This poem was inspired by Calum Robertson as we chatted at Bogha Frois on the last night of Celtic Connections. During our chat Calum who was introduced to me by the brilliant upcoming fiddle player Laura Wilkie said that it was lovely to be at a traditional music event where everyone could be themselves and be accepted for who they are rather than just tolerated at and excluded from events. Not surprisingly I agreed with him and said that though I had always felt accepted in the traditional music community I was genuinely shocked at the amount of people who said that wasn’t the case for them. It is with this conversation very much in mind I have decided to title it Tolerated I hope you enjoy the read
Tolerated
Tolerated
but never fully accepted
or included in conversations
with family and friends
let alone colleges and neighbours
well your just not sure where to start
for fear of embarrassment
I was told by well meaning friends of my mother
who claimed people would be ashamed
if they had one of them in the family
clueless about gender identity
she no doubt guessed my sexuality
and got it gloriously wrong
but it wouldn’t stop her and others like her
believing the myths and stereotyping
which lead to prejudice
each to their own they say
praying that their son is not gay
or even worse transgender
these defenders of the faith
who never set foot in a church
but skirt round equality
like it’s something best avoided
make judgements on the unemployed
with others they claim don’t fit in
we are accused of stealing rainbows and unicorns
tolerated but never respected
never accepted
just tolerated with lip service paid
to the right to be treated like everyone else
it was ever thus and shall remain that way
a community locked out of society
tolerated in the Lavender ghettos
which are marked unsafe for their sons and daughters
by the guardians of public morality
© Gayle Smith 2019