Recently I was asked to give an address to some middle school students in Oregon City about the importance of embracing diversity. I shared with them our nation's history of hate speech, turning into discrimination and violence against the LGBTQ+ and against all marginalized communities in our society. I also told them my own personal experiences as the victim, the focus of America's hatred, discrimination and violence.

When I look at this generation what I see is the miracle, a miracle I and many of my generation devoted our lives to create. They are a beautiful miracle of diversity I never thought I would live long enough to see. But this miracle is under threat from the recent increase of racist and anti-LGBTQ rhetoric and violence. 

I asked these middle school students to help me defend the beautiful miracle of diversity they are and remember, never forget the high cost of hatred.