What do I say?

What do I say to you who are women,
when I am a man?
What do I say to you who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer,
when I am straight?
What do I say to you who are Black, Latino, Asian, Indigenous,
when I am White?
What do I say to you who live in a red state,
when I live in blue?
What do I say to you who are persecuted,
when I am accepted?
What do I say to you our fear-filled,
when I need fear not?

What do I say?

I say
         I am your son.
         I am your brother.
         I am your ally.
         I am your lover.
         I am your friend

What do I say?

I say
         when your concerns are minimized, my concerns are minimized.
         when you are discriminated against, I am discriminated against.
         when your rights are trampled upon, my rights are trampled upon.
         when your voice is silenced, my voice is silenced.
         when you are hated, I am hated.

What do I say?