Sunday, July 01, 2007

BREAKING: Old People Not Genetically Required To Be Bigoted.

FYI - Bigmouth is on vacation this week, so posting might be a little light. Right now, we are sitting at our grandmother's computer (whose internet connection appears to be based upon the "two Dixie Cups and a length of yarn" model), but we wanted to relay a little anecdote:

See, our great uncle (brother to said grandmother) was gay. We never really knew him, but he was very successful and had a partner of nearly 30 years. According to our granny, they were "extremely devoted to each other." For the first time, we got up the nerve today to ask her about him, and what his life was like as a gay man in the forties, fifties and sixties. She said that it was odd - there weren't many people living openly like him and his partner. But if there was any negative reaction, she never heard about it.

"People wouldn't dare say anything to me," she said, "because it was obvious how much I loved them."

We've never been sure about what our older queer relative meant about us being gay, genetically. But in light of what we talked about last week during Pride, this seems particularly relevant.

And meanwhile - to our brother, if you're reading this, you're so not inheriting the Winslow Homer from her. She already gave us her grandmother's wedding china. You may be able to have the great-grandchildren, but we'll always have the taste.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Shame on you- fearlessly laying claim to family heirlooms while our grandparents are all still alive!

Damn you!