E Pluribus Unum: I am We

, out of many, one. This is intended to signify unification and inclusion for the people of the United States. , a cis-gendered, gay man, have come to appreciate the meaning in a different way. The following poem is a critical reflection of how came to understand , as a member of an interconnected society. This piece reflects my lived experiences as an out of the mainstream masculine male, despite my white privilege. In the poem, I include a powerful derogatory word often used by others to destructively affect queer people like me. I have altered the appearance of the word to lessen any additional hurt it might produce. I hope this poem encourages a recognizing, understanding, and respecting of the uniqueness and differences among us. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).