Comments on: The Most Effective Campaign

By: Can I Quote You? Renee DeMusiak on voting your conscience « Crossing the T

Can I Quote You? Renee DeMusiak on voting your conscience « Crossing the T — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 16:04:36 +0000

[...] Activism, Current Events, Marriage, Politics, Quotes From last Saturday’s Fresno Bee, via Box Turtle Bulletin, comes this little snippet about a straight religious woman, Renee, and her boss Michael, a gay man [...]

By: Jason D

Jason D — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 10:22:55 +0000

“My partner and I are in our 21st year, and have always been ‘out’ to our friends and neighbors and co-workers. Mind you, we’re not the in-your-face-we’re-queer kinda people, but we don’t make it a secret.”

I always think it’s sad when we have to qualify being Out in this fashion.

I guess it comes from the attitude that there is only one way to be Out: running down the street in drag, screaming the lyrics to “Song For The Lonely”, with sparklers on your head, wearing glittery immitations of Dororthy’s ruby slippers. Sure, some folks are like that, but as I like to say “Not all of us can be fabulous”

By: Denise

Denise — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 09:04:20 +0000

By far the most effective campaign for equality is to live openly with dignity and kindness.

Amen! Hearts and minds are not changed as much by rhetoric as by simple contact. Simply by living openly, I know I have touched several of my students’ lives. Those are only the ones who have come back to tell me about it in under 2 years. It’s kind of an awesome feeling to know so immediately.

By: zrainswva

zrainswva — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 16:20:24 +0000

Congratulations, Eric! My partner and I are in our 21st year, and have always been ‘out’ to our friends and neighbors and co-workers. Mind you, we’re not the in-your-face-we’re-queer kinda people, but we don’t make it a secret. Hey, after 21 years, how could it be? We’ve watched our neighbors kids be born, grow up and move away, and hopefully that exposure will help them all be more well-rounded, accepting people.

By: People can change : Equality Loudoun

People can change : Equality Loudoun — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 00:35:52 +0000

[...] hysteria to be ridiculous – well, just look at what happens. From the Fresno Bee, via Box Turtle Bulletin: Renee DeMusiak, 52, the florist shop employee, grew up with the idea that marriage meant only a [...]

By: werdna

werdna — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 21:00:42 +0000

That’s Glinda, with an “i”, queen!

By: Ben in Oakland

Ben in Oakland — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 15:59:52 +0000

Good for you, Eric. you’ve been otgether ALMOST as long as I’ve been alive!!! :)

This just underlines the importance ofcoming out. As long as people don’t know who we are, they have the safety of their bigotry.

As Glenda said, “Come out! come out! wherever you are!”

By: eric marcoux

eric marcoux — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 06:33:00 +0000

Yesterday my lover, my husband, my sweet friend celebrated our 55th anniversary. We’ve been fortunate, here in Portland, Oregon, to be able to be out and very visible for some years. We are 78 and 80. We participate in an elder gym class three times a week. Yesterday the entire room sang Happy Anniversary. The guys in the locker room shouted congratulations. And I could safely tell them – to their straight delight – that now that my husband has a pace maker I was expecting electrifying love making from him. Life has been good good good to us consequent on our coming out years ago. I’m impressed by the numbers of straight people who literally rejoice in our long love affair. Love your site.
Eric Marcoux