Love is patient, love is kind.

In my office I have a poster with with a picture of a boy and his father kneeling before the Lincoln Memorial with the preamble to the Declaration of Independence quoted at the bottom  It sits across from my desk and for me it serves as a daily reminder that I am working to make those words a reality.

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

See we must live the social change that we desire - I believe that whole heartily. And that is why I continue to work for gay rights and equality; on battling HIV/AIDS; working for a more fair justice system that values people and recognizes that no one is perfect; and it is why I have dedicated my volunteer life over the past three years to working to elevate the issue of LGBTQ partner violence - because no one should have to face being a victim alone.

February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month and it is import to recognize that partner violence even impacts our young people, including our LGBTQ youth. And when I use the term partner violence I don't just mean physical or sexual abuse, it is so much more than that. At the root of partner violence is power and control, it is when somebody uses any means that they can to exert power and control over their partner - be it physical abuse, emotional abuse, financial abuse, or any other form of manipulation.

So this month I encourage all of you to learn a little more about healthy relationships, setting expectations and recognizing unhealthy patterns in behavior. I encourage this so that we can all have a check-in for our own relationships, but also because we need to be able to support our youth. I remember what it was like being a teenager and let alone a gay teenager - dealing with the pressures of being different; learning to understand who you are and that regardless of what society may say - you are not someone or something to be ashamed of; and confronting the idea of coming-out to friends and family and yes, even to yourself. With all of the news around school bullying, LGBTQ youth suicide, and vitriolic debates over marriage equality - we must live the social change we desire, not just for ourselves but for future generations. Relationships are challenging enough and being an LGBTQ youth and learning to navigate them in a world still learning to accept positive gay role models brings it to a new level.

I talk about partner violence in the LGBTQ community, healthy relationships and represent Rainbow Response every chance I get, because I believe that if we don't acknowledge these challenges, if we don't acknowledge that we have the same underlying issues as any group of people engaged in relationships - then we may fight for equality and the right to marry, but in the process we've ignored the many among us who felt isolated, ashamed and alone. Fearful because the community they are a part of doesn't talk about partner violence. Fearful because they are unaware if there are resources available to them or people to turn to for help. On average one in four people will be a victim of partner violence in their lifetime and the best information we have is that partner violence happens in approximately 36 percent of all LGBTQ relationships. We need to talk. We need to educate each other, our community, service providers and policymakers.

I have a dream, that Rainbow Response one day can be a self-sustaining organization that continues leading the charge in D.C. to have these difficult conversations, to train service providers and to educate policymakers and our community. That I can use my talents and passions to build a network and movement that recognizes the value of talking about LGBTQ partner violence in our community and the world. And that these conversations are not something we are ashamed to have, but something that we all work diligently together to face head on.

Now if you know me at all, you know it is highly unlike me to ever quote a bible verse, but in the work that I do helping to educate on partner violence and healthy relationships within the community I can't help but turn to Corinthians 13:4-7

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices in truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."

Rainbow Response Coalition is an all volunteer grassroots organization working to educate communities and break the silence around LGBTQ partner violence. To learn more about Rainbow Response, how you can help, or to provide a much needed donation visit: http://www.rainbowresponse.org/