In my Dad's family, half of his first cousins (3 out of 6) were gay. Although Dad wasn't overly comfortable with this he loved all his cousins dearly. My Mom made sure to let us know that there was nothing wrong with being gay, it was just another way to be. Love is love. I've always been grateful for that. It was especially wonderful when people of that generation stood up for the guy community.
This brought tears to my eyes. What a gift to have a father who was so grounded in what really mattered. But then the thought of safety begins to creep in. Being able to be authentic is a privilege. Not all parents are as understanding. What a struggle to reconcile being honest and being safe.
You name it well, Valerie. It is a struggle everyone in this world faces, one way or another, to some degree or another. What a gift of acceptance we can give one another in our separate struggles!
This was such a moving piece. I really love hearing stories like this, especially in our current times of reactionary homophobia/transphobia/xenophobia/phobia phobia and legislation against other ways of being.
In my Dad's family, half of his first cousins (3 out of 6) were gay. Although Dad wasn't overly comfortable with this he loved all his cousins dearly. My Mom made sure to let us know that there was nothing wrong with being gay, it was just another way to be. Love is love. I've always been grateful for that. It was especially wonderful when people of that generation stood up for the guy community.
"just another way to be." That's it. And yes, especially wonderful "back then." But so necessary even now!
Such a rare sweet story!
Does my heart good!
One of the best videos I’ve ever seen. Deeply moved me. Thank you for sharing this here, Phyllis. I’ve shared it with some folks.
Powerful, isn't it? Thanks for sending out more ripples!
Beautiful. Thank you for sharing.
You betcha!
This brought tears to my eyes. What a gift to have a father who was so grounded in what really mattered. But then the thought of safety begins to creep in. Being able to be authentic is a privilege. Not all parents are as understanding. What a struggle to reconcile being honest and being safe.
You name it well, Valerie. It is a struggle everyone in this world faces, one way or another, to some degree or another. What a gift of acceptance we can give one another in our separate struggles!
This was such a moving piece. I really love hearing stories like this, especially in our current times of reactionary homophobia/transphobia/xenophobia/phobia phobia and legislation against other ways of being.
Amazing!