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Just read this again, and it still makes me sad.

You deserve to be you. Also, ignore the assholes.

Most people know/have a rainbow person in their life and are cool with it!

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Thank you so much! ❤🌈

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I'm only just now reading this. I'm so sorry.

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Thank you Joe.

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Thank you for sharing this, ziggy.

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I wish I had at least 100 friends like you. These assholes don't know a THING about you except they think you're someone they can eff with. They are SO wrong--but that doesn't help you with their bullshit.

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Thank you Eileen.

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Ziggy, you are one of the kindest, funniest, most capable people I know. Just think how lousy it would be to wake up every morning being such a miserable, ignorant and hateful creature, as that troll does!

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Thank you so much Lil Snot.

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I'm so sorry that happened to you, and equally sorry for the country it happened in, as welll as the year being 2023.

I'm not going to lie, as a soon 66 year old faggot I programmed myself many years ago, 70s high school years, to be exact to never allow other's opinions about myself to dictate my moods. It has kept me sane. Though it's a derogatory word to be certain, I am of the belief, for myself of course, similar to why many Black's have taken charge of a far more evil, derogatory word used agsnst them..I too have taken that and any other words and use them as weapons against the users As much as I still detest the N word, it's actually becoming a boring word. And I'll take that is a win for now. Though everyone in my tight circle know their not allowed to use it around me. No matter their personal skin tone. Obama, is he a black man, or is he a White man? Skin tone says 2 different answers. Obama is the final answer in his life. Same here.

I'm trying to bring back, We're Queer, we're here, get used to it. (Lacking the shoplifting addiction on the modern T-shirt saying du jour)

I do sympathize for you and your more public life and location. Not that New York is crime happy, just has a Few more people living there than I have in Beaumont, TX. We're actually near number one for violent crimes in cities this size. And miniscule out and proud gays and lesbians, sadly.

Stay diligent and stay safe. Hugs from the conspiracy Wing of the USA. 😀

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Thank you so much Glen.

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Ziggywiggy, you know there’s ONE bunch of us who’ve got your back!

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Thank you Eileen!

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Ugh. So sorry to hear all this. As Kris Kristofferson said to Sinéad, “Don’t let the bastards get you down”!

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Thanks so much Peter.

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I am so sorry, Ziggy. I am only an internet stranger but I love you. You have friends here.

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Thanks so much Primula.

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Don't let the bastards grind you down

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Thanks mvario.

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I was called that in high school and the years around that - mostly for being slightly different and for being friends with the one out gay person in my class, who of course had it much worse. It's a sign of fear, like all bullying -- and cowards bully when they think they're backed up. That's the worst thing bigots bring to this world -- the reinforcement that other cowards have their back. Well they don't. Be safe -- the losers will get their due.

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Thanks Wookies.

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I love you, ziggy. Please know there are so many of us who do.

I hope this non-comment shows up in the right place. If it doesn’t, I’ll find you.

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It did Shan. I love you right back, thank you.

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Love you, Zigs! You're one of the candles in our howling darkness of a world.

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Thanks Jen, that's beautiful thing to say.

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Jeez that's awful; hate never takes a break, but neither do we. Stand strong, Sister.

I moved to NYC in 1987 (and had been part of the Village Punk scene since '84). We probably know each other somehow (or at least went to the same gigs) : )

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Thanks Sedagive. We probably slammed into each other at several shows! I was going every week to hear music.

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Ugh. So sorry to hear that. Everybody here loves and cares about you. The trolls “troll” because they’re miserable garbage humans. Fuck them.

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Thank you LFG!

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Ziggy, I'm so sorry. Nobody deserves this shit.

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Thank you ICC.

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