Diversity Rules Magazine

April 2018

Diversity Rules Magazine - _lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning_

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3 Diversity Rules Magazine April 2018 Tarringo T. Vaughan always believed he had a love affair with literature. One of the first pictures he saw of himself was of him at maybe the age of three or four year's old sitting with a book in his hand. But for Tarringo, growing up in the depths of the inner city both in Boston, MA and Springfield, MA made him believe that expression through the literary voice was un-cool and unat- tainable. As a very quiet and shy child he learned it became very valuable in his self expression ere are times where I'm just an admirer and there are times… when I am the admired but for all that I've become I still fear at times those unfamiliar eyes that stare at me. ere are people who either e-mail me or com- ment why write these diaries. ey say there is nothing wrong with being neither black nor gay and I say true but prejudice and stereotypes and fear is still out there. And as proud as I am of who I am there are times where I have to hide the gay tag to not be instantly judged or ignored. I have to become a stranger to be- come un-strange to those who don't know me. I'm sure your saying, 'Tarringo, no way' And my stubbornness and pride at times does win out but I feel like a book with really great content but passed by or put back on the shelf because the cover isn't appealing so I fight doubly for that chance to just be read between the lines. When I am in public I never believed in showcasing my homosexuality mostly be- cause I know there are many not comfortable with it and I usually just don't want the attention directed to- wards me. Yet, I write these diaries and expose my many emotions and thoughts with many. I guess it's different behind the mask of ink and written expression. I take a lot of bullshit and closed minded ignorance by being openly gay on this medium but I feel it is a voice needed for the progression of acceptance. ere are tons of men like me out there silent because they just don't want to be exposed to the attitudes out there and many of those men and women are dispersed throughout the same presence of strangers I tuck away my own open- ness in. Yes, Times are getting better, people are becoming more accepting, but you continue to hear tragic stories of gay bashing and horrific murders; the reason why a lot don't want to be open and stay silent. Although I can kick the ass of many who would dare step my way in that kind of situation, I still find myself hiding who I am when I am unknown. When in the presence of strangers, I, become a stranger to myself. In The Presence Of Strangers Diary Of A Black Man By Tarringo Basile-Baughn

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