In response to The Daily Post’s weekly photo challenge: “ROY G. BIV.”

Just last night the topic of my colorblindness surfaced again in conversation with friends. Time and again, people ask me about color schemes and ask for my opinion on what goes with what and what doesn’t. It is expected that since I am gay, that I will know exactly how to color coordinate. In fact, to prove that I am gay and in fact, colorblind, I took the test.  I sort of hoped that magically I would be able to see the numbers amongst the many dotted circles of different colors. I was able to figure out the one where the number 12 poignantly stands out.  Then, I realized that was the example they used to show people how to take the test.

Many say it is “sad” once they are convinced that I have decreased ability or inability to see color, or perceive color differences, under normal lighting conditions. But what I truly find to be sad is that when there is a beautiful rainbow out, I will in fact, never see all seven rays. However, I am undoubtedly able to feel a heightened state of emotions such as joy and excitement with the sight of one.  I have come to make meaning of what a rainbow is to me. In fact, I too, as a colorblind, can appreciate a rainbow, even though I only see 4 or 5 of its rays.

I will not stop chasing rainbows, especially as I travel and in the most unexpected of places such as a Parisian bistro with multicolored chairs or plainly through the radiance of individual character who are unafraid to show their true colors out in the open, rainbows find me.

P.S. If you’re interested to take the colorblind test you may the test here, but I say what’s the point of finding out now.  In fact, according to www.npr.org, a colorblindness therapy might be on its way.