Well I got called a fag, walking down the street
the cars they’d pass by screamin’ at me
‘cuz I dressed punk rock, ‘cuz I wore tight pants
yeah I was thirteen, I was fucking thirteen

I wanted to react, wanted to break shit
wanted to kick all, their fucking teeth in
I had to prove myself to some fuckheads
but now I realize that’s what they wanted

If you’re not man enough, fucking break shit
if you’re not man enough, kick some teeth in
if you’re not man enough, throw some punches
if you’re not man enough, you’ve gotta prove it

And I’m not innocent, I’ve fucking said shit
that makes me sick to my fucking stomach
because the culture that I grew up in
taught me to fear not looking masculine

I’ve let my friends get away with jokes that would make other friends hate me
I’ve let coworkers be misogynistic, anti-gay and it still bothers me
I’ve had the privilege of being in the background staying quiet, staying patient
Their words burn in my brain but I still let it fucking happen

No I’m not innocent, and I’m not an ally
until I’m being a fucking ally
I have internalized so much venom
and it has kept me from being queer

I’ve been a coward, but I can sing

That every time a kid hears a synonym of gay, the barrel of a gun gets closer to a brain
yeah every time a kid hears a synonym of gay, the quickness of a bullet meets the beauty of a brain