Unfortunately I will not be able to participate physically this year, I've decided to have Era take part for Day Of Silence all week (it will be on April 19 though, but it doesn't hurt to support all week).

I've been a strong advocate for Day Of Silence since sophomore year of high school. Since then, I've had an open door for any of my friends who are having troubles at home for either LGBT reasons, or other family issues that could endanger them in any way. Day of Silence kind of give me a sense of empowerment and a lot of respect for those who they call 'different'. I may not have had to worry about the bullying because I'm pansexual, simply because throughout highschool I was still figuring out who I really liked. I kind of just kept to myself for a long time about it.

Sometime last year, I've actually fessed up and told my mom that I was pansexual. To my surprise, I've learned she is bisexual herself. I knew she wouldn't start feeling like she failed as a parent, in fact, she felt really good that I told her. She taught me to love and respect those around me. She taught me that everybody is unique in their own way, and that is totally ok. On the other hand, my dad thinks that people who are gay or whatever are the way they are because they hate the opposite gender and starts loving their own gender because of that. Because of that reason, I've never told him I'm pansexual. I guess that's ok though, because I do go more towards men, so it doesn't really bother me.

On another note, the other reason why I keep an open door for friends who are having family problems that could possibly endanger them is because October of sophomore year, my dad and my former step mom had a tremendous fight. It was happening for so many years, I had it and literally got a blanket and hung out in 20 degree weather across the street for 40 minutes waiting for the fight to end. I won't go into any more details, but I will tell you my dad was arrested for things he didn't do, and I was left at home all alone at the age of 16, and no friends were even picking up their phones for me. I was alone for practically a day and half, and cried from 4 am to 8 am in a really big mess. I was scared and hurt, and I still hate my former step mother to this day because of it. Thankfully my dad is back, but because of the incident, we payed way more money than we even had just to keep us both afloat from the mess.

This, is why I keep open arms to anybody in need of a home even just for a night. I've been there.

(Let's see if Era doesn't rip too much fur out from that duck tape XD)