Look Mom And Dad, No Rights......

[Liberal Crozier]

Do you remember, when learning to ride a bike, you said " Look Mom and/or Dad, no hands !!!!"

Think of this - 35 million Canadians and ten percent is 3.5 million LGBT Canadians. Nearly 300 million US citizens and ten percent is 30 million LGBT Americans.

We Canadians know that an equal number of parents, siblings and friends - heterosexuals - were potential allies in our crusade for freedom .

Homophobic bigotry - whether defined in legal or theological terms - is vulgar and obscene. There are zealot theocon lawyers and bishops to be sure, but it is my belief that political or numeric/economic considerations that inform the majority of our opponents.

Maybe it is time to turn to your parents, siblings and supportive friends, and say to them, loudly and clearly, and without reservation......

LOOK, (FILL IN THE NAME), ME, MY LIFE PARTNER AND OUR CHILDREN HAVE NO RIGHTS.....

[Mia14]

right On!!!

[pnggrad79]

Good one, LC. Speak the truth!!

[Britt.]

+20. Thanks for posting.

[Zerbie]

Okay let me jump up and down and wave a flag for a moment: yes!

Readers, Crozier has hit upon something here. How many of us have approached everyone who considers us family, a friend, a cheerful colleague to chat with about this or that and really explained to our friends what is going on? What these amendments, legislations, court decisions (etc) are all about and how they are affecting us, or could potentially affect us in the future? Maybe all of us on this board have done that - but somehow I have a feeling that most people in the LGBT community haven't opened the subject with their friends/supporters.

Case in point: doing my own campaigning against a local initiative, I have been taking aside individual acquaintances for months to explain what it is and tell them I hope they will vote no and why. One lady who I know is dear friends with and dearly loves several gay couples, and she had NO idea these amendments were even happening. I told her what the title of the initiative was, then told her how it could affect her friends. She was horrified and said, "Zerbie, I'm glad you told me this. If you hadn't told me what it meant I would have voted yes." So, I was the first person to even mention this issue to her, despite that she is closer and talks more often to people who actually have a vested interest in seeing the amendment defeated.

We have more allies than we think. We need to inform them.

[Jennifer5]

Well put LC, and I think when people see the number of GLBT people they may think more in favor of us. It's true we're not few we're quite... spread the word, just isn't working well enough, people aren't doing it...

[LGBT FLIGHT ATTENDANT]

It seems to me that all that the good bishop and his spouse deliver here are "good ideas". As I said, we FA's usually sleep on international flights, but he kept us talking, sharing, laughing ( they both are VERY FUNNY) and we were exhausted the next day for the turnaround - but were sad that he wasn't on the flight.

If he said so, the bishop is an author and has written several books. I found one, and shared it with another FA who if memory serves, still has it over this time. It spoke to a church that needed inclusion rather than exclusion. It spoke to a changing Church where the Holy Spirit spoke to a third millennium with a new voice. The trouble is that I have never found such a church in my travels.

Yes, I came out to parents and friends, and my airline is LGBT friendly. However, he spoke about being more than just "out" but rather engaged in asking those who love you for help in obtaining those rights and privileges - thereby swelling the ranks of support and not to mention, votes for our struggle.

[Zerbie]

Originally Posted by LGBT FLIGHT ATTENDANT

Yes, I came out to parents and friends, and my airline is LGBT friendly. However, he spoke about being more than just "out" but rather engaged in asking those who love you for help in obtaining those rights and privileges - thereby swelling the ranks of support and not to mention, votes for our struggle.

Yes, that's it!! Exactly. many people are cautious and reticent, not wanting to rock the boat, ask for too much, appear "militant" and just wanting to go about their daily lives. A lot of that is because we are taught that speaking out especially on certain subjects, politics-religion-homosexuality, is not what "nice" people do, and we all want to get along and be liked. The result I've seen is many LGBT people who don't even bring up these subjects with their friends, who 95% of the time would strongly support them, even when it is critical - such as when anti-gay ballot initiatives are being voted on. We HAVE to ask our friends, supporters, colleagues, fellow church members, mom & dad, etc for their supportive vote. We have to dare to ask them to support us, and not assume that it's asking for too much or being "militant."

I know it's difficult - I still chicken out sometimes. It gets easier though, unless I'm totally stressing or just too tired that day.

[LGBT FLIGHT ATTENDANT]

Thanks for the mention . I think that you are right. It is like when our union wins in arbitration and the company provides it even to their operational workers who are not union covered.

It is like that gay FA who said, " I have given three decades and more to this airline, and damn if my partner will stay home with no retirement pass privileges while colleagues with hetero spouses could."

Now, of course, ALL employees enjoy the DP/Spouse equality privileges. I knew him and he was NOT the revolutionary type. He just woke up and just had enough injustice for a lifetime.

[Liberal Crozier]

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus,

Are you like me? I tend to give gifts or expressions of love extemporaneously and without an official reason to do so.

Are you like us? We are a couple who can reveal much of our thoughts and prayers publicly, and anonymously tell our story for the present time.
As time goes on, and the reasons become less toxic for my family, I will reveal more. Is this your story? Is it a question of selective but truthful information about yourself, your family, and your aspirations for equality and justice?

Can you tell someone? We all know who we can, and whom we cannot tell our story to. No one can jeopardize a livelihood when you must support a family and there are no legal protections against illegal termination. The answer may be a parent, and not two, a sibling and not three, or a close friend and not anyone else. Whatever and whenever you choose to tell your story....know this....our Lord knows your story, and blesses and loves you for it. We, your Soulforce family, love you bunches too and pray for you, your life partner/spouse and your family every hour within every day . Believe in the power of prayer.....and of Christ's promises to you.