think about that often, but I also think about the kids in middle school and high school today who daily are made to feel so bad about themselves that they contemplate not wanting to live anymore. That really hurts my heart because I’ve been there.

I’ve had moments when I questioned my place in the world. At times, especially in seventh grade, life was lonely and I’d often feel sad. I never wanted to deny who I was, but dealing with the sadness and the anger that came from people constantly making fun of me wore me down at times. I relied heavily on my mom, family and friends to lift my spirits and help me through it — and still do.

It’s taken me a long time to figure out exactly where I fit. During that journey, I realized that everyone has a unique place in this world. I also discovered that the more open I was with my family and friends, the more I embraced others, and the more committed I became to doing the things I love, like basketball, skating and, of course, eating bacon (the greatest food of all time), the more love and confidence I received in return.

I just had to hang in there and be myself.

Jason Collins’s announcement, with the support he has received, has already made me more optimistic than ever that people are ready. More important, that the pace of change is picking up. That’s why I have become involved in the It Gets Better project, whose mission is to inspire hope for young people facing harassment and bullying. Because, people, it’s time for bullying to end. Nobody should have to hear the types of things I did or to feel the way I have.

The good news is that I do see change coming. It might be slow, but there are so many positive signs. After being drafted by the Phoenix Mercury and with more media acknowledging my sexuality, I’ve received more hugs, tweets, thank-yous and well-wishes in regard to being “out” than ever.

Countless people have come up to me and thanked me for being proud of who I am.

It’s my job now to, I hope, be a light who inspires others.

Brittney Griner, a senior at Baylor University, was the top selection in the W.N.B.A. draft. She won the Naismith Trophy as the outstanding women’s basketball player in 2012 and 2013.