Being Friends Is Telling Each Other The Truth

[dipenates]

Title: Being Friends Is Telling Each Other The Truth
Fandom: Brothers & Sisters
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: ~2,000
Characters: Kevin Walker/Scotty Wandell, ensemble
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Spoilers: Through 4.24: "On the Road Again".
Summary: Written for lgbtfest  prompt: Five times Kevin felt like his family discriminated against him .
Warning: Homophobia.

Comments

[csmars]

I really enjoyed this. Reading some of the comments, I feel that I didn't perceive this piece the same way some others have. When I first started reading, i was like "aww, poor kevin, I just wanna give him a hug." But as I got more into it, I don't think this is a story about homophobia or even sub-conscious homophobia that each Walkers have; I think it's just about being human. Everyone have prejudices about everyone else. I remember when I was younger and at this (fairly liberal) diversity leadership summer camp and one of the camp leaders was saying that the last prejudice he had to overcome was about "rednecks." And that was a powerful awakening which made me examine myself. And for sure, I have prejudices against conservatives and republicans, just as I'm sure Kevin does for Kitty and his dad and Saul and the McCallisters (even including Jason, I think).

I enjoyed this story because it gives us glimpses of the walkers, and really shows how human they are, in every twitch of an eyebrow or every offhand comment. And as readers bring in their own experience from watching the show, I think it send a positive message that a loving family does not means loving everything about them, and despite all the differences and fights in the Walker family, they are grounded by their connections to each other. Reading this, i also grudgingly thought Kevin can be a very sensitive guy, just as he has been on the show. So i think overall, this was very in-character and well written.

[dipenates]

Thanks for commenting, and sorry that I am only replying now. I managed to miss your comment in my inbox.

I don't think this is a story about homophobia or even sub-conscious homophobia that each Walkers have; I think it's just about being human. Everyone have prejudices about everyone else.

I agree that everyone has prejudices, and that this is part of the way that everyone is socialised.

The difference between assuming (for example) that all Republicans will be anti-choice and being prejudiced against gay people is that there are no power differentials in the former example, and there are in the latter. All societies are set up in a way that privileges straight people. Straight people are normalised, and all of the institutions and social norms exist around straightness.