I am an Activist Because

I am an activist because I have to give a voice to the people who aren’t able to use their own. I am an activist for every young girl and every woman out there who has ever been a victim of assault. Fighting against societal norms and putting an end to all forms of oppression is something I have a passion for. No one is free while others are oppressed and I will not fight for one group of oppressed individuals, but I will fight for all of them. I am an activist for the 16 year old girl in Steubenville who was raped and assaulted on multiple accounts in one night by members of a football team. I am an activist for every person who has ever felt like they aren’t enough. I want everyone to feel like they are enough and that their simple existence is a beautiful thing in itself. I want to put an end to slut-shaming, victim blaming, gay “jokes,” and any oppressive language that has been completely normalized by our patriarchal society. I am an activist because I cannot stand when someone tells me to “stop being so sensitive.” I am an activist because people still think it is “too late” to change our language. I am an activist for every person that has been called faggot, stupid, retard, slut, whore, skank, not good enough. I am an activist for every trans man or woman that has been murdered for being themselves. I am an activist for every person who is queer that has been put down because they don’t follow the “rules” society put into place. I am an activist because I am tired of being told what to do and how to do it. I am an activist to break down those barriers and to say those rules are complete crap. I am an activist because gender roles drive me insane. I am an activist for all the tears that have been cried that no one’s caught. I am an activist for every person who feels like they aren’t safe. I am activist for equity. I want everyone to be happy and to feel the joy that they deserve. I am an activist because I can’t just sit here and watch all the bad things keep happening. I am an activist because I have to do something to make this world a little bit better. I am an activist because I can’t stand ignorance and want to inform the uninformed. And most of all I am activist because I actually give a damn. 

by Jordan Walsh