I thought for a while about what I wanted to say here. I mean, honestly, what is there to say that someone hasn't said?
I've always known I was queer. My friends always knew. My family always suspected, but, when and where I was a young woman, people weren't queer, not if they wanted to live.
Lesbians didn't live in East Texas. Gay kids were beaten to death in the county fair grounds. Girls that were too friendly with each other had bricks thrown at them in the cafeteria.
So I got married to a decent man and got pregnant. Basically like the women I knew in my home town that were like me. I had amazing, intense, breathless relationships with women that I called friendships, that ended disastrously because I was lying and there's a difference between friends and lovers. I managed, though. I functioned. I churched. I raised my family, went to school, began my career. I did fine, too, until I fell in love.
And the world changed.
And I changed.
I was in my early forties when I came out to my daddy. He still loves me. My mother's response was, "We always knew that."
Hate sucks.
Being afraid to be yourself sucks harder.
Thank heavens I stopped.
BA
PS -- my gift is a donation to the Lambda Legal Fund, $1 for every comment made on this blog up to $250. I know it's a different sort of prize, but I'm a different sort of person. ;-)
Go visit the other blogs on the Hop. These folks are dear. http://
http://www.batortuga.com
34 comments:
Sweetheart the people that matter will love you no matter what. The people that don't love you don't matter. It comes down to Love is all there is and you have to be who you are. Hugs Angel
And hopefully things keep changing for the better, even if it's happening more slowly than we'd like...
The fact that things keep changing is what we need to get across to so many who feel stuck.
~smooches~
So glad you're being true to yourself. <3 to both of you!
Smooch
everyone has their own path and it's amazing to learn about people's journies. thanks for sharing!
Anyone that truly knew you knew who you were/are. You are loved for who you are and I am so happy that you are finally living your dream and loving who you are meant to. Life should be about love, happiness and joy. Live yours to the fullest :)
So glad you are true to yourself now. And A+++ parents - good for them :D And hopefully the world will change and the hate will go away. #eternaloptimist
Thanks for sharing your story <3333
thanks for sharing your story and I think your prize is perfect for this!
thank you for sharing this with us today. I think this is an important cause that needs the spotlight shining on it.
So glad you shared your story...and I agree - the people who love you, really, will love you no matter what.
It's all about love. When the ignorant get that concept equality for all will exist.
Thanks you for sharing your story.
Yvette
yratpatrol@aol.com
Glad you were finally able to be true to yourself.
I'm glad thet you have become free to be...One of the reasons I am so passionate about kickin’ homophobia’s butt because it was only a few years ago that it became legal to marry my husband. Keep on Lovin'.
Your prize is perfect.
I live in North Carolina where you can marry your first cousin as long as you aren't gay or lesbian.
I enjoyed a little thing I saw today that said the definition of homophobia is insecurity about being heterosexual.
Hugs,
Donna
Thanks for sharing your story. Your parents rock (& so do you).
Thanks for sharing, I'm glad that you finally get to be yourself!
What a great story, thank you BA!
Thank you for sharing.
Beautiful! Thank you for sharing your story and participating in the hop!
Bella
www.bellaleonebooks.com
I showed a bunch of these post to the teens in my family to show them how hurt some "innocent" remarks are to many others. I get so annoyed when my nephew says "you're so gay". ERRRR drove me crazy. I know he didn't mean anything by it but it is so wrong to use that as a saying. I think that these post have helped. Thank you all for sharing with us!
forettarose@yahoo.com
Hope you get all 250 comments. What a great idea!
Thanks for sharing, and will it count if I keep coming back to comment ^_^
Thank you for sharing your story.
Your prize is a wonderful one and I am happy to support it.
I am doing something similar on my blog by donating $1 for each comment to the It Gets Better project and during my hopping I have seen others doing the same.
Doing something to make a difference is what the blog hop is all about.
I hope that things keep changing until there is no discrimination left
That was a beautiful post BA thank you for taking part and sharing with us all.
Thanks for sharing your story. Making a donation as a prize is a great idea!
Thanks for sharing and participating!! I love the donation idea!!
It's the best sort of prize ^.^
So glad you came out eventually and that your parents accepted you :) It's as it should be.
Erica
eripike at gmail dot com
Love this post so much.
*hugs y'all* You're made of win!
Homophobic Cyberstalking story of the Century can be read here http://homophobicdorsetpolice.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/the-pre-meditated-and-manipulated-16th.html
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