Stay Weird, Stay Different

Media Monday is such a broad category. Usually it's about things coming out in the entertainment industry. Music, movies, almost never books. There were a lot of things I could have written about, but all these weeks later I was still struck by the acceptance speech by Graham Moore

Graham Moore is the screenplay writer of The Imitation Game. I have not seen this movie, but it's gotten amazing reviews. Everyone I know who has gone to see this movie has told me to see it. I am a poor college student who buys shoes instead of going to see movies. 

The concept behind this movie is that it tells the story of Alan Turing this scientist who along with a string of other people solved the enigma code during World War II. I do not know what the enigma code is, but it was very important that it was solved. It helped us win the war or something. I don't know.

Keira Knightley is one of the researchers and I'm sure she looked sexy as usual in the role. Benedict Cumberbatch was in the lead role as Alan Turing. Benedict Cumberbatch is well known for his role in the PBS series Sherlock, which I actually do shamelessly watch. I am not one of those fans who has thirsted over him. That is one thing I am proud to say I haven't done. The character that Benedict Cumberbatch plays in The Imitation Game is openly gay, which in the forties is not something you did. It is believed that he eventually ended up committing suicide because of it.

That really is kind of a driving point behind the movie is that the people who saved World War II were a woman, a gay man, and an Irish man. These were the unlikely people that helped the allies.

Now that really is all just background information on why Graham Moore is relevant, because most of us do not have a vast knowledge of screenplay writers. I did a live post on the Academy Awards, but at the point when Graham Moore came on I was exhausted. I didn't really talk about his speech.

After hearing this speech, I wanted to know more about him. What he said was very straight forward and it did not chase around the point. It made me want to know more about him. I read about him the next day and all I found was that he wasn't 'gay'.

That actually wasn't the question I was asking. It's when he said “she's different or she doesn't fit in” I thought that was a very interesting pronoun choice. Most of the time you use pronouns that you identify with and it made me wonder if Graham Moore didn't identify as a male. In which case I'm using the wrong pronouns, and if you know more then I do on the subject let me know so I can change the pronouns I refer to him by.

There's really never a reason not to talk about suicide. It's such a prevalent solution, that should never be so prevalent. Robin Williams last year, a member of the girl group G.R.L. killed herself, I know someone personally who did it recently. I don't think it's enough for me to say don't do it, someone cares, because once you're at the point you don't think anyone cares, and you just think everything's shitty.

Robin Williams

Simone Battle of girl group G.R.L.

We all have bad days and bad months, and Lord knows bad years. There will always be something better. Always. I really think it's important to find someone that you can talk to about things. That you can be brutally open with. That's what I have with Boomer. I can tell him anything, and I really hope he feels the same way about me.

If you don't have that person or you don't want to bother someone with your problems because there not important. First of all. Your problems are important. Your feelings are fucking valid. They always have been. If there's no one you think you can talk to. You need an outlet for your feelings. Paint, do a hobby, write. Blog about your problems if you want to, because I have no doubt this has cathartic value. Get an anonymous twitter and say whatever your feeling. Get it out there and don't just hold it in. That's so important. 

Cry if you want to. Get in the shower and just cry. You are allowed to have problems and you are allowed to be depressed and you are not broken because of it. These are all things that Graham Moore brought up in less then 30 seconds for everyone to see. That's why I'm so enamored by his speech.

I really don't want to read about another suicide in my life. I don't want there to be another Leelah Alcorn. I want you to realize that you are fine just the way you are. You are not a disappointment. You are not worthless. You are not stupid. Somebody loves you and somebody cares about you and you can always count your favorite blogger in that list. 

Whatever your peers say or the transphobic, homophobic bullshit that your parents say to you every day. Suicide will never be the answer. Don't think that it is, because it's not even an option. 

You don't need to change a single thing, because you're already perfect.