Patience may be a virtue, but it is not infinite. I recall the response my mother gave to that quintessential neighbor who seemed to delight in testing my mother’s boundaries for less than noble reasons. My mother’s response was delivered with proportional grace and conviction: “I may have a plethora of patience, but it appears that your presence requires me to replenish it more often than I care to at the moment.” Let’s fast forward to 2026, and I have my signature response

You may recall a time, not that long ago, in your town or a town close by, when it seemed less challenging to be a friend, supporter, ally, or advocate for the LGBTQ+ community. Whether it was a family member, colleague, friend, or neighbor, you offered your support with minimal thought, if any, to unfavorable reactions by others or having your support criticized. It increasingly feels like a profile in courage or drawing a definitive line in the sand that may result in doxin

In the Communities section of People of All Colors Together Jersey City’s (PACT JC) website, you may have already perused my original work entitled “If We Advocate”.