Diane Clary
In this world where things are becoming more and more digitized and less and less personalized I’ve noticed that hate seems to be an emotion that is spreading rapidly. I know this is not new, people have always been taught how to hate those who don’t mirror their beliefs; however, just as many, if not more, people are taught how to love, accept and protect others.
As a resident of SaddleBrooke I live in a rosy bubble. My feeling is that this bubble keeps me insulated from the outside world; I do not have to read or listen to the news if I don’t want to and so I’m immune to the forces of evil that are attacking my brothers and sisters, right? I can just keep my head buried beneath the surface of our pool and hum really loudly so that reality does not get into my world – my busy, peaceful, sheltered world. I’ve managed to live like this for 10 months. But the events of June 12, 2016 were like a huge pin popping my beautiful, peaceful bubble. Hate just doesn’t make any sense to me.
I moved a lot growing up. I went to 12 schools from K-12 and have lived in 11 states and two countries. I’m not like anyone else. I grew up bullied for my height, my weight, my teeth, my hair, my religion – things that make me “me”. But no one ever put a gun to my head and told me what and who I could be, who I could love or whether I had the right to walk this Earth.
We have all met those who believe that theirs is the only opinion that counts. It’s frustrating, sickening, maddening. Sometimes I believe that my opinions and beliefs are the only ones that count, too. In the case of joining GLAAS (Gays, Lesbians and Allies at SaddleBrooke) my opinion and those of the other 80 plus members should be the way of the world, should be the opinion that counts – but I won’t shoot you if you disagree.
My husband and I joined GLAAS as soon as we moved to SaddleBrooke. We felt strongly about our support for a group of people who found love in another person who doesn’t happen to mirror the teachings in a Bible. Many of those who have been targeted by hate crimes died with their loves, died next to their partners, died protecting their family and were forced from this world too early. How dare someone make that decision for them; one idiot made the decision for many that it was up to him who lived and who died.
Frank Hernandez, one of the Orlando shooting victims, had a tattoo that read, “Love has no gender.” If we do not publicly support the LGBTQ community in our little bubble, if those of us who have loved ones who are members of the LGBTQ community don’t support their right to love who they want, if we don’t do our part to stop the hate, then who will? This shouldn’t be a difficult decision for straight people to make. My husband and I are so proud to be living in an environment of acceptance and compassion where a group like this exists.
However, wouldn’t it be nice if we didn’t need an organized club that supports love? I want to live in a world where being who you truly are and loving who your heart wants is just a typical life decision accepted by all without prejudice or question. Maybe my rose SaddleBrooke bubble can be that world—or at least one of many acceptance pebbles dropped into the world lake, rippling slowly but surely outward, affecting all with love.