Jun 27Liked by Amelia Mavis Christnot, The Big Picture
Thank you. So many people forget that their way is not the only way - not even for their own culture or history. So few people think about that - that the only reason there would be laws in the Old Testament (for example) about non-hetero sexual relationships is because they were occurring, and doing so widely. No one would write laws against such actions if they weren't already happening.
As far as why people are so self-righteous and self-centered about their one beliefs - this quote from the article is one of the best explanations I've seen: “Because he's an idiot taught by other idiots to be an idiot."
Jun 27Liked by Amelia Mavis Christnot, The Big Picture
This was a wonderful read; I thank you for sharing your family's love and acceptance and working to drive home the fact that this has always been queer land! 🌻💜
I loved that it was not due to any “acceptance” needing to be had at all, for it came from within their own very “beingness” that informed them of a simple truth . . . All humans are created equally in Creator’s Eyes!”
So much good (and God) stuff here. I want to draw attention to a pastor, writer and activist from (and still in) North Carolina named John Pavlovitz. He is a passionate and openly avowed ally to the LGBTQ+ community. he travels around all over speaking on this topic.
His message is very simple. “I’m not a member of that community, but I am their ally.” And he has books on how to be an ally. Most of it is simple stuff - if someone is mouthing off, just say you disagree. If someone tells an offensive joke, say you don’t think it’s funny. Attend a Pride parade. go bigger and write letters to the editor. Say a prayer.
I am not a member of the L+ community either, but I am an ally. And one of my actions to to alert the world to John P and his calling in life. Google him, get on his email list (written to “Give a Damn-ers” find his Podcast.
When I was very young and being raised by my grandmother after my mother died, she had a couple of gay men as friends. They loved each other, raised miniature pinschers and were amazing people. I never thought of them as different in any way other than they showed affection for each other that my school friend's parents did not. It was not until many years down the line that I realized they were gay, I wished I'd kept in touch with them. Thank you for your story!
"But in North America, the traditions they're talking about are the culture of the colonizer—not the people Indigenous to these lands. It's a tradition of repressed oppressors who converted Indigenous peoples to Christianity at the point of a sword or the end of a gun."
This, so much this, but also in South and Central America. Following the teachings of the colonizers that committed genocide, raped, pillaged, and spread viruses; all to feel superior to other Hispanics.
Which, as I’m coming to believe, is because of the impact of the protracted impact of the “purity culture” from the Middle East which lived in/conquered Spain from 711 to 1492. These attitudes were exported to all of Latin America to a greater or lesser extent.
my oldest brother came out in 1955. he was 15 years old. in texas. of course the austin-san antonio area was a bit kinder area to live in. still, i thought this was very brave of him. i have always lived easily amongst the lgbtq+ community because i was always included and felt safe.
Harry Stack Sullivan wrote: “We’re all more simply human than otherwise”. It’s that simple: just see the humanness in each and every person and be kind. All the rest is just noise…
Steve and Kevin sounded like a nice, friendly couple. Even though my family is fine with me being asexual (possibly even aro-spec), it frustrates me that most people would never be able to truly understand what it feels like to not be attracted to others in certain ways. I’m personally sex-repulsed and romance-ambivalent, but I also believe that people should be able to live how they want and be their true selves, as long as they don’t hurt or harass others.
I loved your beautiful description of a loving family living in a nice neighborhood with people who cared (for the most part). I sincerely hope the Harrison kids didn't take to heart their dad's beliefs but instead emulated the others who showed them kindness and support. I'm also deeply grateful for the education you provided on indigenous people, two-spirits, and matriarchal cultures. This was a fabulous read.
A simple and beautiful story. I'm sharing this, and also keeping it to share again in the future when I feel it's necessary to remind folks of what's real and what's just programmed insanity. Thanks for this.
Thank you. So many people forget that their way is not the only way - not even for their own culture or history. So few people think about that - that the only reason there would be laws in the Old Testament (for example) about non-hetero sexual relationships is because they were occurring, and doing so widely. No one would write laws against such actions if they weren't already happening.
As far as why people are so self-righteous and self-centered about their one beliefs - this quote from the article is one of the best explanations I've seen: “Because he's an idiot taught by other idiots to be an idiot."
No. There’s nothing “traditional” about it.
It’s simply the wrong word choice. It may be YOUR tradition, but it’s not traditional.
You can’t honestly dispute that.
What's traditional? Something that's a tradition. Like you stated it is. Oh, hey, look, I honestly disputed that.
This was a wonderful read; I thank you for sharing your family's love and acceptance and working to drive home the fact that this has always been queer land! 🌻💜
I loved that it was not due to any “acceptance” needing to be had at all, for it came from within their own very “beingness” that informed them of a simple truth . . . All humans are created equally in Creator’s Eyes!”
❤️🌈
So much good (and God) stuff here. I want to draw attention to a pastor, writer and activist from (and still in) North Carolina named John Pavlovitz. He is a passionate and openly avowed ally to the LGBTQ+ community. he travels around all over speaking on this topic.
His message is very simple. “I’m not a member of that community, but I am their ally.” And he has books on how to be an ally. Most of it is simple stuff - if someone is mouthing off, just say you disagree. If someone tells an offensive joke, say you don’t think it’s funny. Attend a Pride parade. go bigger and write letters to the editor. Say a prayer.
I am not a member of the L+ community either, but I am an ally. And one of my actions to to alert the world to John P and his calling in life. Google him, get on his email list (written to “Give a Damn-ers” find his Podcast.
This made me cry.
👏🏼🩷💙💛🌈🌈🌈✨✨✨🙏🏽✨
I can only think that this phrase is true. “Haters will hate”.
People are much too much in other people’s business.
When I was very young and being raised by my grandmother after my mother died, she had a couple of gay men as friends. They loved each other, raised miniature pinschers and were amazing people. I never thought of them as different in any way other than they showed affection for each other that my school friend's parents did not. It was not until many years down the line that I realized they were gay, I wished I'd kept in touch with them. Thank you for your story!
"But in North America, the traditions they're talking about are the culture of the colonizer—not the people Indigenous to these lands. It's a tradition of repressed oppressors who converted Indigenous peoples to Christianity at the point of a sword or the end of a gun."
This, so much this, but also in South and Central America. Following the teachings of the colonizers that committed genocide, raped, pillaged, and spread viruses; all to feel superior to other Hispanics.
Which, as I’m coming to believe, is because of the impact of the protracted impact of the “purity culture” from the Middle East which lived in/conquered Spain from 711 to 1492. These attitudes were exported to all of Latin America to a greater or lesser extent.
my oldest brother came out in 1955. he was 15 years old. in texas. of course the austin-san antonio area was a bit kinder area to live in. still, i thought this was very brave of him. i have always lived easily amongst the lgbtq+ community because i was always included and felt safe.
Harry Stack Sullivan wrote: “We’re all more simply human than otherwise”. It’s that simple: just see the humanness in each and every person and be kind. All the rest is just noise…
Steve and Kevin sounded like a nice, friendly couple. Even though my family is fine with me being asexual (possibly even aro-spec), it frustrates me that most people would never be able to truly understand what it feels like to not be attracted to others in certain ways. I’m personally sex-repulsed and romance-ambivalent, but I also believe that people should be able to live how they want and be their true selves, as long as they don’t hurt or harass others.
I loved your beautiful description of a loving family living in a nice neighborhood with people who cared (for the most part). I sincerely hope the Harrison kids didn't take to heart their dad's beliefs but instead emulated the others who showed them kindness and support. I'm also deeply grateful for the education you provided on indigenous people, two-spirits, and matriarchal cultures. This was a fabulous read.
A simple and beautiful story. I'm sharing this, and also keeping it to share again in the future when I feel it's necessary to remind folks of what's real and what's just programmed insanity. Thanks for this.
This filled my heart! ❤️
Thank you for this, Amelia.
Enlightening is an understatement. But I am.