Queers Ain't Welcome: The Sign

Even though the previous posted sign, "Queers Ain't Welcome" comes from the southwestern part of this state, nonetheless it is a disturbing sign. It is a reminder that we, unfortunately, live in a kind of illusion of a bubble in Chapel Hill-Carrboro-Durham-Raleigh-Cary-Garner, as well as Charlotte, Asheville, Wilmington, Boone, and Greensboro...to name a few places. But these places are not necessarily "safe" places for those of us who are LGB or T people. These places are filled with people who would, if pushed came to shove, put a sign up that would say "Queers Ain't Welcome." That sign comes up when our children are not welcome because we, as parents, are "homos", and children of "Queers Ain't Welcome." That sign comes up in church when we want to be ordained or married: "queers ain't welcome." That sign comes up when we want to be in the hospital when our partners are ill: "queers ain't welcome." That sign comes up when we want the same tax advantages as our heterosexual equals: "queers ain't welcome." That sign comes up when we join a fitness club under family membership: "queers ain't welcome." That sign comes up when we sign our children up for private pre-school in churches: "queers ain't welcome." That sign comes up when we want to be part of a religious institution's program, paid for by the federal government's faith based initiative, like Salvation Army: "queers ain't welcome." When our gay sons sign up for Boy Scouts, the sign that comes up: "queers ain't welcome." When our LGBT children want to attend a high school prom as an LGBT couple: "queers ain't welcome." At some Divinity Schools, attached to major research universities that receive federal funds, those seminaries can still deny us a position because: "queers ain't welcome." Children's books that reflect our families, like "Heather Has Two Moms" are not welcome or allowed in bookstores or public libraries because "queers ain't welcome."

I could go on...really!

Get the point?

In so many pats of the world, of this country, in this state, in this region, in this county, in this city: "queers ain't welcome."

It is time to change.

Peace,

Brett