allegiance

I pledge allegiance

to the United States of America

to this nation

indivisible

with liberty and justice for –

                                             some.

not for all.

I sit in school

watching

the other students drone – thoughtless –

echoing words they have spoken their entire life,

looming over me,

judging me for refusing to stand.

I don’t stand

I can’t stand

                   all the lies.

‘I approve of gay marriage’ they say

‘look at me:’ they say

              ‘I have a rainbow bracelet’

              ‘I have a token gay friend’

they scream

              ‘I am a Good Person’

well

I hate to inform them.

                        but

I have a rainbow bracelet too

I can’t take it off.

it shackles me to the ground.

my friends are queer, because

they understand.

                           they understand.

I am human I am

I am different I am unnatural

pick one.

equality = the same

the same rights

the same love

the same.

I am queer I am.

but queer is not me:

I like books I like sports

                                    That is me.

I have a family

and friends

and a

girlfriend.

They know me for

         me.

Not for a label.

            a price tag

            that declares me

            broken, useless, wrong

a freak.

I pledge allegiance to

            nothing.

because nothing pledges allegiance

                                                      to me.