"Soldier's Girl"

Wow. I just watched on of the saddest gay movies I've seen. Based on a true story about a soldier, Barry Winchell, who fell for a trans-gender drag star. Barry, a quiet but kindhearted individual, was harassed by two of his "fellow" soldiers, his "brothers", up to a point where he was beat to death by one. I'm a sucker for romances, especially in a situation so diverse, so beautiful.. one unique love that could do nothing but thrive without the interference of homophobics & "army conduct". Love is such a beautiful, special feeling.. how would someone have the nerve to ruin that for someone, murder someone, because of physical aspects of one's natural, exterior body? It's insane..

This movie makes me really sad, but glad to see that such real life issues are exposed, showing how hideous & wrong the two soldiers harassing Barry were. I know, especially in this day & age, this same situation occurs on a regular basis. This movie hits me deep because it hits "home".. on a much less severe level, of course. To not be accepted by your own "family" for whatever you choose to do, or feel you are, not having that support.. I know that if I have kids one day, I won't attempt to shape them. I will try my best to understand them. I will teach them facts & things they need to know & be told, but I would NEVER try & change who they feel they are. "Everyone is entitled to a private life", as the soldiers in the movie say. However, I would kill for my parents to try to understand me, to jump out of their boxed shells of what they call a life they "built", to see who their daughter is deep inside. Uncovered. Exposed. Underneath it all. I would kill for them to be a part of my life, to be close to me, connected.. but that will never be until they accept that I am my own free spirit & what "I am" is out of their control.


I AM. & You ARE. No one can shape another individual. We just ARE. & NOTHING can change that.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barry_Winchell

Barry,
Rest knowing you're story is so moving that it has more than potential to open the eyes of those who can't accept another's way of life & the energy to inspire the rest of the world to live freely.
Rest in Peace.