In Memory of Matthew Shepard
How Many
by Eric Mohn
How many times today will a child be born
not knowing the life they will face?
How many times today will a father look at his son
and wonder why he is such a "sissy"?
How many times today will a mother look at her daughter
and wonder why she is so "boyish"?
How many times today will a child be bullied
because they are different from their peers?
How many times today will a gym teacher
have their class play 'smear the queer'?
How many times today will a child silently endure
torture for fear of being found out?
How many times today will a young adult be afraid
to go outside for fear of being 'bashed'?
How many times today will a son or daughter be thrown from their home
because their parents 'will have no fag living under their roof '?
How many times today will a man or woman laugh at a 'queer joke'?
How many times today will a man or woman be fired
from their job because they 'don't fit in'?
How many times today will a man or woman be denied service
from a doctor or dentist for fear of 'catching a disease'?
How many times today will a couple be denied housing
because 'their type is not wanted around here'?
How many times today will religion condemn
us as an abomination?
How many times today will a political figure
describe us as immoral and unnatural?
How many times today will a political leader say
they support equal rights yet do nothing to initiate them?
How many times today will a human being be hated
because of whom they love?
