Katerina N Clark wrote this poem after meeting a lot of other gay people and transgender people at a gathering in Auckland. “I was inspired by their stories and struggles and how easy it is to judge someone just by what they look like, it breaks my heart.” Same Sex Spoken word poetry Written by Katerina N Clark I see the mirror staring back at me maybe it's the way I dress that has them questioning stereotype played out in people's minds they focus more on what's on the outside, they say names like fag dyke homo and slut but ya'll are gonna have to do better than that to shut me up because I'm proud and happy being me I almost feel light-headed young, careless and free, so what if I gave you smile? Would that mean I like you? Because in my head I'm just a kind person and it means I respect you, I think people are so focused on labelling each other and put into categories one after another youth are being bullied because of their sexuality but If you gave them a chance you'd realise there is more to their personality, but it's not just the gays I'm talking about here it's transgender who get hate from everywhere, why can't we all just see people as equal and as one? why does it matter where we've been or who we have done? are you afraid that it might turn you on? that you might get that funny feeling and then think it's so wrong? because it's not wrong! it's not wrong to like the same sex! and it's up to you now what you will say or do next, if you're heterosexual and don't give a shit I give thanks to you for not hating one little bit, but if your homophobic then go f*** yourself whoops I didn't mean for that to come out loud, so please everyone stop hating stop judging and stop being a dick because us homosexuals are proud and I personally don't care what you think. Check out more of Clark’s writing here Have lgbti-related writing you'd like to share? Submissions can be emailed to jacqui@gaynz.com Katerina N Clark - 12th January 2015