Fridays I usually go to lunch with my co-worker, Cynthia. We go to the same restaurant, usually sit at the same table, and always have the same server. I like that they know us there and we are treated like part of the establishments family. Sometimes Cynthia and I can get raucous in our mid-day break from the library. This last Friday was not one of those days, with the heat and me being a little on the recovery side of a nasty sinus headache we were fairly subdued.
Midway through lunch I was telling Cynthia about the current boycott of Chick-fil-a because of COO, Dan Cathy's, offensive statement to the Baptist Press that, “I think we are inviting God's judgment on our nation when we shake our fist at Him and say 'we know better than you as to what constitutes a marriage' and I pray God's mercy on our generation that has such a prideful, arrogant attitude to think that we have the audacity to define what marriage is about." So when I say this stance was hurtful to same-sex families I am not exaggerating. Nor am I wrong in choosing to take my arrogant gay money somewhere else.
Granted I did not quote Cathy's statement, I just said, "Did you hear about the jerk who owns Chick-fil-a, telling me I am arrogant for wanting to be married to Natalie. Boycotting Chick-fil-a from now on."
The old guy at the table next to us pushes his table back and gathers up his stuff and starts to walk away. A server walks by and the man stops him and says, "I need a new table away from that..." pointing at me, "Gay talk." He got louder on each word and started looking around as if he expected people to join in and start throwing stones at me.
Cynthia looked up confused and said, "What just happened?"
"Homophobe," I said loud enough for the old man to hear.
The man was moved and the wait staff started circling around our table to laugh at the offended party. I have to admit everyone, but the homophobe, was actually really supportive and more shocked by his reaction than that I am a lesbian. However, it hurt. Here I am eating lunch with my friend and he eavesdrops on our conversation and has the gall to be offended and make a scene. I respect his right to have a different opinion, but not his right to an outburst at my expense. Truthfully, I just wanted to tell at him to go eat his lunch at Chick-fil-a where they serve hate with a side of waffle fries.
2 comments:
When people have this kind of reaction to gays it makes me question their hearts. Were this just 50 years ago, would he have been offended to sit next to a black woman? I have infinite hope that mankind is good and loving but then a few awful people will always want to set us back.
Sadly, I am sure you are right, that so called "Great Generation," is not so great. The good news is that younger generations find this almost a non-issue, that gives me hope.
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