Overcoming our Phobias

We have three children, all in their thirties, and it's great that we can stay connecting through family chat messaging. Yesterday morning our youngest greeted us with "Happy International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia," which we'd have to agree is a mouthful. Our kids and their partners have friends and family members who are LGBTQ2, so it didn't surprise me that one of them would acknowledge this day. What ensued was a conversation about the best resources for education in this area, if we're not including Schitt's Creek. They are obviously well-informed and this was good to see.

It occurred to me later in the day that this would have been a very different conversation in my family of birth, when we were in our teens or twenties. Being Gay or Lesbian was rarely discussed, and then in a negative light. There was neither acceptance nor tolerance and being LGBTQ2 would be considered deviant and sinful.My dear mother came to a different and accepting outlook as she aged, but my minister father never did. 

As we raised our children we shifted our perspective, and even repented of our prejudices. Our family had Gay and Lesbians friends, not by design but because people we cared about shared their orientation with us over time. Some had been in traditional heterosexual marriages but realized that this wasn't honest or whole for either partner. 

We're grateful that our three and their partners are more inclusive that we were at an earlier stage of life. They assume that what is important is how you love rather than who some segments of society and religion say you're allowed to love. 

Here is the United Church of Canada link if you'd like to learn more: 

https://united-church.ca/worship-special-days/international-day-against-homophobia-transphobia-and-biphobia