Heather Small - "Proud"
Words don't come easily in the haze and fog of grief, but as I sit here this morning reflecting on Martin Luther King Jr. and the staggering work he did for equal rights, I cannot help but think of my beloved friend Matthew Palazzolo and the tireless work he did for equal rights in the LGBTQI movement, especially during the wildfire of Prop. 8, in California.
While I know their struggles were vastly different, I can't help but think that their spirits were similar, and that their hearts were from the same place. Able to love and care about the world around them even when it didn't care about them. Able to rise up and inspire legions of people to gather and march and stand up for what their believed in. Able to spark action in mobs of angry and frustrated people helping them to peacefully protest and speak their truths rather than run amok or sit silently boiling with anger.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was an incredible man, and while I know today is about him, and his incredible works, I can't help but think that He was one of the people who helped inspire Matthew to fight the tireless fight for my communities equal rights. A line of activists each inspiring the next to fight for the underdog and demand equality.
So today, I choose Heather Small's iconic "Proud" as my, thank you for your service, I am proud of you, I am proud because of you, song for a, stand up and shout, make your voice be heard, "Never be silent - Never blend in", Monday.
I love you Matt.