Really very well said. Had two close family members die in the AIDS crisis while growing up. And while I can now be married to a man with children, I realize this is only because of the work of innumerable people before me. Thank you (and all the others) for dedicating your life and remarkable skill set to making mine better.
It's a travesty that this doesn't have more views/likes. So powerful. A part of history, within living memory, that so many are ignorant of. Sing it Rachel - sing it loud!
Thank you for telling your part of your life story. I was a teenager the start of AIDS. We, in the GLBTQ+ Community, need our history to be told (&/or preserve for) to (the) next generation(s). By people, who were alive during the prior to Stonewall Riots to the AIDS' crisis (& beyond). So that, we don't forget the fights &/or the struggles of the previous generations try to obtain Civil Rights & Laws that we enjoy today.
When Rachel said "Don't let the world make this our shameful secret. We are not the ones who should be ashamed. All our lives, we've been told what not to say. Well sometimes, those are the things that most need to be said," I felt that. It may not have been intended toward myself, as I am not a part of that generation of GLBTQ+, but it resonated so strongly. Thank you, Rachel, for speaking out about such an important part of the GLBTQ+ history. I have the utmost respect for you and your generation.
I had a childhood/lifelong friend die of AIDS. No one said the word. No one even acknowledged that he was gay. His partner who stood by his side throughout that entire medical horror, watching him die was not even asked to serve as pallbearer at the funeral or acknowledged for the partner that he was. I know that it was ignorance and shame on the part of his family, older immigrant people who didn't understand their son's choice. But he was an extraordinarily kind and wonderful human being, who had a kind and wonderful partner. Their union should have been recognized. I hope your message is viewed by many and that it has an impact. Thank you for your voice. All those who died need to hear your voice acknowledging that they lived, they loved, and they were forgotten.
I was too young to fully grasp AIDS (and it ain't like mainstream local news ever went over it in any depths even if I wasn't...6) but I can tell you about Puerto Rico. I had a friend. He was sick with a heart condition and needed a machine to keep him from dying in his sleep before his operation in 3 months. We hooked it up with a converter to the battery. The problem as you might imagine is that a battery can run out over night, so somebody had to be there, revving the car every few hours to keep the machine going. Somebody was me. I had lots of time at night to think, about stuff and shit and Jill Stein. And the thought seeped into me at times, "God this guy's not gonna make it. We can't keep this up. I'm doing this for nothing." But I wasn't doing it for nothing. He lived. He is still alive today. And sometimes I think of the people who didn't have a converter, a car or a me, but /needed it to live/ and my heart breaks.
Benjamin, thanks for this gift. It made me cry, but it also made me more convinced that I made the right decisions each time I refused to "make nice" with bigots. Denial of basic human dignity, and the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness should never be sanctioned; yet our political elites are constantly haggling over who among us "deserves" full citizenship. Thanks for pointing that reality out, so very eloquently and cogently. Does that not point to horrible flaws in our very system of government? Should we not be demanding change to our Constitution and supporting legal code that end this tyranny of the minority, under which we Americans have labored for almost two and one-half centuries? Thank you, Benjamin, for reminding me that those questions are valid, and necessary to be stated, now.
This is quite simply BRILLIANT! You touched my heart in such a way.....I find no words. Only tears. Lots of love to you and the Kinsey Sicks. You are truly amazing!
May they rest in Elysium. May their songs be song forevermore. May their names be spoken for centuries, for none are truly gone while their names are spoken.
I'm a heterosexual 64yr old man with adult sons who are loved by me and my wife of 42yrs. You brought me to tears with your heartfelt out pouring of grief for your fellow man and women. What an advocate for your cause. Be heathy and loved. Thank you. X
This is one of the most heart breaking monologs ever I have listened to this many times and shared with others! Keep up the hard work, it's so needed ❤
No, thank YOU. Most of the men I met in clubs when I was first coming out 20 years ago were in their teens and 20's in the 80's and had stories just like yours. Some of them left us before I was 25 because, while there were drugs that could extend your life for a few years, there were no treatments like there are today. This is why it infuriates me when LGBT people in their teens and 20s act like AIDS/HIV is no big deal, those people need to hear your story and the stories of everyone from your generation that we're lucky enough to still have with us.
Really very well said. Had two close family members die in the AIDS crisis while growing up. And while I can now be married to a man with children, I realize this is only because of the work of innumerable people before me. Thank you (and all the others) for dedicating your life and remarkable skill set to making mine better.
It's a travesty that this doesn't have more views/likes. So powerful. A part of history, within living memory, that so many are ignorant of. Sing it Rachel - sing it loud!
It was shared on Facebook 48 hours ago, and now has 66,000 views.
Thank you for telling your part of your life story. I was a teenager the start of AIDS. We, in the GLBTQ+ Community, need our history to be told (&/or preserve for) to (the) next generation(s). By people, who were alive during the prior to Stonewall Riots to the AIDS' crisis (& beyond). So that, we don't forget the fights &/or the struggles of the previous generations try to obtain Civil Rights & Laws that we enjoy today.
When Rachel said "Don't let the world make this our shameful secret. We are not the ones who should be ashamed. All our lives, we've been told what not to say. Well sometimes, those are the things that most need to be said," I felt that. It may not have been intended toward myself, as I am not a part of that generation of GLBTQ+, but it resonated so strongly. Thank you, Rachel, for speaking out about such an important part of the GLBTQ+ history. I have the utmost respect for you and your generation.
I had a childhood/lifelong friend die of AIDS. No one said the word. No one even acknowledged that he was gay. His partner who stood by his side throughout that entire medical horror, watching him die was not even asked to serve as pallbearer at the funeral or acknowledged for the partner that he was. I know that it was ignorance and shame on the part of his family, older immigrant people who didn't understand their son's choice. But he was an extraordinarily kind and wonderful human being, who had a kind and wonderful partner. Their union should have been recognized. I hope your message is viewed by many and that it has an impact. Thank you for your voice. All those who died need to hear your voice acknowledging that they lived, they loved, and they were forgotten.
I was too young to fully grasp AIDS (and it ain't like mainstream local news ever went over it in any depths even if I wasn't...6) but I can tell you about Puerto Rico.
I had a friend. He was sick with a heart condition and needed a machine to keep him from dying in his sleep before his operation in 3 months. We hooked it up with a converter to the battery.
The problem as you might imagine is that a battery can run out over night, so somebody had to be there, revving the car every few hours to keep the machine going.
Somebody was me.
I had lots of time at night to think, about stuff and shit and Jill Stein. And the thought seeped into me at times, "God this guy's not gonna make it. We can't keep this up. I'm doing this for nothing."
But I wasn't doing it for nothing. He lived. He is still alive today.
And sometimes I think of the people who didn't have a converter, a car or a me, but /needed it to live/ and my heart breaks.
Thank you for sharing your story
Benjamin, thanks for this gift. It made me cry, but it also made me more convinced that I made the right decisions each time I refused to "make nice" with bigots. Denial of basic human dignity, and the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness should never be sanctioned; yet our political elites are constantly haggling over who among us "deserves" full citizenship. Thanks for pointing that reality out, so very eloquently and cogently. Does that not point to horrible flaws in our very system of government? Should we not be demanding change to our Constitution and supporting legal code that end this tyranny of the minority, under which we Americans have labored for almost two and one-half centuries? Thank you, Benjamin, for reminding me that those questions are valid, and necessary to be stated, now.
Powerful.
Wow! Thank you!
Magnifique. I am in tears, and you can be so proud of yourself. Much love. I share.
I am in tears.
This is quite simply BRILLIANT! You touched my heart in such a way.....I find no words. Only tears. Lots of love to you and the Kinsey Sicks. You are truly amazing!
That was awesome. Thanks for being so brave!
Powerful! You are a hero! I love you, Rachel, and all the Kinsey Sicks! Sharing this!!
Thank you, Rachel!
Thank you Rachel, powerful monologue. I graduated in 1981 as well, but in Florida.
Thank you, Benjamin for saying what needed to be said, and heard.
The very best thing I've seen all day. Thank you.
This is amazing - you are amazing! Going to miss you Rachel/Ben - have a happy retirement, you have earned it
KennedyFan (sniff, sniffle) Retirement? 😢
Yes. After this tour Rachel/Ben is retiring. Ben will still be writing for the group apparently but the tours, etc are over.
This is wonderful and true and I recognise so much of what you say. Thank you. You are amazing.
Thank you beautiful brother.
I can’t watch this video without sobbing.
Very well said, Rachel. Thank you for sharing this powerful story.
May they rest in Elysium. May their songs be song forevermore. May their names be spoken for centuries, for none are truly gone while their names are spoken.
So proud to be able to say I know you, and call you my friend. Amazing.
Thank YOU x
I love this monologue! Deserves more views.
powerful.
I'm a heterosexual 64yr old man with adult sons who are loved by me and my wife of 42yrs. You brought me to tears with your heartfelt out pouring of grief for your fellow man and women. What an advocate for your cause. Be heathy and loved. Thank you. X
Thank you for your kind words!
Thank you! ❤️
This is one of the most heart breaking monologs ever I have listened to this many times and shared with others! Keep up the hard work, it's so needed ❤
Still as powerful as I remember!
Well I don't know what I expected but I cried. Wow.
I really needed this. Thank you.
I've lived through it....Brilliant.....thank you!
Thank you for this piece Rachel! I have shared it with as many people as I think need to see it. So well put and haunting all at once!
Merci
Thank you !! I
So well spoken. I was quite moved
Why doesn’t this have more views?
Thank you for this ❤️
No, thank YOU. Most of the men I met in clubs when I was first coming out 20 years ago were in their teens and 20's in the 80's and had stories just like yours. Some of them left us before I was 25 because, while there were drugs that could extend your life for a few years, there were no treatments like there are today. This is why it infuriates me when LGBT people in their teens and 20s act like AIDS/HIV is no big deal, those people need to hear your story and the stories of everyone from your generation that we're lucky enough to still have with us.
Why do I hear Bingbongs voice
Thank you!- From a Millennial gay woman.