I have had the privilege of meeting some incredible people over the last few years of travelling and working abroad. Being able to share stories, memories and feelings with absolute strangers like you have known them forever, is one of the most beautiful connections to make.
These conversations have pushed me to create a section on my website called "The Inspiration". This is because these people, and their stories, are why I continue to explore new places, and love meeting new people. You never know who you are going to stumble across, and who might inspire, or even change your life.
The first persons story that I want to share is the legend that is McKinlee Hand. I met this wonderful human, in Queenstown last year, just as the devastating news of the Orlando shooting at "Pulse" night club was released. Each and every person in the room was as shocked and devastated as the next, but it was clear that there was one person in particular, feeling the pain significantly more.
After the initial shock had slightly passed, I got to sit down with McKinlee, and it was then when I discovered that she grew up in Orlando, and Pulse night club was where she first discovered her community. I couldn't even begin to think of what was going through her head; to see her friends and community go through such a traumatic event must have been heart breaking.
We chatted for about an hour more, sharing our stories of being apart of the LGBT community, and the battles that come with it. We were at very similar parts of our life, in terms of how open we were about our sexuality, and both admitted that we would love to conquer the fear of being 100% open about who we were…… which made what McKinlee did next, one of the kindest, most compassionate and bravest things I have ever witnessed someone do. Im even more appreciative that she shared with me, why it was so important for her to do it.
Enjoy the words by McKinlee Hand:
"Being gay in 2016 is celebrated and breakthroughs are continuously being made, however the negative stigma surrounded when I was outed at 16 left an uneasy feeling in me about it. I reconciled with being outed by believing it gave me the escape to never needing to come out myself. But then I had to come out to my family, my friends I met at college and then over and over again as I have traveled. Although, I have never felt ashamed of who I am, I have never embraced it. It's not something I come out and say early on, I wait until it's a passing fact in a conversation months later because part of me wants to know someone before they know I'm gay. I feel maybe they won't like me if they know this about me. I never posted about relationships online or been vocal about my support for my own community. This left such a weight on my shoulders because I wanted more for myself and those in my community, but I had this fear instilled in me through those who try and tear our world apart and I let it win.
In June of this year my hometown was struck with unimaginable tragedy. 49 LGBT individuals were shot and killed at a club I frequented as a safe haven to be who I truly was. I felt helpless, my friends were in pain, my community was mourning and I was in a small town across the world where I hadn't found the gay community. I sat in my room and in a split moment I made a decision. I will not be silent, I will not be ashamed of who I am and I will not sit back no matter where I am in the world and be afraid of what people may think of me. I posted on a community board about my feelings towards home and how I wanted to do something, anything to show people that I love them and that people across the world love them. Hundreds of people liked and commented on this post and then hundreds more came by as I sat outside all day with a sign for people to write on. I spent the day talking, hugging and listening to complete strangers who love my community as much as I do. One guy even brought the poster to Orlando and placed it at the nightclub and another got a rainbow flag to fly at half mast in Queenstown.
This was not only the first time I have ever shared my orientation on social media but it was the first time that I ever stood up for my community at all and I felt nothing but love and support. It was liberating, unreal even. I want to stand up with my generation to help make this world a more accepting and safe place for the LGBT community and I want to never let this fear of feeling unworthy because of my sexual orientation to stop me from traveling and being open.
Since then I have gotten my own version of an equality tattoo on my forearm, nothing I ever expected of myself and I have felt more comfort and acceptance than I ever have in the 7 years I have known who I am. I honestly think the world would be a better place if we were all just brutally honest with our feelings. I do not feel that any negatives can come from standing up and saying you've struggled and you've overcome and you're right here for those wanting to do the same. I think this will help us humans to be more compassionate towards others. No matter what kind of love you have to give, the world will always be better because of it."
- McKinlee Hand - 2016
This message, for me, gave me hope. It made me realise how amazingly strong people are.
No matter what difficulties you face, or insecurities you feel - never let them get in the way of who you are, or what you believe in. If it feels good inside, then it is the right thing to do. You should never hold back from something based on someone else's view, or an opinion they may have on you. As soon as you start living someone else's life, your own one starts to lose track of its direction, and that is so much worse.
I had so much pride to see someone in my community, confidently stand in public, asking people to show their love and support for the same community that was in so much pain. I was inspired by someone who was simply asking the world to love one another, and however simple a task that may seem, it is one of the bravest things I have witnessed.
McKinlee Hand, along with so many others, are an inspiration to a community that I am extremely proud to be a part of. Many people still find it hard to discover the pride in who they are. So if you take anything a way from this message, let it be this - Be kind, love as much as you can and be everyone's team mate. See in people what they don't see in themselves, and be the inspiration for everyone that crosses your path - You never know who's life you might change.