From the Top
by Penny Cullers, FHA President

About the first of November I feel myself tightening up about the prospect of spending Thanksgiving dinner sitting around the table at my mother's house, my lowly presence contrasted against the blatant heterosexuality of my sister and her successful breeding of three point one children. I am the black sheep of the family in spite of any talents I possess because I am a lesbian. I am an offspring of heterosexual family values and I find out every year at Thanksgiving that I am not one of those things that are valued. It is difficult for me to give thanks for this while I choke down the sacrificial turkey that gave its life for the same ritual and tradition that denies me value.

This year is different for me. I do not feel the same fear that I have felt in the past. It is different because I am different. I am making a conscious choice this year to celebrate the glory of my homosexuality. Not only will I celebrate it while I am at my family's Thanksgiving table, I will give a Thanksgiving toast to the glory of my own lifestyle while thinking of my real family, my lesbiagay friends and comrades. I will endure the furtive glances of my parents, the furrowed brow that my so called liberal sister will give me, and I will not let them bother me. I will not allow them to take away from me that which I value, that which they do not. They can live with my alternative choices and love me for it.

I give thanks, too, to the trials and troubles, the joys and the fun, the bountiful harvest I and my community have discovered this past year. I give thanks that our human planet does seem to be evolving a little and growing the tiniest more accepting of lesbigay people. I give thanks that I live in a time period that allows the Flint Hills Alliance to germinate, giving gay, lesbian, and bisexual brothers and sisters a place at the Thanksgiving table together, breaking bread, caring for each other, and creating our own family values. See you all at the Thanksgiving potluck. Happy Thanksgiving.

Back to FHO Nov 96 Home Page