Once again, we must repeat the same thing. How many more people must be verbally abused? How many more people must be beaten? How many more people must attempt to take their own lives? How many liters of blood must flow through the streets before it is recognized that LGBTQIA people deserve fundamental respect? When, in the opinion of the silent Mayority, will we “deserve” equal rights? When will our cry for help be heard?

For years, we have wanted to talk. For years, we have been asking for basic rights – for the prosecution of hate crimes against LGBTQIA people, for marriage and civil partnerships, for the right to adopt, for a dignified transition. For years, we thought that being polite and courteous was the way to go. That approach has not worked. The wave of hatred is rising and can no longer be ignored.

When someone is spat on and despised. When someone is insulted and humiliated. When someone is beaten and pushed to their limits. And in this frustration at the powerlessness of the state and the inaction of the authorities, they will finally defend themselves – it is she or he who is pointed at, it is his or her fault, it is this person who is subjected to a wave of criticism. The problem becomes defending oneself against hatred, and hatred turns out not to be a problem worth paying attention to. We cannot fight back, we must wait patiently until others stop wanting to hurt us. We will no longer remain silent. We will never be victims again. No more turning the other cheek.

No one will give us anything except good advice. No one will do us any good. We have to do ourselves good. We have to fight for equality ourselves.

They tell us to be quieter.
They tell us not to stick our necks out.
They tell us not to flaunt ourselves.
They tell us not to provoke.

And we will shout even louder.
We will stick our necks out.
We will flaunt ourselves.
We will provoke.

Don’t hide. Be proud of your identity. Enjoy your sexuality. Show that joy. Let’s shine, let’s make that light illuminate the darkest darkness. And the darker it gets, the brighter we will shine.