Acceptance.......

I have been busy with my gay friends and my straight friends - does it really matter who they sleep with? - but that time lately for me has been good. I love spending time with friends, I love doing new things, meeting new people, and I've been doing all these things. I also have had the pleasure of spending time with my children and grandchild-yes,grandchild. ouch. All these people in my life are okay with my partner and I and with my being gay. I have heard stories the last couple of weeks of family members of women who are not accepting. You can see the pain in their faces and hear it in their voices. How sad. And some of these women are in their 40's and 50's.

Is there a way we can all help? I'm not professing to have an answer, but asking you if you have an answer. What do you think we can all do together to make it easier for gay people. How sad it is that adults are afraid to tell - parents are afraid to tell their children-teachers are afraid their bosses will find out - it goes on and on. There is one thought that the more people come out, it makes it easier for all others. When people know you, like you, and find out you are gay, but still a cool person, perhaps being gay isn't so bad. I know I have told many I trust and take the risk that they tell others who can't handle it. Many families I work with are very conserva-tive and would not be willing to work with me should they find out that I am gay.

We can be very happy that the Hate Crimes Bill finally passed and will prosecute people for crimes against gay people. I make my contributions I can to HRC, Equality, and Lambda Legal, all oganizations fighting to promote equal rights in the United States.

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