In this deeply personal episode, I share my thoughts about how far we have come, and how far we still have to go regarding universal human dignity. Throughout history, humans have exercised and practiced various forms of control, which Yuval Noah Harari refers to as the myths that create our culture in his book, "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind." These controls have dictated who belongs and who doesn’t within society.

I argue for an end to dehumanization, for a more critical reflection of rigidly held religious beliefs, and I express dismay at the fear and hatred of LGBTQ2S+ people and the neglect of the arts and technology we queer people have created and contributed to the betterment of society.

The only way forward in creating a universal human dignity is to hold loving, open-minded, compassionate, and non-contentious dialogue with those who are willing to participate in these potentially challenging conversations, which have the potential to transform social norms and morality as we know them.

• The Normal Heart
• Larry Kramer In Love and Anger
• Tao Te Ching. Stephen Mitchell or Gia-Fu Feng & Jane English translation.
• Brené on Words, Actions, Dehumanization, and Accountability
• Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari
• Stride Toward Freedom: The Montgomery Story by Martin Luther Dr. King Jr. (Chapter VI: Pilgrimage to Nonviolence).

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