Colin-
Thanks and I get what you mean here. I forgot to mention that during my
childhood and adolecence that I also was persecuted for being shy, quiet,
and somewhat feminine in my demeanour. If I had a dime for everytime I was
called queer, faggot, nigger, etc. I could buy peoples tolerance. If your
natural mom was Spanish then you are mixed (therefore one of us ;-)
But I take it you are fair skinned, which is something I will never know
what that feels like. My number two son Julian is very fair so I feel he is
going to grow up a little different than Mikey. No matter what, I think they
will learn that we have always welcomed all kinds of people into our home
and never made a big deal about what colour they were or sexual preferences
etc. They have also seen many a sick child coming from Honduras to a US
hospital that have overnighted with us and have learned that loving and
caring for all mankind is the true path to follow.
Thanks for the post
Michael
NP-Seasons-Elton John
----- Original Message -----
From: colin <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Thursday, July 19, 2001 11:03 AM
Subject: Re: joni line [sjc]/ blackness
Not being black or even mixed race, i don;t feel i ahev much difficulty
understanding what you just wrote. i don't think many gay people would.
Algthough in some ways different, I think our experience is pretty much as
you describe.
When i was a child and living briefly here in the UK and longer in the
Australian outback, having a Spanish mother was a reason to be singkled out
and being treated differently. things are different now-no one ever aks
about my ethnic background. However, the gay thing is still there of course
and the reason we are on the 'outisde' and I think always will be.
I am reminded of Ellen telling Oprah, in an episode of Ellen, of Ellen's
experience and Oprah saying that she of course understood, being a black
woman etc. I found this both amusing and warming as in my experience in the
past equaiting the struggle of gay people with the struggle of people of
colour has resulted in anger and hate emanating form the people fo colour.
It seemed that the comparison was not welcomed regardless of how appropriate
it is.
At the basis of all such prejudice is fear and lack of self esteem. Both of
these things require the person to have an 'enemy' or someone to feel better
than rather than to actually to do the work necessary to change.
Whatever ethnic group, gender, sexuality, or whatever you are, there is
always someone who will hate you for it.
the trick is to love yourself regardless.
bw
colin
