Just a general question ....

[smokeysdad]

Just moved to a suburb of Kansas City, Misssouri. Some people are okay. But a lot of them here are throwbacks to long ago. Since I live with my significant other, there has been some name calling and definite glares and stares. My question is - how have you dealt with this in your life? I know we've all had to deal with this at one point or another

Comments

[jeffster]

I hear ya...i live in a really tiny country town in SC...it was really hard adjusting since i came from NJ and didn't experience all that much intolerance. there's definitely not as many accepting people livin in the bible belt but i found people in my neighborhood that are really cool and find myself pleasantly suprised by folks all the time. once you guys have a nice group of friends it won't be so bad. hang in there bud.

[smokeysdad]

thanks for your reply. i also got your reply in my email inbox. i replied from there initially. don't know if you got anything from there. i'm still new at this.

[sourdick]

Why did you move to MI? Wouldnt gay-friendliness be one of the factors when determining where you might live?

[nikolche]

Some people prefer to challenge ideas than move to a place where they don't know anyone/will be just another face/whatever. I don't get it, but I also grew up in California so what the hell do I know.

[sourdick]

Some people are dumb, too. (not us, others)

[derflughafen]

I CONCUR

[nikolche]

Two real options here. You can ignore them (what I do with the idiots in DC) or you can get some fun out of pissing them off (I've done this too, but I also got my ass kicked a lot more often). There's also trying to educate people, but I've found that it doesn't work with most rabidly homophobic types.

Is there ANYTHING gay related you could join? Sometimes just having other local people to talk to helps. I kind of loathe the DC gay community (too Stepford for my tastes), but there are a few areas that are interesting. See if there's a team or social group or something else that interests you to join.

[smokeysdad]

i think my best option will be to ignore them and play them off. the comments that i've gotten from here have helped some and i want to thank all of you.

[nightfun]

Some people are just small minded and uneducated. If they don't really know you then what they have to say shouldn't even matter to you. Be who you are and forget the nay sayers.

[smokeysdad]

i totally agree with you. i'll have to remember what you said here when i do run up against some small-minded asshole again.

[artkouros]

We have a charter school in our neighborhood, so we have a lot of "special" children that we see from time to time. Sometimes they say and do really retarded things - we don't react because, well - they're retarded.

Same thing applies to your neighbors.

And don't forget, you aren't alone. There are other gays and gay friendly people all around you, even if you don't know them.

If you feel that you just must respond, I think grabbing your SO around the neck and pulling him into a kiss sends the correct message.

[smokeysdad]

thanks. i like the last line the best. my s.o. has the most kissable lips.