Having ‘The Talk’ With Mom
By Kayla Burch
My girlfriend and I recently had “the talk” with my mother. She is a strong-willed, fiercely independent single mother. I was raised to value the importance of acceptance, tolerance and most of all a social awareness. But even knowing her forward-thinking, liberal views, I had some fear that she would be disappointed.
Much to my surprise, she was ecstatic. That night she got online and signed HRC’s Million for Marriage petition and wrote to our member of Congress about the Federal Marriage Amendment.
It never ceases to amaze me that we have such an ability to limit ourselves with our paralyzing fear. We tell ourselves over and over again that we are not normal, that we will not be accepted or tolerated. We play a tape in our head of so many terrible things, much worse than any right-wing conservative could ever come up with. We are our own worst enemy.
I am looking forward to the day when we can all look ourselves in the mirror and be proud of ourselves. It is not an easy path to tread, this life of ours. But, bit by bit, we will make it.
Our biggest hurdle, I fear, will be ourselves.
Oct. 21, 2004