homophobia doesn't mean fear, it means that you're an asshole

says a random bumper sticker, yet you may be the one exception. you recoil

from any display of joy, thinking it's too vulnerable

thinking that every little stim and twitch is the same thing

as an attempt to incite—

 

on the first day of freshman year you elected

to ask me if i was inciting a riot

and i still haven't figured out

why you thought this.

 

today you still asked if i was, and i quote,

turning the freaking frogs gay—parroting faux news—

i'm never really sure which of your opinions

are your rightful property, formed within the spirals

 

and undulating pulses of your mind

and which are just cribbed from Tucker &

his bros. never really sure how you can tell

everyone that you're not gay, yet center your whole life

 

on the fact that other people are. you think about it

more than i do. these spaces are inhospitable

and so are you.