We are all in the same struggle, we are all in this together. Simonetta Lein
Gay, straight, white, black, Latino: when someone suffers a part of us does too. We live in a world where everyday anger comes just simply comes out. I am Orlando is also I am Paris, I am Gaza, I am Syria and many others tragedies where the most recent pain supplants the previous one. We however, do not. We are all humans, some of people seam to forget what this means, the rest of us have a moral obligation to be active in trying to heal this planet. We can start with being a better person in our everyday life and fighting for those of us who are weaker, those people whose destiny was as fortunate: the innocent victims. A few months ago I had the pleasure of meeting a great actor in Los Angeles. We got together at a bar on Melrose Place while I was there with my publicist and mutual friend Tracie May-Wagner. Jai Rodriguez is an "American actor and musician best known as the culture guide on the Bravo network's Emmy-winning American reality television program Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. He has also co-authored a book with the other Queer Eye hosts. Rodriguez starred as Geoffrey in the ABC sitcom Malibu Country from 2012 to 2013."
Jai is an extraordinary performer and a LGBT community activist. Right after the Orlando tragedy he posted a very powerful video: with tears streaming down his face he spoke about the importance of acting and reacting after such a disgrace. I was shocked when some main stream media outlets wrote: 49 gays are dead. 49 gays? I was immediately disgusted and shocked. They were simply 49 people, 49 young sons and daughters who will never go back home. We are still neglecting human rights by not allowing and accepting people for who they want to be. I hope that everyone of my readers will join us in a sensibilization battle -- where together -- we say enough to hate, violence, and discrimination.
When you were a child, did you wish for the career and for the life that you have manifested today?
As a child I did not really think that I would have worked in the show business industry. I am a born actor, my mother told me that if I didn't go to collage I would have been on my own. The only thing I was really good at was acting. I had no choice but to follow my passion and I got an important job before having to sign for collage. Being an actor was my destiny.
Name a wish that you had for your life or for humanity that finally came true.
The acceptance of the gay and LGBT community in television and in the main stream.
** We met the first time right after gay marriage became legal in America. This certainly was a very important step in the right direction. From now on we ALL need to stick together, LGBT rights are human rights, they represent a sign that we can change humanity for the better. Until we reach the point where every right is everybody's right we will feel fragmented and will never be at peace. I know this battle is long and hard but think about slavery: nobody thought it was possible to eradicate it yet there became point when so many people found it completely disgraceful they decided to stick together in the name of human rights. We are in a different historic time, today we can fight with words, the internet can help us immensely. Please let's spread as many important message as possible. At stake is humanity. Talk to your friends, neighbors, and co-workers about the pay it forward philosophy, get informed, get active. We are all in this TOGETHER.
If you were granted one wish for humanity or for our planet, what would it be?
I think we are a lot more alike than unlike. I want us to celebrate and honor what we have in common as human beings.
If you could go back in time and ask one question from anyone from history, who would you want to meet and what question would you ask?
I would want to talk to Jesus. I would ask him directly if people got what he was preaching in the right or in the wrong way.
**I think about this myself a lot. I personally believe that anyone who really reads for any spiritual guide will honor, respect, and love (in every form). We need to understand that we, as humans, are nobody to judge other people's choices and that instead we should celebrate what makes us different and unique, as long as it doesn't hurt anyone. I feel that every spiritual leader would have a lot to say about this (everyone thinks their religion is right). For sure we all can understand that neither Jesus or Siddhartha nor other great philosophers will ever support violence, especially when it is done in their names.
Please tell me what influences your unique sense of style?
Growing up in New York I got the sense of so many styles. What you wear will show your personality. If I have a bad day I always wear a funny pair of underwear to cheer me up.
** We changed subject a little. To win a fight you have to be motivated and happy. I never thought about a funny pair of underwear to cheer me up, it is definitely something I will follow up on.
Who is your favorite fashion designer or brand right now and why?
I absolutely love D Squared. I always try to find pieces that are masculine but particular, I like when they mix denim with zippers. And their underwear make you feel super sexy.
** Good to know, I will share it with my husband.
What is your fashion mantra?
Fashion should make you feel good. If you do not like it do not wear it.
** I always ask a fashion question because fashion is really a way to make you feel better, it could be used therapeutically to make you feel sexier, braver, and more appropriate for whatever you have to do. Fashion to me is love, the external that reflects the internal you, and for this reason you should put all your possible attention into it.
What is your final message for our readers?
There is a large sense of frustration that follows these acts of violence. We can all see ourselves in the victim's faces: they were very young. It is a time when I think that as a community we have to come together, not only with prayers but with our actions but also with money to support the families of the victims. I strongly believe that weapons that are intended for war shouldn't be in the hands of those who shouldn't have them. In my personal opinion I would prefer that the average American wouldn't have access to those weapons. We are not part of a society that has proven to be able to handle that responsibility. In times of crisis it is up to the performers to entertain and for a brief moment to make the audience feel slightly better. That is what I did when 9/11 happened and that is what I will do. I do not want to live in fear, my hope is that we will keep on opening ourselves up on how we feel about what happened in Orlando but also we need to find some way to take action.
I implore you: if you have a network of people, if you know that your voice can be heard, please make sure you that you will be. I hope that together we can demand to change legislation, to change the attitude of ignorance and indifference, to change the fact that in so many cities in the world you can still be fired for being LGBT, you can be kicked out of your home for being LGBT, family members do not respect you because you are LGBT. Now is time to make our hands dirty, we are powerful as a community, it is time now to change. I encourage you to link each other and I am putting myself out there: if you have anything that will benefit, an related event , a fundraiser, etc.. please let me know, I will promote them and I will attend them if I am in town. This is such an important time in American history to honor those who have been lost, we have to try to make their lives matter. It is up to us to try and make some physical change out there. This was not simply terrorism, this was a hate crime.
** I feel this cause so close to my heart, I have many friends in the LGBT community and this is for you guys. As a human, I strongly feel that it is due time that we all fight together to respect our rights and as Jai said, please do not let those young people die in vain. I also want to send my deepest prayers to singer Christina Grimmie that also died in those terrible days in Orlando. Too much craziness is in the world today, too many weapons in the hands of those who should not have them. I personally choose to live everyday trying to be a better person, I hope you all will pay attention to this. This is not just sending wishes, it is deciding to make a difference in this world, coming together as a big community: humans.
Thank you so much Jai, for those who are in Los Angeles please go and see this amazing performer, for those who want to be active please write us here and on our social media. A big shout out to The Wishwall Foundation and to We Take Note that together are committed to fighting discrimination.
As always, make your dreams come true.
From Philadelphia, The Wishmaker Simonetta Lein.
Credits: Raphael Amabile Editor, Giovanni Gastel Photographer
In loving memory of the Orlando victims. You will not be forgotten.
Simonetta Lein Social Media
Jai Rodriguez Social Media