happy pride month: a poem

my grandmother noticed the tattooed cross on my ring finger

has changed to a dagger

i diplomatically responded that i

“have chosen to step away from the church”

a phrase i have practiced over and over again

i can say it without feeling anything at this point

she disapproved of this decision.

i could see it in her face.

but what she doesn’t know that it wasn’t my choice to leave.

that i am something that leaves a bad taste in most christian’s mouths.

that i wasn’t safe there.

in her mind

i’m just a silly college girl that doesn’t know what i’m doing.

not someone who has seen more discrimination than she would understand.

and it isn’t fair.

but

who decides what’s fair?