Thirteen years ago I was cited for trespassing at the University of Notre Dame and barred for life from returning to any property owned by the university on penalty of arrest.
My infraction?
I spoke with Daniel, a student at Notre Dame, and gave him more information about LGBT-affirming events planned in his community.
That student came to a dinner that night that the Equality Ride was hosting at a local church. He came to our film screening and discussion at a local community center the next day. Before our bus pulled out the morning after, he stopped by our hotel lobby with band t-shirts to give us.
Daniel is from Los Angeles. I met up with him a few years later, when we were both back in Los Angeles. He’s come out to all his friends and family. He started going back to church again. A joy and contentment radiated from him that had only been started to peek out when I first met him.
I asked recently, does any of this matter? Does our activism and conversations and planting small seeds matter?
Yes. It matters to Daniel.
The cost might seem high, but if a young student can learn to love theirself, I would risk arrest all over again.
Have you planted seeds that came to fruition (in small or grand ways)? Would you consider sharing with me?