I don't see no-body

When I visited Detroit last month I got the chance to hang out with one of my favorite people in the world, my faux bro Jarrod. Usually when we hang out, I'm in his world. Gay bars/clubs, drag shows, parades, the whole nine. But this time, for the first time, he came over to Straightland to spend time with me and my two normal friends at MGM casino on a Saturday night.

Ensembled in complete IDGAF attire we strutted on in, he in aqua skinnies and knockoff Maison Martin Margiela sunnies (that I had just given him) and me in all black, cape and nerd spectacles included. I was determined to make the night chock full of fun.

After tiring of watching people win/lose money and losing a bit ourselves, we readied to leave after about an hour. So, this is actually where the story begins. As we're walking towards the door, I was starting to have some kind of epiphany. I was looking around like, damn, at one point in my life, this scene wouldve probably impressed me. People watching at the casino used to be my shit. Now it just seemed pathetic, as if everyone was attempting to put on a show but no one was actually accomplishing it. In the midst of this epiphany, I start hearing lil shit. Then I start noticing looks and laughs.

I'm hearing comments about Lenny Kravitz, sweetness and all kinds of "hellll naawwll"-s...all directed at my boo. While my face is doing all types of contortions, bloods boiling and minds tryna find the most perfect, disrespectful, ego butchering response that wont get us killed, Jarrod is stalking through that bitch like we're auditioning for America's Next Top Model. Head high, glasses on, satchel swaying.

I was stunned.

I've never really beasted on ANYONE just out of the blue like that, let alone on grown men who could easily take me out the game with one swift move but right then, I was ready for whatever. Bitch grew balls in like 2.5 seconds. These bitches were not about to disrespect my friend like that when he didnt even do anything to provoke them other than be himself. But when I saw my friend so unphased by it, I decided it was just best that I shut the fuck up. So I lifted my head a lil higher and did my best strut right behind him. I didnt say anything to him about it but I couldnt help but obsess about it in my head.

There have been so many occassions that he's called me with stories about homophobic assholes coming at him any kind of way at his job and in his personal life. I always listen in utter shock and try to visualize it happening in my head. I always try to come up with a solution or a way that he could've handled the situation.

Seeing it in person completely blew mine. I think it was that moment that I realized just how difficult it must be to be him. To have to deal with that shit while you're just trying to pursue your own personal happiness?Fuck.Outta.Here. It just really made alot of shit click for me. Hearing stories about people killing themselves over not being accepted and/or being tormented because of their sexual orientation used to put me in an almost disturbing mindset. On one hand, I would feel fucked up that someone lost their life behind something like that but on the other hand I would feel like people needed to get a little more backbone (pause) in their lives. Now, I think its all bullshit. Regardless of the haters, Born This Way is boss on the strength of the message alone that she's putting out there for people who dont already embrace the importance of loving oneself first and truly not giving a shit if other people can fuck with that. Jarrod became a true boss in my book that night. Now that I think about it, the way he handled it was pretty fucking dope. He moved through a room full of haters as if they werent even there, as if they didnt even matter, which was appropriate because they didnt.

i dont see no-body