As a gay man, Harvey Fierstein has lived through eras in which gays were marginalised and ostracised. We may all be familiar with stories of gay men who did not ‘come out’, for fear of being marginalised in a variety of ways. In other words, they were bullied into silence and so lived in a cloak of shame. 

For women, there are still double standards when compared to men, and it is still easy to find yourself in situations in which you are ostracised and marginalised in ways that your male counterparts would never be subject to. However, what do you do when these situations arise? Do you conform to the expectations of others? Do you disregard who you are, or your own wants and needs? 

According to Harvey, no. Who you are and how you choose to define yourself matter. More importantly, it is important that you are your own advocate, and not allow yourself to be made a victim of others.  

 

Throughout the day, we invite you to revisit this quote. Below are a few questions you may wish to ask yourself, and those who journal may find them especially useful:  

• Can I recall a situation in which I felt marginalised or ostracised? 
• Have I ever felt that others had defined me differently than I had defined myself? 
• If I had to do it all again, how would I have responded differently in a situation in which I felt marginalised or ostracised? 

 

 

Best wishes and have a great day!