LGBTQ(+) And You

 07.14.2022

First of all, I'm heterosexual, so my commentary is based on personal knowledge in my interactions with the LGBTQ+ community since I was 18. 

I was recently out of high school, and the world was opening up. Understand that I'll never profess to be as accepting of others that were different than me right away. It took a minute.

My first (known) encounter was with an African American coworker in 1976. He was part of a group of about 5 of us that spent every waking moment outside of work together in party mode. One time we went to a bar to play pool & continue drinking in small town Texas near my best friend's family lakehouse. It was horribly eye opening. We were gawked at, mumbled about, and politely asked by the owner to leave. Meanwhile, one of the Big Whitey crew called the police upon our exit. The officer was nice enough, but of course, we'd all had a lot to drink. I had a loaded .22 pistol in my best friend's car, which helped in landing us in jail overnight...for our own safety. Luckily, our friends had left just before us. 

The next morning, we were released, no charges, and my pistol was returned to me. The officer was kind, but added the following: "Boys, if you're gonna come to our town, don't bring your Ni**er buddy with you." This was late 1977. It was the moment that changed me.

Since then, I've tried my hardest to be accepting of all people. Even that officer, that was doing his best in his role, while achieving balance. His comment was a sign of our troubled times even then. Small town mentality still exists, so be careful out there. And not just in Texas.

Acceptance. Do yourselves a favor, and accept the things you cannot change. Thank you, AA. I've found that if you try to change EVERYTHING that ills you, it will mentally erode you, until your compassion struggles to appear.

Humans. We're everywhere! We're fallible! One of my favorite quotes is "Seek to understand, THEN to be understood". I think it a lot, obviously. We work to change what we can. Like that night at the lake, I changed my drinking habit, because that situation evolved from alcohol consumption...and my need to tell the Big Whitey crew to fuck themselves. 

OK, I drifted into storytime and a little off subject. Apologies. My passion for understanding others and accepting our differences is strong. Our LGBTQ+ sisters and brothers need our love & support, as their burdens of gaining acceptance is real. I can't imagine having to think about hugging, kissing, or holding hands with my mate in public. Mull THAT over. Think interracial couples. Long judged by society as well. But NOT all over the world. Watch some BBC TV.

Please join me and the many others in normalizing our fellow human beings. Say Gay. Hug whomever you want. Celebrate same sex relationships as well as dual sexual preferences. Let your transgender thoughts be accepted as a human alternative to being stuck as someone you are not. Think Elliot Page. Caitlyn Jenner. Just think.

Thank you for stopping by. Be well.