When Clay performed in “The Work”, I was lucky enough to be there more than once. Each time I teared up when he began to sing “Celebrate Me Home”. I’m not sure why. It’s a pretty song, but was never one of my holiday classics. I think it was the word home that got to me. Here’s one line of that song – “It’s time I found myself totally surrounded in your circles.” I don’t remember that line in particular, but it certainly seems meaningful now.
Saturday night, for the first time that I know of, Clay was able to publicly be surrounded in the circle of gay and lesbian acceptance. I think that this is huge! We, as fans, know some of Clay’s struggle for acceptance. I am positive that we don’t know all of it, nor should we. I suspect that acceptance in Clay’s inner circle of close friends and associates may have come sooner, but public acceptance? Yeah, that took a little longer.
Think of the fear that Clay must have experienced. Fear of letting people down, fear of losing friends and fans, fear of the letting go of dreams and plans he may have once had. We know he’s a pretty tough cookie. We know what he has been able to rise above. We know of the adjustments he’s been able to make in order to survive in a world of bullies and critics and the insane music industry. We’re so proud of him and many of us have learned from him when facing our own situations.
Bullies and critics and the “industry” are small time, though, when compared to acceptance of who one truly is. In the past year I think we have seen a happier, more open and more content Clay. We have seen that his self acceptance has allowed him to live without fear. We have seen him be able to be more trusting since he no longer is hiding a “secret”. We have seen his fans embrace him and his new self identity. Some folks weren’t able to do that, but most of us are right here where we have always been.
Saturday night at the GLAAD awards, we heard Clay say “our” community. He said it proudly and without fear of consequence.
It was a celebration of home.
by QBbabe
Saturday night, for the first time that I know of, Clay was able to publicly be surrounded in the circle of gay and lesbian acceptance. I think that this is huge! We, as fans, know some of Clay’s struggle for acceptance. I am positive that we don’t know all of it, nor should we. I suspect that acceptance in Clay’s inner circle of close friends and associates may have come sooner, but public acceptance? Yeah, that took a little longer.
Think of the fear that Clay must have experienced. Fear of letting people down, fear of losing friends and fans, fear of the letting go of dreams and plans he may have once had. We know he’s a pretty tough cookie. We know what he has been able to rise above. We know of the adjustments he’s been able to make in order to survive in a world of bullies and critics and the insane music industry. We’re so proud of him and many of us have learned from him when facing our own situations.
Bullies and critics and the “industry” are small time, though, when compared to acceptance of who one truly is. In the past year I think we have seen a happier, more open and more content Clay. We have seen that his self acceptance has allowed him to live without fear. We have seen him be able to be more trusting since he no longer is hiding a “secret”. We have seen his fans embrace him and his new self identity. Some folks weren’t able to do that, but most of us are right here where we have always been.
Saturday night at the GLAAD awards, we heard Clay say “our” community. He said it proudly and without fear of consequence.
It was a celebration of home.
by QBbabe
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