I am Oliver James.

I am a senior, in the top 5% of my graduating class.

I am the recipient of awards such as Criminal Justice Student of the Year and Rotary Club Student of the Month. 

I am the president of my high school’s National Honor Society, Social Studies Honor Society and Gay-Straight Alliance. 

I am a youth lacrosse coach. 

I am an older brother. 

I am a son. 

I am a grandson. 

I am a nephew.

I am an elder cousin.

I am a friend.

I am someone who dreams of working for NASA as a mission specialist astronaut. 

I am in love with learning whatever I can. 

I am an aspiring author. 

I bleed red. 

I am human. 

I bleed red. 

I am transgender. 

I bleed red. 

I am despised by my own country. 

I bleed red.

I am threatened with Death’s scythe as I part my lips. 

I bleed red. 

I am the child of two who see my existence leaving due to Hatred’s bullet. 

I bleed red. 

I am to be a martyr. 

I bleed red. 

I am witness to the blood of my brethren on Evil’s hand. 

America has prepared to wear a coat of red. 

I am human. 

I bleed red. 

I am the same as those with tainted hearts. 

We bleed red. 

I am the same as the humans telling me I am meant to be dead. 

We bleed red. 

I am the same as our slaughterers. 

We bleed red. 

I am the same as the holder of my destined end. 

We bleed red. 

Even as I am lowered into a grave of sacrilege, the malevolent world will know:

I bled red.