You really just can't keep it in any longer, and you hope that telling Raihan isn't a mistake....
Contains: Coming Out, Comfort, Advice, Encouragement, References to IRL Politics, Use of the word 'Queer'
Sometimes you go into writing a script with the intention of it being comforting in an escapism kind of way, and then it turns into comfort and encouragement when it comes to IRL events and politics! As someone who tries to offer an escape with my audios, I do also feel it's important to mention and talk about what's going on in the real world, and not try to ignore it 100%, especially during Pride month, and especially right now where queer and trans people are being targeted by genuinely evil politics and policies simply for existing. I hope that this audio reminds you that if you are queer, you are not alone, no matter if you're out and proud or not, and that things will get better. And even if you're not queer, remember that your fellow humans are being persecuted for just trying to be themselves, and being loudly against these policies and politics is one of the most important things you can do as an ally. I hope you all enjoy, and remember to take Pride in who you are. 💚
~Audio Transcript Below~
Raihan: Are you alright? You like you're gonna vom.....
-pause-
Yeah, yeah....I can sit down.....what's goin' on?
-long pause-
-scoffing chuckle-
Ah—fuck—no—that—fuck, I'm not laughin' at you.....that—-inhales and exhales quickly-—that was a shite fuckin' reaction......I'm sorry—I just—
-with a slight chuckle-
I thought you were dyin' or something with the way you were actin'.....I didn't expect it to be a.....comin' out.......
-pause-
Ah—which I'm chuffed to bits about—good on you! I'm proud of you! Another member of the alphabet mafia, eh?
-pause-
-chokes on a laugh-
W-what? N-no! O' course I don't care! I mean—I care because I care about you.....but—-wry chuckle-—I'd be some sort of hypocrite if I gave a Ratatta's arse about you being queer all things considerin'......
-pause-
Yeah.....I....I do have someone else queer in my life......he's....me.....
-pause-
-laughter-
Holy fuck—the—the look on your fuckin' mug—! I can't believe you didn't know!
Sorry! Shit—you musta thought I was bein' arsehole of the fuckin' year, eh? Casually callin' you "queer" like that—is it ok that I use queer for you?
-pause-
Yeah—yeah, not a problem.....
-long pause-
Havin' a bit of a whiplash?
-pause-
Again, sorry that I was a big cause of that......but I coulda swore you knew......
-pause-
Me? Aw yeah......don't really got a label for it but—I like a bit everyone, you know?
-pause-
Have you....told anyone else?
-pause-
Cor blimey! Thank you....for....trustin' me with this....I know it's a big deal, and....takes a lot of courage to come out.....especially for the first time......
-pause-
Seriously.....I'm honored......
-long pause-
I don't know.....I think you're pretty brave.....
It's not easy bein' oneself.....authentically.....honestly......living your truth out loud and proud.....especially......in the current landscape......
-pause-
Sorry....don't mean to be a downer—but.....s'hard not to think about......
-pause-
Is that one of the reasons you were so worried about telling me?
-pause-
Yeah......makes sense.....so sick and tired of keeping it inside.....feelin' fearful......I don't blame you.....
-pause-
Yeah.......
-deep inhale and exhale-
So tired of hearing all of the negativity towards queer people hand in hand with just the.....exhaustion of living in late stage capitalism?
-pause-
Well, that's the grip, ain't it?
They're out there, tryin' their damndest to make us so tired and so worried about just survivin', meanwhile they're also thinkin' we don't notice all of the absolutely fucked up and heinous shit that they're gettin' away with!
So many people think that if we just "fix the system", then everything will be fine.....but what they don't get....is that the system is workin' exactly as it's supposed to. It's a lot harder to actively fight for your rights when you're worried about goin' hungry or losing your home.....
-pause-
Keep the rich, richer, the people in power permanently there, and fuck anyone else below 'em.....
They look down at us from their ivory towers, treatin' us like parasites, when they are the solipsistic megalomaniacs who are destroying the fuckin' planet and all the other people on it. They say we're the problem, and any voice that tries to stand up for what's right gets stamped into the fuckin' mud in favor of keeping the status quo......
No wonder all of us are so fucking exhausted and constantly anxiety ridden.....
-pause-
-deep inhale and exhale-
Sorry......that's probably not what you wanna hear right now.....and....
-wry sigh-
....you probably know as well as I do what they're doin'......
-pause-
But that doesn't mean that we should stop tryin'.......there's a reason that they're trying so hard to make everything as shit as possible for those who aren't like them......for people like us.....
Because they know if we get a foothold......they're fucked.......
-pause-
So yeah, it really is fuckin' brave to be out and loud and proud....for existing and fighting and living and survivin' in a world that purposefully seeks to use us as scapegoats.....
And I don't blame anyone who's scared to walk around with a target on their backs.....I don't feel a lick of anger or resentment for anyone who keeps quiet about who they are out of fear or any other reason. It's not a betrayal.....it's a fuckin' tragedy...
-pause-
But if there's anything I know about people like us....about history.....is that we've always been here.....and we always will be.....that's what they don't get.....
They think they can wipe us out, turn us against one another.....they think we're an annoying minority....that we're "livin' in sin" or "it's a choice" or, "it's not natural" or whatever shite they're tryin' to spout to justify their bigotry......but it's a human condition.....just cause it ain't the 'status quo' don't mean that it's a choice.....that it's bad.....it don't mean that it's wrong......
-pause-
I mean.....only about 1 to 2% of the entire world population are natural red-heads.......that ain't the status quo.....it's not anything they can control.....just like being queer ain't anything that you or I, or any of the other people in the world who are queer with us can.
-pause-
So it's all a farce, their bullshite, even though it's loud and prevalent.....
-pause-
I know it's frightening.....because it is......and I know you might feel alone.....and even if I'm the only person you ever come out to....it's ok......if it helps you live through another day.....keep yourself safe......
-pause-
But I'm here for you......and I will be damned if I let a single one of them hurt the people I care about and the people in my community if I can help it......
They will have to end me, before that happens........
-pause-
You know....1 to 2% of the global population still makes up about 140 million people. And while we don't know the exact percentage.....we know that there are more queer people than natural red-heads......
-pause-
So you're not alone....even if you're quiet about it for the rest of your days.....you have me......and you have all of them.....we're in this together......
And that's something to take Pride in......