After applying the rigorous, highly scientific method of writing out all the names of all the commenters on my HAHAT post, cutting them out, dumping the name slips into scientifically approved vessel of a hat and shaking said hat vigorously, the winner of my HAHAT prize drawing has been selected! Skeeter Lee is the lucky recipient of a $10 gift certificate to Loose Id! Also, because my goal of ten comments was easily-breezily met, I’ll be donating $25 to GLAAD! Yeah!

Thanks to the organizers of the Hop Against Homophobia and Transphobia. I was truly impressed by all the heartfelt, wonderfully written and powerful articles. I think the links will stay live for awhile if you’d like to go check them out. The quality of the contributors was high and has inspired me to delve deeper and reach higher next year.

The people who really need to read these articles probably won’t stop by a hop against homophobia, but I fervently hope that by banding together to share our experience, strength and hope, we’ve sent some powerful, hate-kicking love out into the universe. In recovery we say that we’re only as sick as our secrets, and society’s long attempt to deny and repress the existence of our LGBTQ citizens has done much more harm than good. Opportunities like this one to share our stories banishes the secrets, lies and shame and shows us that we are all human, all struggling, all trying to be happy and make the most of this human experience. To that I say, yeah, us! Never let your voice be silenced.