My name is Ruby Rott

[soulforce5826]

I am a 73-year-old straight grandmother who apologizes to all GLBTs for once believing it was a sin to be homosexual. Through the years many of you have forced me to change my belief by just being who you are as Christians. Please forgive me.

[Zerbie]

I am a 73-year-old straight grandmother who apologizes to all GLBTs for once believing it was a sin to be homosexual. Through the years many of you have forced me to change my belief by just being who you are as Christians. Please forgive me.

((((( Ruby )))))

:love::love::love::love::love:

[tymejumper]

I am a 73-year-old straight grandmother who apologizes to all GLBTs for once believing it was a sin to be homosexual. Through the years many of you have forced me to change my belief by just being who you are as Christians. Please forgive me.

thankyou, but you do not need to be forgiven, just appoligizing is enough!

[Steven E. Webster]

thankyou, but you do not need to be forgiven, just appoligizing is enough!

I'm not sure apologizing is enough--though I really do appreciate the apology. What would be super would be if Ruby would use her position as a 73 year-old grandmother to challenge anti-LGBT policies in her church (that's assuming she's in a church that has anti-LGBT policies.)

Apology is a start. Apologies should be followed by action to end anti-LGBT oppression.

Steven Webster

[u-dog]

Well, I disagree TOTALLY with Stephen (not the first time) I think an apology IS enough... MORE THAN enough!! Thank you Ruby!:love:

Of course, Stephen is right when he says that anything you can do to advocate for GLBT folks is a good thing! In my experience the words of grandmothers carry more weight in the world than they think they do!

[Zerbie]

Ay yi yi,

Ruby, I bet you had no idea your hello would precipitate a huge discussion!

I too think it's quite enough to apologize - because it comes from the depth of her heart.

Based upon what Ruby has discovered through looking with her own eyes, she now lends her caring AND her experience to the world she touches. If she weren't interested in making a difference of some kind, she wouldn't have made that post.

I agree of course, that it would be wonderful to have another loving grandmother speak out on behalf of the LGBT community when serious matters are at stake. But something as big and difficult as taking a public stand is only for Ruby to decide, not us. Let's not forget for a moment how godawful HARD it is to speak up for LGBT people in the beginning, even when those people are ourselves.

[u-dog]

Have I told you recently that I think that you are ALL THAT and More? :love:

[rainbow7]

I am a 73-year-old straight grandmother who apologizes to all GLBTs for once believing it was a sin to be homosexual. Through the years many of you have forced me to change my belief by just being who you are as Christians. Please forgive me.

Dear Ruby,

I appreciate that you have reached out to this community and that you have shared how your heart and mind have changed. God bless you for your courage and openness.

Polly

[Steven E. Webster]

Friends,

You know, I'm sorry and I apologize for making light of Ruby's apology. She has obviously gone considerably out of her way to find this forum, and I expect she has done and is doing a good deal more than we know.

I should not have let my cynicism at what often passes as apologies now-a-days get the better of me. A friend of mine used to respond to "sorry" with "don't be sorry, be right." Some truth to that, but no need to be cynical.

Again, Ruby, sorry. I want you to feel welcome here and to find resources and support to grow in your journey.

Steven Webster

[u-dog]

Friends,

You know, I'm sorry and I apologize for making light of Ruby's apology. She has obviously gone considerably out of her way to find this forum, and I expect she has done and is doing a good deal more than we know.

I should not have let my cynicism at what often passes as apologies now-a-days get the better of me. A friend of mine used to respond to "sorry" with "don't be sorry, be right." Some truth to that, but no need to be cynical.

Again, Ruby, sorry. I want you to feel welcome here and to find resources and support to grow in your journey.

Steven Webster


Hey Steven! Your apology is enough! thanks! ;) sorry. couldn't resist and I figured Ruby would be too polite to be a smart aleck!

[tdogg]

Hi & Welcome Ruby!!! :love::love::love:

I'm SO glad you are here! Hope you decide to stay around and get to know us better (we are actually quite nice and compassionate), and so we can get to know you better.

I so appreciate your change of heart and apology. The others are right, thanks for coming here with a loving and accepting heart, it's more than enough. It takes people like you to really make a difference.

You seem like a kind and loving person Ruby. Thanks again, and yes, there is so much you could do, loving people is really the #1 thing we can do. Gld bless you so much! And hope you are having a wonderful 4th of July!

Tdogg :love::D:rainbow::weee::good:

[Jennifer5]

Welcome Ruby! I'm glad that you found us!

I hope you stick around and get to know us all! Jump in when you feel ready...we're glad to have you here! :love: :rainbow:

[Gennee]

Welcome to Soulforce, Ruby.

Gennee

:)

[tymejumper]

Welcome to Soulforce, Ruby.

Gennee

:)

I have a co-worker who was in the army. Her friend there was a lesbian and apparently the woman had a terrible crush on my co-worker. The army found out the woman was a lesbian and took her to trial, the "dont ask, dont tell" law. My co-worker was afraid of getting kicked out of the army so she did not attend the trial and support her friend. To this day, she feels terrible guilt about letting her friend down because of her fear.

Ruby, please do not let the guilt keep you from going forth and doing good and positive things for the LGBT community. Spread education, speak out against hate crimes, ignorance and bigotry. Use what you have learned to let others know we are human and just like you are. We love and laugh and cry. Relationships are the same weather they are between a man and woman or two of each sex. We all hurt, get cheated on and feel joy in loving.

I told my co-worker that I, as a lesbian, forgave her for this "terrible" thing that she did out of fear and ask that she forgive herself, I was sure her friend had already done so. I asked that she not punish herself and to support other gay people now that she has learned from her mistake. She has become very vocal on supporting gay people since then. Sometimes forgivness and a second chance is what you need.