In December I moved to a little SRO on 21st, here in the Metropolitan Apartments.
Now, building conditions leave a lot to be desired — there are pipes coming out of the ceiling and a dude overdosed in the hall a while ago and last week when I went to use the communal bathroom I found the sink detached from the wall with water flowing out into the hallways. But that’s just Metropolitan lyfe; we kick it Republican style up in here. Toilet paper is for Job Creating Real Americans, not poors!
However, even I have my limits.
This morning I went to Fred Meyers to pick up a few things. As I close my door, I see the picture of Batman I drew and my friend colored, like always. It’s a little quick something we dashed off at a drink and draw, no big deal; just my way of adding a bit of art to the world and letting people know I like Batman.
Today, however, the picture is a little different.
I was stunned. Horrified. I glanced around quickly, to see if the offender was slithering away, pen in hand. But it wasn’t until I looked back that disgust and shame began to fill my heart.
This happened in America. This happened in Portland. This happened in 2012. This happened here, in the Metropolitan Apartments, and it makes me sick.
Why would anyone do this?
Batman is a dedicated defender of the public good who fights tirelessly to protect the innocent citizens of Gotham. Time and time again he has triumphed against evil beyond comprehension without ever sacrificing his moral code. He is the hero we need, and for you to denigrate him like this?
I ask you, America — haven’t we come to a point where we can finally get beyond the jokes and insults about his sexuality? Batman has made love to a variety of beautiful women throughout his storied history, and would surely make love to many more if he weren’t so busy saving the world. And even if he hadn’t made love to all those women, would that really diminish his accomplishments? How does being gay make Batman any less totally awesome?
To the person who did this, I want you to know something: you’re an idiot. You’re a very strange idiot, because you for some reason needed to go over the word MAN a couple times so it was bold, which shows a typographical care belied by the fact that you somehow managed to misspell faggot. And I want you to know, as you crawl off to whatever hole you live in, that I will not be cowed by your pathetic slurs.
And I want you to think about this, as you sit in your filth and you snuffle to yourself in the dark — I want this to be the last thought in your tiny little brain, as you drift off to sleep every night:
Batman knows what you did.