2008
The Great Thing About Being A Lesbian
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Having lived most of my life as a straight woman, I can honestly say I am much happier as a lesbian. I told this to a straight friend of mine and she crinkled up her nose and asked me why. It was a funny reaction because I realize she was thinking, “Eww, how could you possibly be happier as a persecuted deviant?” I decided to overlook the reaction, but I did get to wondering why it was that I am happier now.
There are the obvious answers–I am living honestly and I can be in a fulfilling emotional relationship–but let’s face it, there are some downsides, too. Here in Pennsylvania I can lose my job, some people are prejudiced against me, my partner and I cannot have our relationship legally recognized. And on and on.
So why do I feel so great about being gay? Foremost, because I am living outside the box. My world was transformed from black and white to technicolor once I accepted my lesbianism. Perhaps the rainbow is the perfect symbol for homosexuals after all! I started to view people and circumstances in an altogether different light. I became more forgiving, less rigid. I see possibilities where before I only saw the path before me.
After I crossed the barrier from straight to gay in my mind, I began to question other “truths” I was socialized into accepting. My world became much bigger and much smaller at the same time. Bigger because I realized there are many paths people can take and that all those paths are valid and OK. I realized diversity is a good thing and that it makes the fabric of our world richer and more complete. So, yes, it is a good thing there are different races, different languages, different cultures, different religions, different political systems. Instead of fighting those differences, we need to learn to embrace them.
My world also became smaller as I realized that although these differences exist, they are simply a vehicle for expression. Inside, we are all the same, no matter what our heritage, orientation or beliefs. We all strive for the same things out of life: love, companionship, trust, understanding, knowledge, security.
Accepting myself as a lesbian has made me a better person by allowing my mind to bend, to question the status quo and to look beyond the surface for the answers. As I transitioned my life from straight to lesbian, I realized I was the same, only my focus had changed. I was able to extrapolate that all people are the same–that their differences are also just differences of focus. I’ve become more tolerant, less judgmental…I have become wise. I have discovered the depth of happiness that is derived not only from accepting myself, but also from accepting other people. And that’s a really great thing!
You can loose your job because of your sexual orientation?!? Jee, and I thought homosexual people had troubles in my country… Guess they have is easy here…
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