I wish someone would have told me earlier on that it was okay to be this way
I wish someone would have looked me in the eye and told me to be proud
I wish the community around me would have showed me acceptance
I wish my friends would have done the same
If this were the case, maybe I would have felt differently
Maybe I would have turned out differently
But
Instead I suffered
I suffered at home
I suffered at school
I suffered every night
A suffrage so overlooked and unseen
Disguised by feigned smiles and laughter
I suffered in silence
But, I will no longer be silent
I will no longer allow the people around me to tell me who to be
What to do
And who to love
I will speak out
I will speak loud
I will be a voice for those who do not have one