Wednesday, July 18, 2018
Little Gay Ears.
When I was younger, we would sometimes listen in on what the adults were saying, especially the parts we were not supposed to hear. My mom always had a way of sensing what we were up to and would say that it's better for the adults to continue later as "little ears" were listening.
I was thinking about some visits I had recently with straight friends. They would eagerly ask me if I met anyone yet, then go on to discuss what type of guys I like, how do I meet people. Usually they finish up with the encouraging statements about meeting the right guy some day and about me making someone a good boyfriend, the usual dating conversation only with a gay theme.
Many of my younger friends have children entering into the pre-teen and teen years. I was
thinking about these conversations and about what if there were little gay ears listening, how incredibly important and what a positive impact conversations like these would have. Imagine a child realizing that they are gay, maybe feeling anxious about it, only to hear their parents talking openly and positively about gay relationships with gay friends. They would grow up feeling normal, feeling accepted, they would live in a completely different universe to the one most of us experienced. I hope all the little gay ears out there get to hear those messages.
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16 comments:
I couldn't agree with you more, Steven. If it is in our gift to make our children happy, content and at one with who they are, why wouldn't we?
It's a no-brainer!
We listened from the top of the stairs, peeping through the banisters
When I was growing up, I recall some talk of older relatives discussing "queer" people and it was anything but accepting. They made it obvious that it was disgusting.I came out many years later after most of the older relatives had died. My family has been very accepting of me since learning I was gay, much more so than I thought they would be. I often wonder how the older ones would have taken the news. Had I been in an environment where they had said it was ok to be gay or it doesn't matter before I came out, it would have meant the world. Sadly, even today that is not the case for many of young people. Bullying of and suicide among LGBTQ people continues. Thankfully, organizations like the Trevor Project, are out there to assist them.
I didn't find out about "queers" until my ears were bigger...growing up, such things were whispered or implied with raised eyebrows or a limp wrist. It wasn't until much, much later that I found someone who spoke kindly about gays. By then, I was in college and the damage done. I know call out nephews when they say something's "gay" or some stupid thing like that. You never know who might be around, and what they may feel when they hear such thing.
Apparently, Google signed me out when I wrote the message above. :-/
Great post, and you're absolutely right!
Nice post, Steven. I have nothing to add to it. However, the saying little pitchers have big ears came to mind. Not to mention how a door isn't a door when it's ajar. As a kid I read these kind of things in books. I couldn't figure out how a pitcher has ears or how a door became a jar. We didn't talk like that in my house. I learned later after becoming edjumacated. My parents never lowered their voices or stopped talking when the kids entered the room. I did learn, from dear ol' mother, that hateful speech can color a kid's perception about anything or anyone. It's a good thing I had positive teachers growing up, or I wouldn't be the fabulous, humble person that I am today. Not to mention talky (in writing only).
Steve:
I would be interested in e-mailing you a couple pictures of myself. I cannot e-mail it by clicking into your link. Please mail it to tonyitalian1951@comcast.net and say STEVEN in the subject line. I will mail them to you later this evening or in the morning. Thanks bud!!!
Christina, I can think of a recent example of parents supporting their gay son, the kid is doing great now, it's a no brainer except to the people who don't use theirs.
Same here John, until my mom's sixth sense kicked in and we heard, "get into bed"! Lol
TGA, it is changing, too slow in many places but changes are coming.
Walter my parents never really spoke about it. Sometimes they said negative things and sometimes they felt sorry for gay people, they saw it as a mental illness.
It's ok Walter, I knew it was you, it had your style of writing to it if that makes sense.
I always agree with everything you say Debra! Lol
Deedles, so you see the giggle I got from you saying that you have nothing to add and then....
Yes my dad had a car with that problem, it would say the door is a jar when it was open. Who ever made that in the factory must have been tripping!
Uncle Spam is that you?
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