Today I stand with pride in my town
that another tenement of hate has come tumbling down
LGBTQ+ pride, we celebrate
We don’t turn away, we don’t just tolerate
So yes, God made Adam and then he made Eve
But then in His wisdom He made Elton and Ellen and Steve
Because being gay isn’t an abomination
there’s diversity, power and more in creation
And who you love doesn’t matter you see
if you’re not hurting others, you’re not hurting me
It’s LGBTQ+ and of this I am sure
the plus equals better, the plus equals more
Although I must admit it’s a struggle for me
to get LGBTQ+ into rythmic poetry
“But being gay isn’t natural”, I take a different view
have you met the gay penguins down Central Park Zoo?
Baboons, dolphins, lions all engage in homosexual behaviour
and they’re not packed off to conversion therapy later
The parrot fish can change gender at will
parrot fish Jack becomes parrot fish Jill
And nature is cool and totally complex
these beautiful creatures can vary their sex
Isn’t it great they teach sexuality matters at school
It’s not turning kids gay you ignorant fool
My son has managed to get through Vikings without engaging pillage and rape
He’s completed his maths without becoming a polygon shape
Gay, straight, bi, trans, pansexual
Define yourself how you want or abide by no label
You tell me the pronoun you expect
and will call you because I owe you respect
Him, her, them, xie
You do you and I’ll do me
and that is how we are all of us free
to carve and create our right to self-identity
You are you and you are complete
a rose by any other name still smells as sweet
Love is patient and love is kind
and love leaves homophobia behind
So roar out of the closet
let’s all storm the gates
because the power of love overcomes the power of hate
And yes there’s will be those that rage with disgust
But you know the old mantra, they doth protesth too much
By Fiona Dignan
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