She/He — Original Slam Poem

On the first day of middle school, she was bullied

For dressing in guys clothes, wearing baseball caps, liking skateboards

She was assaulted in the boy’s locker room for being too good at basketball

She was told day after day that she would have more bruises than love

And she believed every word they said

On the first day of middle school, he was bullied

For dressing in girls clothes, wearing makeup, liking jewelry and Instagram

He was pinned against a wall and beaten for playing softball

He was assured he would die alone, that his scars would scare anyone away

And he believed every word they said

On the first day of High School, he started testosterone

He was confident in wearing his newly tailored baby blue suit to prom

In P.E. he took pride in playing basketball and winning every game

And though he is bruised and scarred on his arms and legs, he found love

He screamed at the top of the hill behind his house,

“You hear that? I’m loved!”

And he believed every word he said

On the first day of High School, she started Estrogen

She walked around with her hair and makeup done to perfection

She was known as the girl who hit home-runs every Saturday

She was found crying one day, as a boy’s hand rested on her shoulder, saying,

“You don’t know me, but we’re alike. Born wrong. But that doesn’t mean we can’t live right, starting now.”

This boy was wearing a newly tailored baby blue suit

And he took her to prom

She told herself that she is loved, no matter what

And she believed every word she said

If you think about it, we are all alike in some ways

Aren’t we all breathing?

Don’t we all go to the bathroom?

So why hate someone for just simply living?

Some of the comments the LGBTQIA+ community has received

Makes kids and adults not even want to live!

And we ask why so many people are depressed, anxious, suicidal

It’s because kids of the minority are pushed to the back of the classroom

Where old science projects linger and rot, like their hopes for future equality

We all want love.

Please, just be kind :)