I wrote this piece as my alter ego Maggie Wells a couple of weeks ago for my local paper job. It’s called Ten percent. It’s inspired by real life events that have been unfolding. One of my favorite teens up here came out (or rather it seems was forced out) of the closet. I think you know where this is going.
Absolutely smart kid with a bright future ahead of her comes out in rural America to unloving maniacal guardian with a history of abusing women who don’t bend to his will.
She’s a kid.
He’s supposed to be the adult. He spreads rumors about his own kid. Threatens her with incarceration in mental health facilities. Texts her friends and threatens them. Texts her friend MY DAUGHTER to threaten her. Threatens the girl’s girlfriend with a ‘redneck rape’ to set her straight. Rural America can be a dark and disturbing place. I feel for the kids growing up both in its wondrous beauty and its evil.
I am praying with all my heart that the girl makes it out of there alive and well and knows she is loved. Knows she is smart. Knows things do get better. Because right now all there is
is despair.
Pray for the gay kids to overcome their homophobic aggressive and abusive patriarchy run households and schools and communities. And may this tortured soul who truly believes he’s doing the right thing by being a hate filled raging lunatic be brought to justice.
Throwing Chanclas 