 |
 |
|
 Pride Isn't Just For Me
Sure, coming out was nerve-wracking at the time, but it's done, it's over-with, and I've moved on from that and am living my happy lesbian life with my partner in our gorgeous century home. I work at a bank, at the same place as my best friend, a straight woman.
My best friend and I have known each other for years and years. At first, she struggled with the fact that I'm a lesbian. She'd never known a lesbian before and she didn't know what to do with the information. It didn't take long, though, for her to feel comfortable talking about it, asking questions, wanting to know how I discovered I'm a lesbian, how I felt, if I was planning to tell the people at work, had I ever been to "one of those bars". She's always been such a good friend, I knew I was right to tell her, and it's only brought us closer.
Still though, whenever my partner and I had other homosexual couples over, or took part in a lesbian/gay/bi alliance of people against homophobia, it was all done without my best friend. It never crossed my mind that she should take part in these things. Everyone else in these activities was homosexual. I didn't want her to feel uncomfortable; different.
One autumn at work though, it happened. Another employee about his homosexuality had harassed a new employee, a man who was openly gay. It was very hard on the entire staff, which until then had felt very close. Action was taken against the offending employee, but a strange sort of something still lingered in the air.
So it really lifted my spirits when a poster appeared in the lunchroom that stated that a group of volunteers were getting together to form a support group for employees who felt they'd been harassed. The groups' primary focus was the support of gay and lesbian employees, but it spoke also of racism, sexism and other heavy issues. I decided instantly that I wanted to be a part of this group. So after work that Wednesday, I walked into the conference room that was designated for the group:and there was my very best friend standing at the head of the table, handing out pamphlets to everyone who arrived. It was her group, her idea, her pride in her best friend.
Submit your own story!
|
|
|
|
|
