UPDATE: She Came Out and She GOT Our Support!
Just a quick update to say thank you to everyone who took the time to reach out to Tatianna and/or donate to her college graduation fund. As of this posting, 29 people have helped to raise $318 for Tatianna’s graduation. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Tatianna graduates from USC Upstate in Spartanburg tomorrow. Tatianna is going to email me a photo of her in her cap and gown that I am going to post as soon as I get it. In addition, Tatianna is working on a piece that I am going to run on my site this week about this whole experience—coming out, her parent’s reaction, and the support from a community that she didn’t know existed.
I just want to also say thank you to everyone who gave, who wanted to give, who emailed, and who forwarded the post. It’s much appreciated and just goes to show that recession and all, we’re a community that can come together for a good cause.
Okay so here’s the deal. A couple of weeks ago I went down to South Carolina to speak at the University of South Carolina Upstate. I never really wrote much about it because I am still trying to sort it all out in my head. Don’t get me wrong, I had a wonderful time and met some wonderful people while I was there, but it definitely was a culture shock for me and when I left I made a promise to myself that I’d be back.
While I was in South Carolina I met some wonderful students that I continue to keep up with, whether it’s via email or text messaging.
One of those students is 22-year-old Tatianna, a political science major who is graduating next week. Tatianna is a lesbian and yesterday, unexpectedly, her mother asked her if she was gay. Tatianna didn’t lie and told her that she was after years of trying to hide it, or at least thinking she was hiding it. History has shown that more often than not, parents tend to know that their child is gay, hence Tatianna’s mother asking her. Well, one thing led to another and before Tatianna knew it, her parents both came down on her and are now on the verge of disowning this sista. To make matters worse, her father has decided that since his daughter is a lesbian, he is not going to give her the money she needs for her graduation next week.
She got the usual, you’ll never get married and you won’t have any kids speech to go with all that.
Needless to say, at a time when Tatianna is supposed to be celebrating her graduation, she’s faced with being disowned by her family and it really breaks my heart.
It’s hard enough to get through college living your life in the closet, IN THE SOUTH, but to then come out and be disowned on the eve of your graduation really sucks.
I decided that I may not be able to do anything about her parents, the hope is that after the anger wears off the love of their daughter will kick in, hopefully…but that I could make sure that come graduation next week Tatianna has everything that she needs.
I think it’s important that those of us who have experienced what Tatianna is going through, reach back and extend a hand to make sure that this doesn’t ruin her life and that she knows that beyond South Carolina there’s a whole community of people who were once in her shoes and can sympathize with her situation.
And even though we are in a recession, gas is higher than ever along with food and everything else, I can still spare a couple of bucks for sista’s graduation ceremony.
Will you join me in doing the same?
Tatianna has a Paypal account for anyone who cares to donate to her graduation fund. She says that she still needs to pay for her cap and gown and some other associated fees that her father is not going to be helping with.
To contribute to Tatianna’s Graduation Fund, simply visit www.paypal.com and enter Tatianna’s email address for her account: ambition2k@msn.com.
In addition, if you care to send Tatianna any words of encouragement, they can be left here or sent to her privately at ambition2k@msn.com. She can be reached on Myspace at www.myspace.com/tl2006.
Now is the time to rally around this sista and anyone else that you know of going through the same thing.
And to Tatianna, girl keep your head up and WORK THAT!
Thanks!
Loading ...
Wow, how horrible.
Nice post Jas,
I have a cousin who still hasn’t told most members of our family. And somehow because I choose to wait for the right partner and have no children and live in San Francisco I am a ’secret’ lesbian! We have to make decisions that are the best for us not others.
The link isn’t working. Is she still accepting donations?
What Tatianna needs to know is that just asGod can take the desire to commit adultery from someone’s heart . he can take the homosexual desire from someone’s heart. THIS IS BIBLE. and keep all the people have used the bible justify to yourselves dont mean anything God can bring her out PROVE ME WRONG
MLK Jr-
Nobody is questioning the power of God. Actually, religion wasn’t apart of this conversation until you decided to bring it up(there’s always one). Jasmyne’s post was about Tatianna’s father’s decision not to support her after she revealed her truth. Now please tell me what’s Christian about a father disowning his child who has obviously worked hard to complete school and to stay out of trouble.
I don’t think she should be asking God to change who she is because he created her and he doesn’t make mistakes. However, we should be praying that her parents begin to love her unconditionally.
To the person imitating Rev. King:
You are full of shit. Asides from making no sense on even a grammatical level (let alone a logical one), show me the evidence that King was anti-homosexuality. Given that Coretta Scott King was outspokenly pro-gay rights, I’m willing to bet that if even King was anti-gay during the 60’s (which, given his “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” statement, is highly unlikely), he would have liberalised his views and become pro-gay. It’s 14th century fundies like you who help Tatianna’s parents try to justify their actions.
Jas this is a very compassionate thing you’re doing and sharing with us Tatianna’s story. I’ll definitely go into that piggy bank and help her. I went through very similar rejections from my mother when I told her I was a lesbian. The first thing she asked me was, “where did I go wrong”? I told her she didn’t go wrong anywhere. She did her part as a mother and gave me the best up bringing, the best education and the best of her and did it as a single mom raising three kids. As I got older she continued to judge me and always interfered with my relationships because I did the man thing once, just to see if what I felt for a woman was real. This was at the age of 18 and wouldn’t you know it, I got pregnant. She insisted I have it because we were raised Catholic so they didn’t believe in abortions. I didn’t believe in bringing a child into the world without a father, he was a married man and a prominent figure in the community and I just didn’t want the responsibility. However, my hormones kicked in and I just couldn’t do it and I’m glad because I have a wonderful 32 year old daughter and she’s the apple of my eye. I realized later that having two mommies was better than having a father that didn’t want her because he didn’t believe he was the father (bull, cause he took my cherry) and knew it. It took me years to get my mother to accept my lifestyle and even down to her trying to take my daughter from me, but today, I listen to her talk about how she had to tell her boyfriend, (who just disowned his grandson because he came out to the family) that no one wakes up choosing to be gay, they’re born that way. She said it took her many years to accept that I am who GOD made me to be and we’re the best of friends now and she is crazy about the woman I’m dating. So, to Tatianna and anyone else out there who fears how your family is going to accept who you are, prepare yourself, be who you are, stand up for what you feel and one day, they will look up and realize how much time they’ve lost having you in their life because of their own issues. One day, they will regret their decision to cast you out because they don’t understand US. GOD accepts us right where we are, for who we are, and forgives people like the imitiating MLK dude for passing judgment on HIS children. Only GOD can pass judgment and like Darian said, God doesn’t make mistakes.
mzdud it aint passing judgment if it can proven with bible READ ONE where does it say God made people homosexual CHAPTER AND VERSE. nom don’t have to show you anything make deal with you on a higher level show me where God condones it we have to stand before him not MLK and you thought said something you’re a joke dude. marian what’s shristian about engaging in form of behavior that God condemns. take MY word for it Ti God can take the desire from your heart and make you whole LET NOBODY TELL YOU DIFFERENT…..NOBODY LET THE CHURH SAY AMEN
Ti people who tell you God can’t take the desire to engage in the act of homosexuality from your heart well they dont know the true power of God for Christ’s sake follow God. Hey jasmyne he’ll do the same for you PROVE ME WRONG.
Ti find yourself a good God fearing church to go to with a pastor who relly knows the word of God Get into the bible let God’s word put you wise listening to those who tell you otherwise could send your soul to hell.
AND AS I SAID BEFORE LET THE CHURCH SAY AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
To the fool blaspheming the name of God, His Son Jesus and His prophet, Brother MLK. You are an idiot. And I know that you cannot understand this or come near to grasping this because . . . well . . . you are an idiot. You are also still a slave. The shackles are gone from around your neck, but your mind and your spirit belongs to THEM. You’ve missed the whole point of the artice, no surprise. Clearly your educational level prevents you from even having a solid convincing argument, so before you make yourself look even more ridiculous, you should probably calm down, take a deep breath and pay attention. First of all, your knowledge of history is nill – which is funny – cuz I can see you hollerin’ now like you know what you’re talking about. You said: where does it say God made people homosexual CHAPTER AND VERSE. lesson #1: there’s a whole lot the Bible doesn’t say, but that means absolutely nothing because the bible was never meant to be used as a sledgehammer, so you’ve missed that point as well. it is a collection of books, written over hundres of years even new testament book authors didn’t all live in the same era. it is an ancient hebrew, judeo-christian book of living, taught to a small group of people who existed in an area smaller than Los Angeles County. Prior to these people, their royal lineage – Moses, Abraham, David and Jesus – prior to an Adam or an Eve, civilization was already blooming all over Africa. The highest universities ever seen came out of Kemet (egypt), Kush, Ethiopia, and so many other places in Africa too many to mention here. Jesus went to Africa and became a high priest. He learned from other Black priests and perfected his message and his crafts. All while he was supposedly missing from the Bible from age 12 to 30. So if we follow your point – that the Bible doesn’t say this or that – then Jesus just didn’t exist from age 12 to 30 because the Bible doesn’t mention him. That’s bull sh*t. Civilization was also at it’s height in the Americas as well. So much high civilization (astronomy, mathematics, sciences and building, medicine, music, etcetera) had already taken place BEFORE the Hebrews were even a people. And the story of Adam and Eve and all subsequent Bible stories, lessons and parables are just wonderful, they just weren’t the first stories, my brotha. In other words, lesson #2: The Bible is a wonderful source, but it doesn’t explain everything about everything, nor was it ever meant to. It is Hebrew literature, poetry, allegory, and such to teach those people in that area at that time – while being murdered and pillaged by the white roman hierarchy – how to live and survive. It was the white romans (by the way, Jesus and his folk were NOT white) and later on the white catholic church who turned christianity into somethin other than what Christ intended and the Bible into a single book used as a weapon to control the masses – be they society at large or some indigenous slaves on a plantation. Are you still following me? Wake up, cuz that being said, people more ancient than those that lived in the bible days HAVE acknowledged the gays in their societies. Indigenous people of the earth had gay people too. And these gays were honored as spiritual beings because their vibration was special. Never were they EVER condemned or bastardized like they are today. It wasn’t until white people came and destroyed the indigenous Black mindset and replaced it with that of a good slave who will believe about the Bible what they’re white master told them to believe, that Black people became so hateful of gays. That’s right, gayness isn’t new, but Black hatred of anything is. People are energy. Soul. Spirit. Ether. Spirit is constantly vibrating, moving, in rhythm. Some spirit – like yourself it seems – are not vibrating at a high level. So they take a book and use it as a weapon to hate you. Other spirits – like gay people – are vibrating on a different level than straight people. There’s a good reason for this – these spirits are more likely to be able to move between worlds and are very necessary to the uplifting and positive attunement of the entire planet. It has nothing to do with sex, fool. It’s low-vibrating, so-called christian hypocrates like you who the world is in danger of. You sound like a child of the fallen one and you are playing with fire using Christ to spit your hate. If Christ were to walk in on us right now, he would probably shun you because he already knows your spirit and comfort the gay man who you were just spitting your hateful lies to. You’ve been lied to. You’ve been tricked. Pray for truth. Before it’s too late.
MLK: if you are going to be a primitive homophobe who’s centuries behind modern society, could you at least stop doing it in Rev. King’s name? Ask yourself this: what did Jesus himself say about gays? The answer is obvious: NOTHING. If He did have a problem with people being gay, don’t you think he would have actually said something about it?
And don’t go quoting Leviticus or Romans their condemnation of homosexuality. Leviticus also wanted to ban eating shellfish and have disobediant children killed. Romans advocated slavery and was quoted by white slave owners in their justification of slavery, hardly ideas for a modern civilised society. I wouldn’t be surprised if you were some drooling redneck KKK member doing his limited best to slander Rev. King (it would certainly explain the shocking grammar). I do wish that Jasmyne would enter these comments. She would wipe the ideological floor with you harder then she did with Pat “We never had slavery” Buchanan.
PS:Pristess, in future comments please use paragraphs.
MLK, you always mention the paragraphs on homosexuality but you fail to realize some things.
1. Leviticus Verse: There are 630 Jewish Laws including this one. There are laws against eating shellfish, there are laws against eating pork. So if you eat pork or shellfish according to these laws you are going to hell just like the gay people you bash on this site.
2. Bible verses: You must NOT take the bible to be a literal text, to do so is to miss the meaning of the bible and God in general. The bible was written in a different time, different place, with different circumstances, and a different mindset, different cultures. And the bible was made to reflect this.
3. Be careful on focusing on condemning gay people. The same bible was used to PROMOTE slavery as well. Read the Story of Ham and Moses.
But on Tatianna, I really feel for her. However, her experience is the reason I am keeping myself in the closet until I am financially stable.
I feel before people come out, they should investigate their parents’ feelings towards homosexuality and adjust your coming process accordingly. For example, I am in a West-Indian family (very homophobic) so I know not to come out at this moment. Because when I come out, I know there will be family and financial fallout. Hey, I love women as the next lesbian does, but it is not worth me losing financial support at this time.
But I really wish her good luck on her graduation.
leastest? talk all you want till you can GIVE CHAPTER AND VERSE WHERE GOD CONDONES THE ACT OF HOMOSEXUALITY YOU ARE IN THE WORDS OF THE IMMORTAL JAMES BROWN TALKING LOUD AND SAYING NOTHING AND BEING HOMOSEXUAL AND BEING BLACK ARE NOT THE SAME TO COMPARE THE TWO IS ASSININE.
Nyah H sin is sin nomatter what time we’re in. God is the same yesterday today and forever.
num calling me a homophobe is no different to me than calling me a racistophobe or a pedophobe non of it means a thing to me. to say jesus(YESHUA)his real name… well read matthew 5:18 then say he said nothing about it. going by your token beastiality and incest are ok too WRONG read matthew 5:18. to say romans advocated slavery well God or his son never did slavery has nothing to do with race in history you’ll find that in different parts of the world down through history WHITES were ensalved just like blacks were in this country romans ensaved other romans it was not endentured servitude IT WAS FLAT OUT SLAVERY YOU BEST READ A BOOK BEFORE YOU MESS WITH ME. jasmyne aint on my level you see any where she would call herself proving me wrong i’d show her using her own words against her of course where she was proving me right she’ll cower and say you can’t post on my blog.
Crya m(oron) b the homosexual act as well as the act of adultery are sins in the eyesight of God there is no verse in the bible where God condemns people beacuse of race and i’m sure the same bible is used to condone fornication but that wrong too hate to break it to you slavery only means people forced binto bondage by others history will show you that whites were enslaved in other countries just as blacks were in this one jews were enlsaved ect. poor example your part.
leastess “Gotta say it YA NEED HELP CHILE YA REALLY NEED HELP TO USE AS AN EXAMPLE RACE FOR HOMOSEXUL ANYTHING JUST SHOWS YA NEED HELP CHILE YA REALLY NEED HELP. LAWD A MERCY LAWD A MERCY YOU REALLY NEED HELP
All this back and forth..I sure hope folk take a lil time to stop on by paypal to address the situation at hand..
ImJusSayinIsAll
This MLK name-jacking login id person would be shocked I guess to find out that the real MLK Jr. had a close relationship and supporter in Bayard Rustin who was openly gay, organized the March on Washington and founded Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Besides the Old Testament did focus on the Jewish laws that had to be closely adhered to that were no longer necessary after Jesus. It is my understanding that we are to love God above all others and love our neighbors as ourselves. So where does condemning come into play with the judgmental attitude?
Jasmyne, having updated this post, surely you’ve read the comments-sister, we need you to plunge a metaphysical sword through MLK’s inane rantings.
MLK, jr.,
Why are you so obsessed with homosexuality? Also you might want to use a period or a comma every-now -and then.
sfdinger old news if the bible says the acts of homosexuality racism bisexuality adultery trangenderedism fornication pedeophilia are ALL sinful in the eyesight of God sfdinger i guess you would be SHOCKED to learn that the man who tried to bring down MLK and the whole civil rights movemment was also homosexual
his name J. Edgar Hoover. and uh jasmyne you leave those young girls alone. what you say about me doesnt matter regardless of what you say about being homosexual or being racist anything comming from a homosexual or a racist couldnt possibly mean anything. I hear you talk I hear daivid duke talk i dont know which one is more assinine special aint the same as equal rights why should be a hate crime to beat up someone because theyre homosexual but not becuase theyre racist if a law is to be placed on the books it should be there to protect everyone regardless of what you say to the contrary but then it can be misused anybody can go the police and say they got beat up because theyre homosexual and not be. face it all those wwho were discharged under dont ask tell werent homosexual PROVE ME WRONG and leave those young girls alone. REGARDLESS OF WHAT YOU SAY ABOUT THE TWO BEING HOMOSEXUAL OR BEING RACIST IF YOU DONT TELL IT OR SHOW IT WONT NOBODY KNOW IT PROVE ME WRONG YA NEED HELP CHILE YA REALLY NEED HELP COMPARING HOMOSEXUALS TO BLACK PEOPLE YA NEED HELP CHILE YA REALLY NEED HELP PEOPLE LIKE YOU AND AND PEOPLE LIKE DAVID DUKE BOTH WHY DONT YOU HOMOSEXUALS AND RACIST PEOPLE JUST KEEP IT IN THE CLOSET DO AMERICA THAT ONE FAVOR.
Monie M: The reason why MLK obsesses over homosexuals, is because HE is a HOMOSEXUAL. Dont worry, in a few years MLK will be caught in the clubs pole dancing over a rainbow flag, or in the parade starring as MLK the Diversity Drag Queen.
MLK come out, come on out (AND IF YOU REPLY TO THIS E-MAIL, you are ADMITTING you are GAY).
I love my closeted gay boys. Come out and play. Its raining men.
and that’ll happen when i become the grand dragon of the KKK you see you cant tell homosexuals from racists sogoing by you alls twisted token i must be a racist too i think God im neither no if i reply im only admitting that to be homosexual and to be racist ya gotta be stupid if youre racist if youre homosexual the closet is the place for you
Ok this is really starting to be funny as hell! I’m embarrassed that I even responded to his foolishness now that I see he is clearly unstable.
i wish all the stupid people would just fly away. starting with you, mlk imposter.
you can’t PROVE ME WRONG so you call names gee i thought only racist people did that. cant figure out who’s the bigger joke homosexuals or racist people.
you can’t PROVE ME WRONG so you call names gee i thought only racist people did that. cant figure out who’s the bigger joke homosexuals or racist people. jasmyne stop comparing homosexuals to black people and tell im gonna slap ‘im next time i see him
yeah next time i see that “boy”friend of yours”boykin” im gonna slap he compares homsexuals to black people too and that aint right it’s like comparing adulterers or pedophiles ect to black people and there’s nowhere in the bible where it says skin color is a sin AND IM SURE YOU KNOW REGARDLESS OF WHAT YOU SAY TO THE CONTRARY WHEN IT COMES TO BEING HOMSEXUAL OR RACIST IF YOU DONT TELL IT OR SHOW IT NOBODY KNOW IT ANY RACE YOU FIND HOMOSEXUALS IN YOU’LL FIND RACIST PEOPLE PRVOV ME WRONG. ……………and jasmyne leave th young girls alone. i dont know who’s worst homosexuals or racist people.
“i dont know who’s worst homosexuals or racist people.”
if you don’t know the answer to that question, your politics are REALLY jacked up.
Verily I say unto thee, thou moniker fits thee oh so well . and thou art truly humorous, a mere jester on the stage of life.
MARTIN LUTHER KING jr.
honey listen. you are not on this forum belonging to the webpage of an openly gay woman witnessing to anybody, so your purpose here is very questionable. i get the feeling you frequent the site because you too are a little “tee.” now don’t make me read you darling. you, just like everyone else here are free to express, but this holier than though thing you’ve got going on is definitely not welcome. you can quote the bible all you want, you just better make sure you’re living every bit of it, you hear? you are absolutely right in saying that GOD is able to deliver. there should be no bouts there cuz the GOD i know can do anything. as long as your heart is open and your soul is free, he will do exactly what he needs to WHEN he needs to. in the mean time, stop acting as his ASSISTANT and harassing my people. buy you a domain name just like jasmyne did and spend all of your time putting all of your quotes and whatever else on your site so we can come and visit you okay? ain’t nothing worse that a hypocrite… now gon head and keep the party going (and the church stands and sings “yesssssssss, yeeeeeeeessss” in unison)
Again I say unto the THOU art truly humorous.
Again I say unto thee
THOU art truly humorous.
i know it baby, shut it down! ur wasted energy here on a site going back and forth with individuals whose lives you disagree with is what’s hilarious mlk. it’s ok for you to be ok with our community baby, we’re all alright. you don’t have to kick up dust so the winds blows it in our faces and we can’t see what you’re all about
It’s about God. Won’t you give him a try?.
It’s about God. Won’t you give him a try?. You say you’re alright, But what does God say. Won’t you give him a try?. he loves you.
Thank you “MLK” but you don’t speak for God, thank you. Even if the Bible were the “Word of God” people have to interpret it and by saying “God says…” you are claiming to speak for God. So let me say it again: YOU DON’T SPEAK FOR GOD.
Would the REAL MLK please stand up and slap this man who doing a horrible job of impersonating yo son. Jas, girl, all I can say is you shooooooo know how to bring out best in people…but if this is MLK’s best, he’s got a rough road before “satin” reaches up from hell and yanks him down there with the rest of the homophobic, racist people that “thought” they were going to heaven. What’s even sadder is that all of this started out with sharing this young girls situation of coming out and her parents rejecting her. Now, she’s graduated and on her way to college and your entire blog on this has turned into a battle of man vs GOD and an ignorant man at that. I’m with annonymous, get your own webpage and leave this one because you’re not worth all this and the truth of it all is you’ll never get IT….this is a site for REAL LESBIAN women who wear it PROUD and the last time I checked MLK Jr. was a proud black man who’s father had a dream for people of ALL colors and genders and he didn’t discriminate… a matter-of-fact he lost his life trying to overcome discrimination…now his opinions would be welcomed here but you…pleazzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz get a life and leave those of us that have one…alone.
well all I have to say is READ leviticus from the first to the last chapter.
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ … ”
~Galatians 3:28~