Hosted by Queer Town Abbey an online magazine and a social networking website, tailored specifically for the LGBTQ community and anyone who supports the rights of its members.
The theme of this blog hop is “Your first experience in the LGBTQ community”
I actually don't remember my first experience. I never had the challenge of coming out as LGBTQ to my family or my community. I'm not gay but was always involved in theatre and went to a high school of performing arts. The culture was there and I never thought anything of it. It wasn't until I hit my 20's that I started to realize being gay was an issue for some. I knew on some level that my gay friends struggled within the community but embarrassingly, I didn't realize how much. One incident brought that "knew on some level" to a more personal one. My friend Gabriel and I had gone out for a night of dancing and fun. At one particular club, a group of guys decided to beat Gabriel up for no reason other than he was gay. I'm not a fist fight kind of girl but I do stick up for my friends. And it got bad. I think that's when it truly hit home (in more ways than one) the struggle he faced as a gay man in a straight community. Not because of the physical fight but because of the emotional pain it caused him afterwards. Emotional pain he didn't deserve.
I always try and think of the good that comes from a bad situation. What good came from this? (Other than my Doc Martins+Ballet background=Good kicks in a fight) Well, it made me more sensitive and less naïve. Just because I grew up accepting of people's sexuality didn't mean everyone felt the same way. I was unprepared for how violent people could be. I was unprepared for the aftermath. I was unprepared for how much rage I felt at how blatantly unfair the situation was. It's why I'm so vocal about LGBTQ rights today. It's why I'm raising kids who are aware of the struggles and how important it is for people to have equal rights.
I do hope you have a wonderful July 4th and beyond. July the 4th marks the celebration of Independence Day in the United States. Queer Town Abbey invites you to follow the blog hop and celebrate the LBGTQ march toward independence. Onto the blog hop and prizes...
My prize is an ecopy of my latest paranormal gothic horror:
STRUCK
by Clarissa Johal
The shadows hadn't been waiting.
The shadows had been invited.
After a painful breakup, Gwynneth Reese moves in with her best friend and takes a job at a retirement home. She grows especially close to one resident, who dies alone the night of a terrific storm. On the way home from paying her last respects, Gwynneth is caught in another storm and is struck by lightning. She wakes in the hospital with a vague memory of being rescued by a mysterious stranger. Following her release from the hospital, the stranger visits her at will and offers Gwynneth a gift--one that will stay the hands of death. Gwynneth is uncertain whether Julian is a savior or something more sinister... for as he shares more and more of this gift, his price becomes more and more deadly.
* To Enter Queer Town Abbey’s Giveaway *
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"What was the name of my friend?"
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