Through Adversity, Grows Love (February 9, 2019)

Should feel relieved

Bruce McArthur been sentenced

Twenty-five years

Before parole eligibility

At the age of 91.

For his sadistic murders

And dismemberment

Of eight men.

Whom

He had sexual involved

Before strangling them.

And yet

Within my heart

Anger and vengeance burns.

Crying out

At the injustice done

To Toronto's LGBTQ+ community.

Can't help wondering

If all of the victims

Were straight white men

The investigation been different.

Given the insitutalization

Of racism and LGBTQ+ bias

Well documented

Of this police force.

Vindictive bathhouse raid

Thirty-eight years ago

Operation Soap

That needlessly destroyed

So many closeted men

With their forced outings.

Instead of

Filling Toronto's downtown core

With destructive angry violence.

They marched

Peacefully

For justice and change.

Foundation

Of Toronto's annual

Pride parade celebrations.

Expanded

Over the years

To include

Lesbian and Transgender

Community marches.

Where love is

The message of change

Uniting the straight and LGBTQ+

The cis and transcommunities

As one.

Therisa © 2019