International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia

Every time I close the door on reality, it comes in through the windows ~ Jennifer Unlimited

About a year, I attended my church’s regional meeting as it voting delegate. I go to a very open and accepting church, so it’s no surprise that I am but one of three LGBTQ individuals on our session of nine. On the docket for voting that day were some language changes to the Heidelberg Confession as well as some language changes in our Book of Order to change the rules surrounding marriage from “one man and one woman” to more accepting language such as “two people.”

For the first time in my forty-two years at the time, I actually sat in a room where people read all the verses from the Bible that proclaim homosexuality to be a sin. It wasn’t as scary as I guess it sounds, but more amusing. It made me reflect on my own life. It seems I’ve done a pretty good job of insulating myself from that sort persecution. What I mean by that is that I’ve surrounded myself with people who are supportive and understand that being gay is not a choice at all, but who I am.

That’s not always easy. I grew up in a small town in Nebraska in the 80s. I was bullied, teased, and taunted for being a sissy, different, a misfit. But I decided to change all that when I left home, and I haven’t looked back since. Without even realizing it, I only associated with people and places conducive to living an out lifestyle. I am thankful that I’ve never been assaulted for being an openly gay, effiminate man.

If you’re sitting there as an ally, all I can ask you to do is stand up for us. Continue to like and share the positive stories and memes that support equal rights for all people, including LGBTQ individuals. I’m not asking you to engage in online arguments that support our cause. But continue to support us

If you’re sitting there as a person feeling the brunt of the same discrimination I have experienced, just remember it does get better. Even though I still live in state where I could be fired from my job for being gay or be denied housing or other services, I live a relatively safe and happy life with my husband of 6 years. If you feel stuck in a small town, figure out what your options might be to move to bigger a city. But remember this, just like in the Wizard of Oz, sometimes you find happiness right where you are. It just all depends.

I am honored to be a part of this year’s Hop Against Homophobia and Transphobia (HAHAT) in conjunction with International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO). Join me along with 130 other writers, bloggers, publishers, and cover designers in promoting peace and liberty for all people.

To celebrate, I am giving away an electronic copy, in your choice of format, of my debut novel, A Place to Call Their Own. Leave a comment and next Saturday, May 24, I will do a random drawing and contact the winner.

If you are reading this post through another site such as Goodreads, Amazon, or any other feed, please be sure to find the page itself to make your comment to be entered to win. Here's the link:

http://deanpacefrech.blogspot.com/2014/05/international-day-against-homophobia.html

After you make your comment and enter my drawing, follow this link to find the others participating in this blog hop for a wonderful cause:

http://hopagainsthomophobia.blogspot.com/

http://dayagainsthomophobia.org/

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Is it possible for two Civil War veterans to find their place in the world on the Kansas Prairie?

My first novel, A Place to Call Their Own is available from BookStrand!

Love is greater than hope or faith, but can Reverend Leander Norris convince a jury that the love he shares with another man is natural? 

My latest novel, Disappear With Me is available from BookStrand!

Then request an Authorgraph, an electronic inscription, from me.

Join the conversation, use #APTCTO and #disappearwithme on social media!