The Saturday Morning Post: Happy LGBTQ+ Pride Month

I am proud of who I am, every day, of every month, of every year.  I try to set a good example, to treat others with care and respect. I try to be kind to the earth. 

A part of who I am is being a gay man, a man with a husband.  A variation from the usual.  

My journey has been a circutitus one.  In the early years I experienced a lot of fear, self loathing, denial.  I have an ex-wife.  I tried to make a choice, and being gay is not a choice, it is a part of my core being, not something I can change, or something I would want to change. It has not always been easy, I have lost jobs, friends, alienated family members who think being gay is wrong, or is something I could change.  

There have also been a lot of positives, loving family, friends, the love of my life.  J and I are coming up on 30 years together this fall, and we still make one another happy, still make one another smile, still find interesting things to talk about and adventures to share.  

I try to frame my understanding of the experience of others, through the lens of my experience.  I know what it feels like to be an outsider, to be an other. My experience is based on my life, but I know that others have a similar experience of being the other, the different, the outsider.  Just as I have wished for open doors and open arms, I try to open my doors and arms to others who are perceived as "different." 

Deep down underneath it all, what we really want is security and happiness.  

We are not much for crowds, so we will avoid the parades, and celebrate in our own way.  

Be Extra Proud of Who You Are This Month!