growing up (and still growing up), my dad was literally always mean. whether he was drunk or watching Fox News, he always was being condescending to something or someone. growing up, i thought myself immune from his behavior. i knew watching him, watching how he acted and how he treated other people, what exactly what not to do right? but as i navigate life, the plane of existence i share with other people, i find myself parroting some of my fathers questionable actions. getting too mad at people too quick, always immediately assuming the worst of people, generally just being super misanthropic. i always hated realizing that i'd just done these things, it felt like i was closer and closer to seeing him in the mirror. but thats enough about my own experience, the main reason im writing this is that I know far too many people around me, in my circles, queer, gay trans whatever, that grew up like me, that have parents like mine, but instead of realizing they're cohabiting their conservative parents beliefs, they immediately turn it around, incidentally, like a conservative. everyone else is the problem, yall're stupid, etc etc. if you, reader, are like me in any way, queer growing up in an otherwise conservative or hateful area, i beg and plead with you to check yourself when you're being hateful or combative. i genuinely don't want people like me to continue endless cycles of hate. because if people like me always take on hateful bigoted ideology, we're no better than them. i love you!
last updated 7/7/25