Diversity Rules Magazine

3 Diversity Rules Magazine December 2019 Ron Blake is much more than a sexual assault and PTSD. He gradu- ated with an MPA in Public Affairs from Indiana University, was elected as a city councilman in suburban Chicago at a young age, was a high school physics teacher, and worked with hundreds of students as a high school cross country and track coach for 15 seasons. Blake was born in Gary, IN and has lived in Phoenix for the last 13 years. His parents, Ron and Rita are re red educators. He has a sister Kris and three brothers: Sco , Ma , and Mark. His parents and brothers live in Indiana (Chicago suburbs) and his sister lives in San Diego. Blake has lived in Los Angeles, San Diego, and Eng- land too. The health and well-being of our LGBTQ community depends on us all telling our stories. It is important the new genera on understands the past. It is important the mature genera on never forgets. And it's very important to share our stories of where we are today. The bad…and the good. Last month I visited the University of Wyoming for the first me. I came with my big awareness proj- ect about sexual and domes c violence that I've taken on a cross country odyssey over the past four years. I was cau oned by supporters and advocates around the na on to be careful on my journey for several reasons. I was traveling alone. I am gay. And I was coming to Laramie, Wyoming. People reminded me of the Ma hew Shepard story of tragedy and hate from 21 years ago in this city. I was further reminded that this is a conserva ve state. Ma hew was the college student who was taken away from a bar by two men to a rural area out- side of Laramie. He was then ed to a fence post, beaten, and killed. All because he was gay. On my journey to reach a symbolic goal I've given a TEDx talk and have spoken out in dozens of colleges and ci es about my story of sexual and domes c violence so that I can find recovery while helping others find their healing too. Part of that story involves me speaking out as a sur- vivor who is not just a man…but a gay man. But I did not let this history of hatred for gays stop me from coming to Laramie and the University of Wyoming. We can't live our lives in fear or stay stuck in the past. Or we will never be able to live at all. So I went there anyway. Sure I realize there are people who do not accept me or like me because I am gay. However, I didn't experience hatred during my one day and overnight while in Laramie. The students at UW and the residents of the city listened to my story of trauma into triumph. They offered their support for my efforts to get my proj- ect to the symbolic goal so I can help millions of sur- vivors find esperanza in a unique way. S gmas take a long me to erase. The s gma about male survivors of sexual and domes c violence. The s gma about gay men. And the s gma about Lara- mie and the hate crime murder of UW student Mat- thew Shepard. I appreciate that residents and students were warm and invi ng to me on my recent visit to Laramie and the University of Wyoming. They treated me as more than a survivor. As more than a gay man. They all treated me as their brother. That is the story I will share with the world. I Was Warned But I Went Anyway By Ron Blake

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