The Time is now...

I was raised in a very conservative evangelical household. This led to beliefs that were often harmful to those who were wanting to live in peace, love who they love and simply have the same rights as everyone else.

I am not proud of that. I often feel shame and guilt over it. But, it started with a conversation. When I got outside of my sheltered upbringing and started to have conversations with people I cared about, my own cognitive dissonance started to sound. Everything I thought was flipped on its head. Because what I realized is my friends, my family were just who they were. Authentically.

The challenges my friends and family experienced in regards to mental health were because they were constantly being told there was something wrong. Clobbered with verses and not accepted by those they should be able to trust most in this world for safety and community.

I learned a great deal about lived experience. I learned about the peace people felt when they embraced who they were. And I will be damned if I contribute to someone not feeling the peace they deserve.

When our brains align with our values, that is where we find peace. And that is where I have grown to embrace the LGBTQ+ community. I call out to those who have the most privilege to stand with me in celebrating the genuine humanity of those who are often under attack. We should instill Pride in the humanity of those who are just who they were meant to be.

I have learned there are 3 ways to stand up for others in allyship. Stand in front when under attack to shield and provide rest, Stand behind in empowerment to lift up and support the voices of those who are ready to stand in courage and speak out about their lived experience, and to embrace and walk alongside, arm in arm, so there is safety, comfort and love embracing each person.

It is not always easy to understand when and where to show up but I call out that the time is now to try. The time is now, for people to feel safety from those of us who have not always embraced or understood the damage we have caused. The time is now for us to embrace our shared humanity, embrace all the love we can muster and shield those who are most under attack.
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We must reject the inhumanity shown by so many and embrace the humanity of everyone. We must fight for equality, for all we may claim to love. The time is now….

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Author

Andy Manthei is currently a Business Development Specialist with GreenPath Financial Wellness. Andy has been in financial services for 17 years, first as a branch manager and loan officer for a financial institution before becoming a certified counselor at GreenPath and eventually moving into a role focused on bringing financial wellness to the masses through partnerships. Andy is trained in human centered design thinking, which has given him a rich canvas of experience in empathy, in understanding financial institution challenges as well as drawing on the insights from his heart to heart, one on one conversations with people all along the spectrum of financial health. He is particularly passionate about financial health for all in America. Connect with him on LinkedIn.

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