my weekly smilie... a new family

[w8liftinglady]

soooo...


Even in Red Texas,hope exists.

A young lesbian in my college class told me she and her partner adopted a baby this week...
They were SO happy...and so was I ...so we had a little "shower"

collected a little cash for them and had some cookies.
My fellow classmates seemed truly happy for these women.
The teacher gave them a gift card.

It can happen.
Keep the faith.

[murielm99]

1. Seven or eight years ago, I had a little girl in school

who liked kitties. She had a kitty picture on her notebook.

I asked her if she had a kitty at home. She said, "No. One of my moms is allergic."

I wondered, but asked no questions.

They both came to open houses, concerts and teacher conferences. They lived very quietly, but openly, in a conservative town. Nobody got excited about this.

I am happy for the couple you know.

We can only hope that this kind of love and acceptance of families only grows in the future.

[Beartracks]

2. Do you suppose many red-state people...

... simply foster exceptions for any gays they might know, while maybe still holding the opinion that the mass of unknown "other" gays conforms to the mythical stereotype?

You know, something like: "Gays are destroying this country, you know! It's that gay agenda, they're wanting to brainwash our kids! Well, no, of course Jane and Cindy seem okay. But they're not like regular gays."

Anyone know people with that sort of disconnect going on?

P.S. For that matter, conservatives have a LOT of disconnects, on all sorts of things.

===============================

[w8liftinglady]

3. strangely enough, most rabid r's here can point to at least one lgbt family member

at least one.
And,yes...."They" are ok.
I've had patients with gay family members who felt they had to "apologize" because son was gay.
I would generally tell them I am gay and a parent,so I understand both sides,give them a hug...and say"now,let's focus on YOU".

[murielm99]

6. Some of these people would gain a whole different

outlook if they went to a few PFLAG meetings. It is a great organization.

[beyurslf]

4. I think many red state conservatives (or at least a lot of the ones I know)

just think people should be left alone at home and don't want to get into their personal lives. This doesn't mean they support gay marriage because they still would say they believe in tradition. But as long as the couple is quiet and not bugging them, a lot of conservatives would be just fine with that.

[murielm99]

5. I know people like that.

But many more of the disconnect over race. They can be openly racist, but make exceptions for some guy they work with, because he is "not like all those other black people."

If I press them on what they mean, they get caught up in their words, and then they get angry.

[Creideiki]

7. Yes. It's the personal exemption.

It's also why coming out is the single most powerful step any person can take.

[ZombieHorde]

8. I wish I clicked on this thread in time to rec it. nt