I have a good cross-section of races in my neighborhood.
Of course, the ones who are associated with being least tolerant of the GLBT culture happens to hug the circumference of my property like aging celebs to Twitter.
In my less flamboyant mode, I have greeted and conversed with my neighbors. Whether they accept me in my fabulous mode or not (and they have seen me often whether it be checking the mail, driving off, or just getting to first base with men out front, in broad daylight) is none of my business.
Besides, coming up on the 12th year anniversary of d332.com, I re-read some of my own articles, and was delighted to come across a memento etched somewhere on the elbows of this site: Never Apologize For Who You Are.
I do keep everything in check and wait several minutes for the coast to clear whenever I see the neighbor’s kids out playing. While I do think kids should learn tolerance at a young age, the topic of a gender-confusion really should be introduced later on in their early teens. I would hate to be the parent who has to explain “boys will be girls and girls will be boys” to Little Tommy after he comes in from playing outside. I wouldn’t envy the mother of the boy who said, “Mommy, when you said I could be anything when I grow up, does that mean I can be like my neighbor? NOW HAND OVER YOUR FLOWERPRINT SUMMER DRESS OR I’M HOLDING MY BREATH UNTIL I TURN PINK!”
Call me Sarah Palin, but I think kids can wait to learn about condoms and sex education until they are in High School or at least Jr. High. Childhood should be all about the charm of McCarthyite fingerpointing at people with the cooties, lunch recess drama, and blushes during puppy love. We don’t need to drag personal sociopolitics and superimpose our beliefs onto their innocent years.
I was just imagining what I would say if my neighbors were suddenly struck by the faerie of progressive thought, and invited me over to explain my life choices to their kids? How would my little presentation go if I were put on the spot?
Hello! Your mom/dad has asked me to come over and say hi to you all. You’ve seen me across the street for many years, and I know what you may be thinking, “but you’re a man!”
Have you ever woke up in the morning feeling happy? So you put on your favorite clothes, go down to breakfast, and say HI! to everyone and go off to school. You want to show and tell everyone you are happy. Well, that’s what I do: I woke up one morning feeling I wanted to show people how I felt inside.
Yeah, I know, you say: it’s not who you were born as? But look at your favorite celebrities: Is Beyoncé born blond? Is Timbaland a shoe or a rapper? Was Goldie born with gold teeth? Was Britney Spears bald? What country is Queen Latifah heir to rule over? Did Ralph Lauren hit Mario Lavandeira, or did Polo Molina hit Perez Hilton?
We are surrounded by people who express who they are inside and who they want to be. They wake up one morning, and they feel happy. They want to show the world and share with the world that they are happy. Some change their names, some change their hair, eye color, clothes. We accept their happiness and call them by what they chose to be called.
I am no different.
