Conversations About Equality

[tdogg]

Tymejumper's thread made me curious. Have others had conversations with people about equality, perhaps those who are against it? Have you had a conversation that may have made a difference? Are you reluctant to talk, or can you dive right in?

I had an opportunity to speak with someone at work, who I have talked to before about being gay in general. This is an older christian woman, who voted Yes on 8 but has indicated she has a gay nephew and loves him, and he was born that way.

We had a very deep and emotional conversation. I allowed myself to express the depth of my sadness and disappointment at Prop 8 barely winning, how that made me feel and how it affected me and other GLBT people. I couldn't stop a few tears from falling, and while she isn't dying to change that vote, she did have a few tears in her eyes too. She mentioned that she had no idea that I or others would have felt that sad about it. Then work issues came up and I had to leave.

It was not the easiest talk, but I'm so glad it happened. This is the kind of talk I need to have with some of my family, but that is much more difficult. I'm not sure how to go about it. Maybe the opportunity will present itself and it will just happen (sort of like this one did).

Please feel free to share your experiences, as it might just help someone else to take the plunge (me?). I think this is the most important thing we can do in our struggle.