it gets better – Bookish Butch

Jodie Foster comes out with emotional tribute to her girlfriend of 14 years

OK,

we all knew,

right?

not,

a well kept secret:-)

In fact,

I don’t think,

it was,

a secret .

Ms Foster,

luv, luv, luv her!!

wanted to keep,

her private life,

private.

I believe,

that’s a,

fundamental right,

private life.

Of course,

when you have,

closet cases,

persecuting,

gays,

that’s something else.

Act up,

had a point,

when they were,

outing,

people who were,

hiding,

behind beards,

while people,

were dying,

and they were,

dying,

in part,

because of,

hypocrissy,

of the,

powers that be,

and when,

part of that,

structure,

that establisment,

happened to be,

gay,

and hiding it,

it was,

somehow,

worst.

This has nothing,

to do with,

the lovely Jodie,

she has never,

denied,

or,

claimed any beard,

she’s a dyke,

and we,

all knew it,

but,

just as there is,

importance,

in the,

It Gets Better Project,

telling youth,

things,

mostly improve,

and,

the whole,

what doesn’t,

kill you,

makes you stronger,

school of thought,

so,

is there symbolism,

in a beautiful,

articulate,

double Oscar winning actress,

telling,

Peoria, Victoria,

Brossard,

whatever,

I love this woman,

and we form,

a stable family unit,

and it’s important,

not for approval,

or accceptance,

but,

because our rights,

still,

today are not,

guaranted,

and these,

people vote.

So,

we need,

the Jodies,

of the world,

to stand up,

out and proud.

Well,

I think so,

What do you think?

Later girls

It’s raining and grey,

that’s the down side of Autumn.

Rain.

I’m siting at my desk,

which has a view of the Birch tree across the street.

The tree’s leaves are Yellow with a tinge of Orange.

My cat, The Dude, is sitting on the windowsill ,

his head in profile,

he appears to be the same colour.

Even at his advancing age,

he’s eleven,

he is still interested in birds and squirrels.

He and I have lived together for eight years now.

He is a sweet beast and a good friend.

I believe I have never mentioned him before,

a grave oversight,

he is an important part of my life.

Cats,

or dogs,

if you are so inclined,

make life better, smoother.

I think it has a lot to do with unconditional love.

When the world is picking on you,

you walk in the door,

and your four pawed friend,

is glad to see you.

You can’t beat that.

Moving on,

before you all think I have become some sort of,

strange cat lady.

Last week,

this lovely man who comes to my store,

spoke to me about this,

It Gets Better project.

I’m sure most of you have heard about it.

It was news to me.

After a well publicised rash of gay teen suicides,

brought on by bullying,

this project was created.

Basically,

adults,

gay and straight and all things in between,

record videos where they tell teens,

that it will,

Get Better,

that they will survive.

That eventually you find community,

that time and patience,

makes things better.

I may be over simplifying but,

you get the gist,

right?

I applaud the effort.

I think it comes from a good place.

Reaching young people through,

You Tube and all is a no brainer,

many of them spend their lives in front of screens.

So, nothing wrong,

with virtual role models and comfort.

When I was a teenager,

movies and books had a big influence.

Watching, Desert Hearts,

in which two women made love to each other,

and nobody died,

like in most previous dyke movies.

That was a seminal experience.

My parents being marginal people in their own way,

always expressed people’s right to difference.

Being Gay was fine,

different and more difficult,

but OK.

I know they worried,

about my happiness, about my choice,

and what loving parent wouldn’t?

Of course,

it was never a choice,

I was born,

Butch.

I have read a lot of criticism of this project.

About how it oversimplifies the problem etc.

That familial homophobia,

and society’s judgment of sexual minorities won’t go away,

as a result of well meaning celebrity video interventions.

Probably not, but,

it sure doesn’t hurt.

None of society’s ills and injustices,

are rectified through one thing.

But, many little things,

become the building blocks of change.

If this project,

can help teens to see that being different,

is not wrong,

just different,

well,

Bravo.

Later girls

Tag: it gets better

The Personal is still political

Every little bit, helps.