Many parents around the world find out that their teen child is gay. In 71 countries, it is a crime to come out of the closet and could be a death sentence. About 386,000 LGBTQ people want asylum.
In the case of a transgender student, Gavin Grim, born in the U.S., sued to use school bathrooms that relate to his new identity. I believe transgender males and female students should have their own bathrooms with shower stalls. The uneasiness felt by all students, straight or gay, would be gone in the locker room and other restrooms stated as male or female, if everyone was thoughtfully provided for.
My father, John Hope-Doeg, traveled around the world sponsored by the United States Tennis Association without financial benefits with several men and women players. One was more famous than my Dad, “Big Bill” Tilden, who won many grand slams. Big Bill was known to be gay and was accepted in the tennis community.
Long story short, glamorous parties after tournaments saluted first-place winners and Big Bill Tilden was showered with praise until he died – with little attendance at his funeral because he was gay. My father was at his funeral and scolded the global party-givers who were such hypocrites for not being there or sending condolences.
There will always be hypocrisy/racism/other negatives unless we all decide to change, be consistently nice, no hateful thoughts and less divided. More acceptance is needed to make the world go around. Not really hard to do if you think about it.
Sally Florence
Durango
