By: Sejal Sangani
disclaimer: this is a spoken word poem but ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

pledging allegiance to half the flag

i pledge allegiance to the LGBTQ+ community,
to rainbow flags,
and to the pride parade,
but none to homophobia.

i pledge allegiance to mental health,
but none to the stigma.
because i know
that my scars
have been with me
longer than most people
choose to stay.

& i pledge allegiance to the women
but none to the patriarchy
because my voice
is just as loud
as anyone else’s.

& i pledge allegiance to diversity
but none to racism
because the color of my skin,
your skin,
her skin,
does not make us unequals.

& i pledge allegiance
to the man
who shut down big orange’s twitter for 11 minutes.
“revenge is best served warm”
my sister says.

& you might tell me
that i stand for
too many things.

& you might tell me
i should choose one
but i won’t
because i pledge allegiance
to the bloody fists and scratchy throats
i am
the bloody fists and scratchy throats of justice.
& i pledge allegiance
to the lovers
to the sufferers
to the dreamers
to the rainbow
i pledge allegiance to half the flag of this country.