[princessbelle]

Originally Posted by Sabine Gallais

I certainly don't hide who I am. My partner and I bought a home in a small, relatively conservative town. Actually, this small conservative town has A LOT of queers in it. We've never had so much as a dirty look from anyone ever. We have two queer city council members also. It's a nice place to live and basically we're all simply tax paying, home owning, sidewalk shoveling, lawn mowing folk. I'm not a huge proponent of stickers, flags and newspaper announcements about my private life. Frankly, I don't want to know what my neighbors do in bed or whom they do it with. Why should I announce what I do? Queer is not all I am, it's only a part of who I am. It shouldn't matter either way, but I'm not naive about my safety which is first and foremost.

Thank you so much for posting!!!! You are right on. You are also very lucky IMO to live in a gay friendly place. I agree with what you say about not needing to announce it also....as I too feel that being gay is only part of who i am. However, this is not a gay friendly place at all. There is a part of me that wants to stand up to those that degrade and denounce those of us that are. It is a different world here. I wish it wasn't...but it is.

I am just at the point that I want to take a stand and try to help so that another house burning may be avoided. It would be different if i could live my life openly and not have fear. There would then be no reason to fly a flag or have a bumper sticker or scream it to the top of my lungs. It would not be a problem and therefore would not be an issue. I have two choices....stand up for who i am and support my community or hide and fear peeping out the window. That is where "I" live. That is "My" world....and it is sad.