Oppression and Love

[rivulet027]

Oppression is:

-Being socially rejected because your family moved into town after the turn of the century. You have to have moved into town before 1900 to be cool.

-Knowing you won’t be continuing the family tradition of serving in the military because being in the closet the first time nearly killed you.

-Your high school government teacher printing out the goals of the Log Cabin Republicans and calls a fellow student up front to read them so the whole class can have a laugh.

-Being told by your mother that she accepts you, but please don’t come out to your relatives or while in high school because it might ‘negatively affect’ your brother.

-Being told by your brother that he’s glad you lost contact with the only man you’ve ever seriously considered having kids with because he didn’t want you having biracial children.

-Being the president of a college GSA and being told by another officer that you should stop being friends with a member because they are transgender.

-Dating the same young women for around three years and never once feeling comfortable enough to bring her home to your parents.

-Being asked in a job interview if you dated guys or girls, lying and getting the job. Then overhearing your boss tell another manager that they’d gotten rid of all of ‘those’ people and understanding that if it was found out you were gay that you’d lose your job. This is the only job where I’ve quit mid-shift and walked out.

-Having your mom tell you ‘You’re not gay, you’re bisexual. That means you still have a chance to fall in love.” She continues to try and set you up with guys.

-Having your parents tell you that if you continue to see the person you’re in love with they’ll change the locks on the door.

Love is:

-Spending the weekend with a group of women and never once feeling rejected or uncomfortable. Having the weekend be about friendship and fandom, not about how drunk you can get or the drama of the week at school. Something as simple as saying ‘these are my 10 shoes’ when referring to your red converse and getting a smile of understanding.

-Having your college English professor see the bruise on your face and not ask questions, but finds where you can get some help.

-Coming out to your Grandmother and her smiling and telling you about the lesbian couple she used to work with.

-Having your Aunt stop what she’s doing in the middle of a family get together, ask you if you are gay, then not ask anymore questions when you agree to explain later. Having her call you and say that her daughter explained and she wants you to know that she loves you.

-Your Aunt bugs you to wear an outfit when she finds out your going to your first con, then helps you design it. Then she stays up late the night before you leave to make sure it’s perfect.

-After 8 months hearing your sister-in-law who has trust issues say, “I love you too.”

-Finding out one of your friends at work was told by another coworker that she shouldn’t be friends with you because you’re gay. Having her reply that she’s comfortable with her sexuality and she can be friends with whoever she wants to be friends with.

-Taking your cousin who is no longer going to homecoming to see “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” instead. You don’t have to explain anything; she immediately gets how awesome Hedwig is and that she is loved.

-Having your entire family adore your very obviously gay best friend.

-Hearing your parents tell you that they don’t care who you end up with or what gender they are, all they want is to know you’re happy.