I’ve never quite gotten used to seeing you walk around so blinded by your own privileges you can’t see the pavement you’re walking on is actually me.

But dear straight people, I have learned to love you. I have learned to love strangers, friends, teachers and family that, for whatever reason, don’t understand their moral obligation to protect the rights of someone like me.

I have learned to love you straight people, for who you are. Even when you think it is a compliment to assume everyone is straight like you. Straight people, your sexual orientation is not a default. It is not a compliment to say “I didn’t think you were gay when I first met you.” Your heteronormativity is not what I strive for nor want.

I have learned to love you straight people, even though you don’t have to defend your heterosexuality. You don’t have to sit and listen to others in your class debate your right to get married. Straight people, your history is actually taught in university classes. Your community is not avoided as a blemish in history. Instead, your history is revered.

I love you straight people, who don’t even realize that your sex education is the only one actually taught in school. Your people are not disproportionately affected by HIV. People don’t ask you how you have sex. Your community isn’t accused of being pedophilic. Your sexual orientation is not criminalized in over 78 countries. Instead, your sexual orientation is incentivized by the government.  

I have learned to love you straight people, who can walk in public with a significant other without people staring, yelling, whispering, cringing or avoiding you. You do not look around to see who’s watching when you hold hands, because what is there to fear? You are not scared of getting killed, like far too many in the queer community have, because of who you love. 

Straight people, no one looks in your eyes to tell you that you’re going to hell for being straight. No one tells you they want straight people to burn to death. People don’t try to convince you to change your sexual orientation. People don’t ask you why you “chose” to be straight. You don’t have to pronounce your sexuality and “come out” to anyone.

Dear straight people, you are not forced to question anything about your sexuality. Your straight privileges go unchecked. And then when you do check them, you expect praise for being an “ally.” Straight people, being a decent human being was expected of you when you were born. Thank you to those who are living up to that expectation, but you deserve nothing for allowing someone else their human rights, because you do not get that power to begin with.

Straight people, you hurt the queer community. You keep us down and rule a system that will always oppress us unless you take that privilege and use it to create real systemic change.

No matter how much I cringe when you people take almost every political office in the country or  use religion to take away my rights — I know that loving you is the only option.

I have learned to love all of you, straight people, because I cannot preach acceptance without loving you no matter how dead set you are on hating a queer person like me.