GLADD } Let Aunt Betty Feel Awkward by Thinking Straight about Being Gay

  qsaltlake.com       

Amidst the turkey, gravy and stuffing, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation is encouraging queers and their allies to speak up at the Thanksgiving dinner table. In a recent study of American’s who have a positive view toward queers, four out of five said they personally knew someone who identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.  GLAAD wants to help make even more people aware that they have friends and family members who are queer.

“The fact is, while you’re scarfing down mashed potatoes and staying silent while everyone else at the table is freely speaking their minds, you’re missing a golden opportunity to make real, honest progress by talking about your life, and the things you care about. It’s OK if Aunt Betty feels a little awkward at first, it’s important for her to know that someone she loves cares deeply about LGBT equality. And the more we all talk about what’s important to us, the less awkward those conversations will become,” GLAAD said in statement. “Speaking openly and honestly about your life with your loved ones is one of the best ways for all of us to move forward together.” 

This Thanksgiving, Let Aunt Betty Feel Awkward

The LGBT community has a ton to be thankful for from the past year. But we also have a long way to go. And believe it or not, putting down that forkful of stuffing for a minute and just talking about yourself (if you’re able to) this Thanksgiving can make a huge difference. We’ve all had those Thanksgiving dinners where Aunt Betty decides this is the perfect time to discuss a year’s worth of ailments and medical treatments. Well, you know what? If she can talk about her podiatrist, you can talk about your partner.

The fact is, while you’re scarfing down mashed potatoes and staying silent while everyone else at the table is freely speaking their minds, you’re missing a golden opportunity to make real, honest progress by talking about your life, and the things you care about. It’s okay if Aunt Betty feels a little awkward at first, it’s important for her to know that someone she loves cares deeply about LGBT equality. And the more we all talk about what’s important to us, the less awkward those conversations will become.

Speaking openly and honestly about your life with your loved ones is one of the best ways for all of us to move forward together.

This was a banner year for the movement towards LGBT equality. The number of same-sex couples who can get married in the United States doubled when New York legalized marriage equality. Gay men and women are now legally allowed to serve openly in the U.S. military. Millions of people “went purple” around the world to show support for LGBT young people on Spirit Day. Chaz Bono brought unprecedented awareness of the transgender community when he was picked to compete on Dancing with the Stars. Numbers came out showing that in the past decade, the number of same-sex couples who have adopted children in the United States has more than tripled, from fewer than 6,500 couples to nearly 22,000.The Bottom Line.

At GLAAD, we try to amplify the voices of the LGBT community in the media, so that people in households all across America have a better idea about what it means to be LGBT. But there’s no substitute for getting that info firsthand. Talking about our lives with our loved ones and family members is vital to advancing equality. It doesn’t just put a human face to an otherwise politically charged issue. It puts YOUR face on the issue. And to people who care about you, that really matters. So go ahead and tell your stories. Be true to who you are around your loved ones this Thanksgiving. And even if Aunt Betty feels a little awkward this year, she’ll be greeting you with open arms and asking you for info next year.