Daily Coming Out

[crboltz]

I've been following a live blog of the Prop 8 trail currently underway in California. There is much to interest any observer of life, but there was a particular point made today, that I feel compelled to write about

Comments

[kclightman]

Wow Chris, what a lovely piece. *wild applause*

I would love it if you would continue to share your thoughts and feelings as the trial progresses. I am always thinking of you and hoping for the triumph of right and justice.

[crboltz]

There is a lot of minutia and detail stuff tot he trial that isn't interesting outside of a legal junkie circle, but as things come up I'll post.

[doctorray]

Very thoughtful, and very true! Although the experience isn't identical, I had an encounter last Christmas ('08) that might make you laugh. I was in Barnes and Noble buying gifts, and I had quite a stack of books (I like to give books - big surprise there!). I was wearing my school GSA hoodie in the checkout line, and when I got to the front, the checker asked me if I wanted a B&N rewards card - which would have practically paid for itself with the discount on the stack of books I was buying right there. I asked some questions about how much it was, etc. and the checker piped up "And it's not just you who can use it - your...[significant pause] partner can use it, too!" I guess the combo of the wedding ring and the GSA hoodie hit the sweet spot. I was actually somewhat appreciative that the person took the trouble to try to use a more inclusive phrase... but it does go to show that all our interactions are full of meaning - and the stakes are often higher for gays and lesbians than for us straight folks.

[crboltz]

My colleague is the faculty advisor of the Diversity Club (our GSA), and he regularly refers to his wife as his partner, which I understand has lead to some humorous situations. I certainly appreciate people who try to be inclusive. We have another co-worker who used to refer to Jim as my "Friend." While I think that Jim is a friend, he is so much more, and I had to remind them that my marriage license from the state of California is as legitimate as their license (or even more so, because the CA Supreme Court just ruled on the legitimacy of my license :) )

[doctorray]

I love going to conferences and seeing the looks on peoples' faces during the icebreaker activities after I describe myself with something like "... and I'm the defensive coordinator and d-line coach for the football team, I coach shotputters and discus throwers for the track team, and I'm the faculty advisor to our Gay-Straight Alliance." Some people really get a big smile on their faces. Others look confused - which amuses me to no end.

[crboltz]

Additionally, when we got our B&N rewards card, the clerk was also eager to inform me that Jim could use it too -- of course we were Christmas shopping together and had a brief chat about weather it was worth it -- we need to use it probably one more time in the year to be worth it. -- I think it works at BN .com which will certainly be worth it.

I wonder if BN has a corporate attitude/policy about making it clear to customers that same-sex couples are as welcome as opposite-sex couples.