Here’s the deal. This isn’t my first blog…but much like others, I started it with some zeal, and then I let it all but wither and die. See, I’m expected to blog as a communications “guru” (barf) – PR and marketing are changing, and thank goodness they are finally being driven by authenticity and transparency – which all tie back to the personal brand thing. But while I’ve been active as a representative of various company blogs, every one I’ve started for myself, I’ve done so anonymously. I’ve discovered a couple of things about these sad facts. First, while I love to write, I’m also conflicted about whether or not what I have to say matters to anyone enough to put it out into the world – especially without it having a singular focus – like my love of cheese, my hilarious attempts at yoga, my cats, my awesome taste in music, my never-ending pursuit of my dream career or my very real quest for spiritual enlightenment (or at least contentment). And second, I’m deathly afraid of the idea of living out loud – you know, putting it all out there with my name on it.

I’ve worked in communications for 10 years…specifically for internet related companies – so it’s not like any of this is particularly new to me. I get it. I get how it works. I understand, especially for the brands I’ve worked with (and personal brands) how influential and important it is to dialogue with customers and peers. Listening, exchanging ideas and insights. But part of what has made me good at my job is my understanding of audiences and knowledge that not all information is necessary, or even appropriate, for all audiences. Do my employers or my business associates need to know my political affiliations or my religious leanings? Do my family members and friends need to know about the latest eMarketer report, the latest news from TechCrunch or what social media conference I’m planning to attend next? Does anyone care about the amazingly delicious dinner I’m about to have? (Slow cooked carnitas with fresh pico de gallo, if you do). Maybe I need to just throw it all out there and see where it goes. Because if I’m not being real with the internet, how can accept that I’m being real with myself – Wow. Deep. And also ridiculous. But let’s pretend that true…

So going forward, I’m going to consider this blog a personal experiment. I’m going to try something a little bold (for me) and see where it goes.  This blog is going to be a full representation of me.  It will be no-holds-barred – all the things taboo, mundane, creative and quirky. It will live here for the world to see – and we’ll see how long it takes for me to get comfortable with the idea of leading my friends, family and associates here to behold the reluctant blogger with the fear of living out loud.

Constance McMillen

Yesterday, it happened again. I lost my entire day to Huffington Post. A teenager in Mississippi, named Constance McMillen, is embroiled in a fight with her high school over the school’s request she not attend the prom with her girlfriend. While the school didn’t explicitly tell her that she was barred from going because she’s a lesbian (they instead referenced some nonsense about how students historically attended the prom stag to save money), she contacted the ACLU sensing that her civil rights were being violated. The ACLU sent the school a letter. Then, strangely, a week later the school board canceled the prom citing “distraction” and “safety” concerns. Now a lawsuit has been filed by the ACLU in an attempt to get the school board to reinstate the prom.

While I’m not gay, I wholeheartedly support gay rights. In fact, I wish more straights would speak out and express their support for the gay community – especially when it counts at the polls.

The issue in Mississippi is terribly sad, and not likely isolated. Intolerance and ignorance are found all over, but I’ve always found it interesting that those who most frequently exhibit intolerance are those from rural areas that are low on education and big on Jesus.

Speaking of tolerance, I’m not about to bash the bible. I know what it says about homosexuality (along with many other things to which I don’t personally subscribe). I can accept that certain sects of religion frown upon homosexuality, and they are constitutionally free to do so. It’s why I find another story out of Colorado, about a preschooler who was kicked out of a catholic school because his parents are lesbians, deplorable but acceptable. I mean, why parents would choose to send their child to a school that indoctrinate children to a religion that vehemently opposes their way of life is beyond me anyway. There must be other schools, private or public that will give this kid a comparable education, and there are certainly more inclusive religious institutions that uphold other, less hateful, tenants of Catholicism.

Anyway – back to Mississippi…

I think Constance McMillen is really brave for taking on this fight. It’s not something she went looking for – she was being herself and following the rules by seeking permission to bring a date to the prom. It’s positively shameful that this school would dash the hopes of all the junior and senior students who were looking forward to attending the event and make this poor girl a scapegoat for their extremely misguided, irresponsible and hurtful decision. It’s also a bit ironic that they would cite distraction and safety concerns for reasons to cancel the prom when they are now under the glare of the media spotlight AND have also placed a target on the back of a student – who will most certainly experience a backlash from small-minded classmates that will blame her for “ruining it for everyone.”  I would hope these simpletons wouldn’t resort to violence – but it wouldn’t be unreasonable to suspect they might.

On the Huffington Post boards, a couple of people have suggested that she should get out of town as soon as she graduates, to escape the bigotry of the yokels. Maybe she’s already counting down the days. But I can’t help wondering if she’s given any thought to staying in Mississippi. While I’m sure she’d have been just as content to go about daily life without the media firestorm directed her way, she has proven that she’s not afraid to fight for her rights, and now she’s got a very public face and voice to advocate for others in her position. Obviously, she would need to decide what’s best for her, her future, her spirit and of course her safety. But if she wanted, she could be another force for change in a community that clearly has a lot to learn about tolerance. I’m sure she isn’t the only gay person in this small town – and there are probably a few kids there that could really use an ally. She could fight to see that this sort of disgrace doesn’t happen in Mississippi again.

I can’t claim to know what gays go through. I’d never suggest that the fight would be easy, and hell – outside of going to the prom – she might not even care. But right now, with the assistance of all the people that have come forward to voice their support, she’s probably better suited to help turn the hearts and minds of Mississippians than anyone else.

I do believe the people who use their religious conviction as an excuse for hatred and bias can still learn tolerance, if not acceptance.  And speaking of conviction, I think Constance can teach us all a thing or two about that.

I look forward to following her story and will continue to cheer her on…as I also continue to avoid all the things I should be doing – like work.

I usually try not get too caught up in celebrity antics. I really don’t care about people who, because they have money and don’t have to work, just waste their lives and have real people feel sorry for them. Everyone fights their own demons – these guys aren’t special.  I think it takes a particularly narcissistic and insecure person to want to be famous anyway. Maybe it’s his mom’s fault for putting him in the biz when he was a kid. Maybe he’d have met this end regardless.

It might have been nice to see this guy get it together and land himself a sitcom like Doogie Howser or Ducky. It certainly would’ve been a better career move than doing The Two Coreys reality show.  You know you’re really in trouble when Feldman writes you off because of your drug problem.

I’m not really shocked by the death of Corey Haim. I’m not even all that sad. Maybe there was a time when I “dreamed a little dream” of being Mrs. Corey Haim, but for all those Tiger Beat articles I read, it’s not like I ever knew the guy. It is a shame he appears to have wasted his life, and never got the help he needed. But when something like this happens, all it really does is make me nostalgic.

Here’s to you, Mr. Haim.

Let’s take a walk and see where the path goes; shall we?