Defective Gene 11257 I was born with a Defective Gene 11257. (You’ve got to love scientists! They reduce things that used to be ‘The will of God’ to simple scientific terms. Now my life revolves around a genetic condition that I had no control over...)by Will Gauvin
You see, someone having a Defective Gene 11257 or 11258, once used to class themselves as being queer. Now the governments of the world say that calling someone homosexual, bisexual, or intersexed is politically incorrect, so now our genes class us.
Sure, I have more genetic faults that you can poke a stick at. Hell, everyone around us has a very long list. But nowadays, our ten most defective genes classify us all. Significantly, the ‘most’ defective gene is recorded on our birth certificate.
Even genetic engineering can’t stop anyone having a defect. Legislation is in place to stop the genetic tinkering of cells. The legislation doesn’t stop people from finding out early in their pregnancy and having an abortion if their foetus was not genetically compatible with what they wanted.
So how did I become the 1 in 100 Defective Gene 11257’s? Well, I have to thank my parents for that, but I cannot thank them for anything else. They adopted me out as soon as I was born because I did not fit into their religion and beliefs. Sure, they knew even in the first trimester that I was not ‘non-defective 11257’, but their religion did not allow my parents to have an abortion. So adoption was their only option.
From history, I read that, "1 in 10" people used be classed as "queer", but now the term is, "1 in 100 are Defective 1125x". However, because those who are born with these ‘major’ genetic defects have had to go through the stigma and the vilification of not being quite right, they don’t care what their own child has genetically wrong. In turn, they provide a loving family, although due to their condition they are usually a part of the lower class and do cheap menial jobs to survive.
Two gay males adopted me when I was aged three. They meant a lot to me, and I am happy that they were able to show me the love that my biological parents were afraid to do. They taught me to survive in the world that used science and religion to justify discrimination. My ‘parents’ passed away a few years ago. Their passing saddened me, but now I fight to keep their legacy going.
My life being a "Defective Gene 11257" is not easy. Though legislation is there to ‘protect’ the ‘defective gene underclass’, it still does not stop potential employers looking at my birth certificate. As soon as these employers find the 11257 on my birth certificate, they become either very friendly (sometimes sleazy), or they say, ‘We will be in touch when we have a position for you.’ I am not sure what I hate the most: the ‘sleazy 11257 sitting across from me' or to know that I have been discriminated against because of a number.
One can only hope for a better future for those who consider (or are forced to consider) themselves not quite right. Until they remove the one thing that defines who I am, I am marked for life. I am a free man, as much as a ‘Defective 11257’ can be, but yet each night when I go to bed with my loving wife, I hope one day she doesn’t ask what is ‘wrong’ with me. I could not face losing the person I love the most because of a number.
It is a shame that science, politicians, and religion get things wrong. They should not force upon the masses a system of identification (especially without the whole facts). However, the tests still say I am what I am, and I am not able to change my birth certificate.
To those who read this, I hope that one day you can reclaim the ability to call yourself what ever you want to be. Don’t let others decide for you what you have to be. Just being 1125x defective will not make you homosexual, bisexual, transsexual, intersexed or whatever is classed as ‘queer’, just as much as living with ‘defective’ parents will not make you queer. You are who you are, and remember that we are all different. I will fight for what is right because discrimination sucks.
The good fight
by Miriam English
Are we tired of the good fight yet?
When good men and women feel the tug of gods' duty
and vow to avenge and slake the need for blood.
But fires stoked by blood are only quenched with more blood
...and so around and around again...Are we tired yet?
The good must press on.
god and honor (two mightiest human inventions) demand it.
Good must consume evil.But good and evil, like beauty, depend upon the beholder.
Nay, say the crazed ones: good is absolute!
Evil is absolute!
And our god tells us this...
(we alone have this privileged knowledge)
we dare not relent
we must not flinch
in our sacred duty to the good and true fight.
The threat must be cleansed
god against god; honor against honor
till the last drop squeezed.When will we tire of it?
These gods are surely thirsty demons!