When we were in New York in 2010, I made several new friends. Among them is one man who some of my American friends may know, as he does a lot of work for radio shows and TV, has many charity projects and is in general a quite public person. His name is Max Tucci. I yesterday got to know that one of the charities he was supporting did something incredibly stupid and insulting: they rejected his support. Why? Because Max is gay.
In 2010, Max came to meet me in Central Park with his incredibly fit grandmother. She had done yoga her whole life long and was thus still very flexible. We had a nice time together and some good talks then as well as later, when Max interviewed me for his radio show. I already felt then that there was a man in front of me with an open heart, someone who has the wish to support others in every way possible. It was via facebook that I read of the many projects he is engaged in for doing exactly that.
A few days ago, Ramona and I looked through a few pictures that Max had shared of a charity event he and his friends had hosted or organized. They had all dressed up in ‘drag’ – a word that I just learned and which means that these men wore fancy women’s clothes and colourful make-up along with high heels and wigs. They were on stage, dancing, probably singing as well and obviously having a great time while raising funds for a charity called Neighbours 4 Neighbours, helping poor families in America.
They raised a lot of money for this great cause and while we here, across the globe and in a country where such an event is nearly unimaginable, were amazed and happy about this, some people much closer were obviously not. Max was contacted by another charity that he had given much time and effort to: they disapproved. I may have to add that they consider themselves ‘conservative Christians’. Even Max’s reply that Jesus loved everyone and told his disciples to do the same was completely ignored. Of course, it hurt my friend that the time, love and effort he had given to these people was not valued and worse, that they believed him not to have morals, simply because he is who he is.
I am writing all of this here in my blog as a support for Max, as another proof that there will always be people criticizing you, no matter how much good you do and finally to say once more that we all are equal.
I am not actually surprised to read about such actions from a religious organization. The more religious people are, the more narrow-minded they get, no matter in which religion. It doesn’t matter whether it is Hinduism, Christianity, Islam or others, they just stay stubbornly on their point, written and fixed in outdated scriptures. That’s how many people, including me, get turned off from organized religion! They preach love but at the same time discriminate against loving people simply because of whom these people love! I consciously don’t write ‘decide to love’ because it is not a decision, love comes from inside and is pure, regardless of gender!
So I want to say to my friend Max and to everyone else on this planet who wants to do good for others and is, while doing that, being insulted due to gender, sexual preference, personal habits or race: don’t let them get to you! Draw strength out of the knowledge that you helped someone in need. Keep on loving and spreading the love by authentically being who you are!
And should you ever need a time-out, a place to just be you and spend time among those children whom we help every day, our Ashram is open to you at any time.
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