Lipstick Lesbian: Sweet smell of progress

by H. Rachelle Graham in Lipstick Lesbian | 0 comments

Change is a scary word for, well, everyone. So it is no shock that it takes time for humans to progress, and for some, like Glenn Beck, they resist change so much they actually move backward, entering into an alternate universe called “disturbed reality.”

I’m not smoking whatever Glenn Beck is currently smoking. But as a pig-tailed teen I did think if two people of the same sex got married they would, in fact, break down the sanctity of marriage and the fabric of society. I copied the same words of my Bishop and the five before him.

Change for me was Night of the Living Dead blended with the Scream series as I blossomed into what I always was but was too afraid to be – a homo.

I ran from the girls locker room like it was infested with pink rodents. After swim practice, I’d close my eyes while putting on blue jeans and a pastel shirt and then I’d run out of there like someone was chasing me.

Things only improved as other people started commenting, including boyfriends. As I was about to ride the roller coaster, my boyfriend said, “You know you’re bi, don’t you?”

I sat there frozen, unable to get on the ride. I was pushed sideways by a cute single-rider girl who jumped ahead and stole my spot. Immediately, she looked cozy sitting up next to him. She fit there. I didn’t.

Luckily, change gradually stopped being so traumatic and I learned to accept it as a good thing. I stopped praying every night to become someone else and prayed to thank the heavens that I was me.

Not only had I changed for the better, but family members also changed as a result.

For example, I listen many times as my dad talks with passion about how gays and lesbians should be able to get married and it swells me with pride and happiness. He used to be a stout Mormon missionary who believed all LGBT individuals were sinners that fought against God.

Now my dad will tell anyone who’ll listen that gays are born that way and it is in the brain. My mom echoes the same words; both a big change from the decades of devout Mormonism.

One of my favorite quotes is by Saint Augustine: “The world is a book, and those who do not travel, read only a page.” The same goes for those who do not open their minds and accept people of all walks of life, then they only get a page of a book.”

Change makes it possible for good things to replace the bad.

While I was listening to Christmas music in July (a week early), I got one of my favorite presents – a text message from the Human Rights Campaign telling me New York recognizes same-sex marriages. Woohoo! Together and equal! I jumped up and down and then turned off the Glee Christmas music and switched on the New York satellite news.

The first Republican to switch his vote from inequality to equality in the Republican controlled New York congress was James Alesi. He gave many reasons for his change in vote. For example, he said the LGBT groups in the state were finally working in harmony and that he didn’t feel his party would try to get him out of office. Either way, he said this time he voted with his conscience.

Oh, the sweet taste of change.

Thousands are expected to get married as soon as the law goes into effect and some of those will not be from the Empire State as there is no resident requirement to get married. They could soon turn into the largest gay and lesbian wedding destination. Exciting. Now I’ll have another excuse to travel to the literature capital. My Christmas present in July is hearing the state I want to end up in has finally jumped up on the equality bus.

I’m content knowing people can change for the better and they do. It also gives me hope.