At 35 years old I was sick and tired of hearing 'jokes' about gays and lesbians in a marriage that I knew was a sham from day one. But, like all 'good girls' I did marry and spent four miserable years trapped in a world that demoralized and beat me down. There was a turning point that does not need to be described. A divorce later and a move to another state gave me back my self respect and the courage to be me. As a 72 year old lesbian who has been in a stable and loving and nurturing same sex relationship for 39 years I still feel the sting of those jokes and remarks. I fear for the youth of today as I see the suicide numbers climbing for LGBTQ+ kids. BE KIND
♥️♥️ It may still look pretty grim at times, but now we know how many of us there really are. Perceptions are changing, acceptance is more commonplace. We'll get there one way or another. "On a long enough timeline, we win regardless."
Yep. All of the grifters and those who do woke this and that, it's for clicks and views so they can make money. It's sad how many people buy into it. I'm glad people like Beau exist.
"I'm homeschooling my daughter cuz all of her friends are going l*sbian!... and I ain't having that sh*t!" -Actual quote from my wife's brother-in-law. My response: "We're homeschooling as well and have been for a couple years now... but it was the kids getting sh*t and killed in school... that was our line." He hung up.
Homeschooling my 6yo cause I can't do another 12 yrs of gun and b0mb threats at his school. My oldest had at least a dozen threats and one situation. Never again
It's crazy how many homeschooling parents are fundamentalist loons. It's so hard to find sane patents to group with without have bigotry or religion shoved in your face
@stonedsasquatch By far, the most stressful situation we've ever been through in a school setting, and those are just warnings, lockdowns and drills. Never again is right.
If you are in the closet (or out), and you have a parent that won't accept you, I'm your parent now. Mom or dad. I've been both. (Single mom.) Thank you, Beau. For everything.
Thank you! The reaction to my spouse’s transition is the reason we’ve seen her mom only once in the last 18 years and will likely never see her aunt again. If you think you don’t know anyone who’s LGBTQ, it’s because they’re afraid to tell you.
Trust isn't a commodity, it's a luxury that many people feel they can't afford. It's especially important in familial relationships for the older generation to show, in no uncertain terms, that those in the later generations can trust them. They may not agree with whatever they may hear, but if they can't show that they are willing to listen and discuss, rather than condemn, then they will lose far more than they know.
@@donaldwert7137 fortunately my mom, who’s older than hers, put family over fear. She made an effort to understand something she was never exposed to before, and adopted my wife as her own.
Im 51, and grew up in a time when the LGBTQ community was "in the closet ". We used language about that community that was really homophobic, but was "acceptable ". As i got older and interacted with the LGBTQ community, it was pointed out to me the things i said were hurtful. I had never considered it, after reflection, i realized she was correct. Forward 3 years and my daughter is 14 years old. I get a call from her mom. She told me my daughter is lesbian and was afraid to talk to me about it. The moral of the story I lost a few years because of my ignorance. My daughter was killed the following year by a drunk driver. Luckily, i had the conversation that i loved her and supported her no matter who she loved! I really was very lucky to have had the time i had with her. She was amazing , and i miss her terribly!
My heart aches for the loss of your daughter 💔 I'm so happy that you get to live without regrets! My brother loved his daughter fiercely but not enough to change his mind about stupid ethnic differences. They had harsh words before she left to go to work...and never came home again. My brother died 26 months later at 53. Coroner ruled it a heart attack. I call it a broken heart. Regrets are deadly.
Slightly older than you. There is very little that I actually fear in this life, but that loss s the biggest. Peace to you. I'm glad for you that you got to let her know, too.
When my wife was expecting, I prayed that our child would be born healthy and would have a happy life. That's all that ever mattered to me. They are now in a loving LGBTQ+ relationship and I cannot be any more happy for them and look forward to seeing them piled, happily sleepy, on the couch next to us when they visit soon.
it is *not* free. we have to recognize it costs energy and effort. if it didn't, conflict simply would never have existed. but it's worth the cost, because we never know when we'll need kindness to come back around.
There is something heartening hearing sanity and common sense. Sad that it's become so uncommon. Yet... churches are constantly springing up all the time. Hmmmm...
If trump wins they will not have a chance to vote. It will be the next Holocaust they will round up LGBTQIA’s and dem or anyone else who they think will be a threat. But nowadays they have much better stuff than gas. Vote for Biden to give them a chance to vote in the future.
@@veramae4098that actually comes out of an old country song called a random act of senseless kindness from south sixty five or rather makes me think of this song from my younger years. god knows it really applies today where violence is such a part of the life experiences of our generations
Beau. This was my thinking back in the early 1980s about the AIDS epidemic. My daughter had problems with my mouth because I was a Christian listening to the Right Wing Party bullshit. Needless to say I’ve grown to be a better person since then.
Occasionally I'll think back to how I was when I was younger, and to put it simply, extremely closed minded and horribly apathetic towards certain groups of people, and feel so fortunate for both Episcopalian church I belong to as well as the people whom I was blessed with to have come into my life both That time and now that helped me open my eyes and mind to a more accepting and caring view of those I had in my ignorance shut out. And though I still don't understand many things, that is on me, and in no way rge responsibility of others to explain or justify their true self. As for the church I belong to, though not perfect, we are fortunate that both our previous and current dean and priest is one that speaks of Christ's lessons of loving thy neighbor, unity and welcoming of diversity. And finding the holy in the stranger and yourself.
As a Navy veteran, I'd like to ask that y'all remember my brothers that ran on to the Beaches of Normandy so long ago. That is the reason we are able to have the freedoms we have today. Oh yeah and f trump.
If anything else is impossible, "don't be an a**hole" should be the default setting. People put way too much identity into hate instead of being a kind person
I still make a point to show common courtesy to the many obvious MAGA types in our area, not because I fear them (I don't) but in spite of my total contempt for them. It's harder than role-modelling for misbehaving children, but that is closer to my motivation. But try to push their talking points on me & they'll get an earful until they walk away. Not having it.
people who claim to be Christians have a tough time with that. mike johnson for instance or Jim Jordan and James Comer . if we want things to change we have to change things . bad news sells good news doesnt. hate and fear is what Faux news sells. why they are allowed a broadcast license is beyond us.
You have to understand them though. ALL Great Apes show an innate "us/them" mentality. It happens in a millisecond. Then you have to understand the different ways that manifests. You have the pity/disgust type (think homeless, or your grandma with dementia) and then you have the type where the people are successful, but different from you (antisemitism is a good example of that). When you understand WHY it happens and that you do it too, you can understand how an uneducated person can think they are kind, and simultaneously engage in the behavior. After all they firmly believe the other person is bad, and deserve it, so they don't see it as unkindness. It's even more complicate than this, but you can see why "just be kind" can't work. I wish it did.
AND needs to see the pride and love in your eyes as they step off into their own lives. As long as those lives are spent in the company of accepting, nurturing people who love them for who they are, and they have a good grounding of self-respect and self-worth, the other details don't matter much.
Every so often, Beau puts out a presentation that goes well beyond simply informing and, instead, reaches into the heart and soul of the listener and shakes out some fundamental truth. This is one of them. I hope the people that need to hear this hear this.
I’m a mother of 8. 6 adult children and two littles. At least 4 of my children identify as LGBTQIA+. Some are too young to know yet. They all told me very early because they knew that I would love them no matter what. And I do! I can’t imagine letting politics get between me and my babies. The brainwashing is real and it’s sad. How can they call themselves the party of family values and then choose politics over family? In this crazy world that is so full of judgement and pain, it should be family over EVERYTHING!
They already realize that. They believed it before it was true. It makes them feel special. Why do you think so many churches insist that Christians are an endangered minority even though we're by far the worldwide majority and the USA is in the upper middle range of per capita Christians? It's because they want to feel like they're part of an exclusive club, even though Jesus wanted it inclusive and expansive. Why do you think that they cling to bad Bible translations that enable them to exclude gays and others? The fewer Christians allowed in, the more they feel elite.
"Hate & distrust is easier to sell" and hence why that minority leans into it...and.. unfortunately, our species have always had that weakness.. Because, make no mistake, it is a Weakness... regardless of how anyone tries to frame it otherwise..
When I was 14 my dad told me “if you ever turn gay I’ll kill you myself.” That was in the late 90s. It was the end of our relationship because I already knew I was bisexual. I told my dad when I was 28 when I was no longer afraid of him. I haven’t spoken to my family in person since. The difference between us today: I am loved and happy, my partner’s family have practically adopted me into the family and I have a bright future still. My dad is bitter, angry, and lonely. To the dads like mine: you can do better. You need to do better. Your child needs you to be their example and their leader not their abuser. To the kids like me back then: it gets better. Family does not require shared blood to be unbreakable, but rather shared bonds. Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity have always been my dad’s favorite talking heads. Those men and those like them have a special place in hell reserved for them for the damage they have done to untold millions of families.
My dad was similar, after he passed I finally had the courage to live my life and met my future husband a year later at 33. Now I regret not telling him because by keeping to myself I made it MY problem when it was his. I didn’t hate my dad but I have this anger towards him that I can’t release (now that I’m stronger). I’m mad and partially blame him for all those wasted years in my youth.
My brother and relatives are again all up in arms because this is Pride Month, “Pride is a sin,” bla bla bla. I try to explain it doesn’t mean ‘Prideful’ it just means NOT ASHAMED OF WHAT THEY ARE. I could describe their emails but you can just imagine the vitriol. Please know that everyone does not share their views, LGBT people are NOT less human, not less American, not less anything. You are EVERYONES EQUAL, YOU ARE DESERVING, YOU ARE LOVED. 🥰 🏳️🌈
Disagree. Someone should buy ad space during Fox "News" promoting this story. Fox "News" would twist the story frame it as something bad and/or out the person the story is about. An ad on the other hand would probably be more effective. IIRC John Oliver did something like that with his "catheter cowboy" commercials.
Beau, we have recently started a nonprofit for the LGBTQ+ Community here in rural NY. An open and accepting church has given us space for free. The pastor told us last night about a trans child who was kicked out of their home. The child is still a minor and is graduating this year. The child has temporary shelter and is safe. We're making contacts with one of the Mama Bears who gave the child shelter to find out what the child needs for college and just general living. We're also looking to see if anyone is throwing the child a graduation party. (Quick aside - The child is accepted by their peers and they play on sports teams together.) A while back you did a wonderful video on building community. One way to build community is with a shared meal. Another way is to rally around a child or family in distress. I share all this not to brag. Instead, I write this to let you know how your words ripple on. How what you do and say makes a solid difference to those you may never know. Your words are like a note in a bottle that's tossed into the sea. You never know who will be inspired. Wishing you all the best.
I love this💚💚💚 I also started volunteering/community outreach a couple of years ago, after discovering Beau. If you'd have told me 2-3 years ago I would end up raising 100k+ for a woman's shelter I'd have laughed in your face. It started with watching some well intentioned stranger on TH-cam. I had no idea where to start, or if I had anything of value to offer. So I just asked. Turns out, our community doesn't need us to show up as these impeccably competent experts, but rather willing to listen and learn. I now work almost exclusively in philanthropy and couldn't be more pleased with my career switch. And it's because of all the inspiring people in this community 😊
1. This needs WAAAAY more upvotes 2. It's upsetting to hear that families can't accept their own without stipulations, that all love is conditional from them. 3. It's beautiful to hear about not only the open-mindedness of the pastor, but the community rallying around the child. I wish you and the community up there all the best!
Please let us know if there's anything we can contribute to help the kid start their new life with a solid foundation; whether it's just a thread of words of encouragement or money for necessities.
It always breaks my heart to hear people hate others because of gender or orientation. Of all the stupid things in this world, that's got to be top of the list of stupid. 🥺
Here I am sitting down trying to put myself back together before going to work. Almost had to cut my parents out…but they insisted they could change… and they’ve actually started to little by little
Grew up in a small, semi-rural catholic town, where I was constantly bombarded by homophobic, transphobic, and misogynistic messages- and worse. I hid from everyone thinking that I was a monster, including my parents. They never actually hurt me, but at the same time I never felt safe enough with them to come out and talk about who I am and everything I was struggling with. Finally hatched at 44, and I'm a lucky one. So many of my generation are either still in the closet or worse. I do talk to my parents occasionally, Christmases, birthdays, that sort of thing. We usually just end up talking about the weather, and my excuses for never going back to that town
It's not, sorry. Hate the idea, hate what they stand for, but don't hate them, the people. They can get very twisted up inside with the right, or wrong, information, but the hate that drives people like that isn't really *THEM*. With the right information, the right circumstances, they might have turned out to be outstandingly kind. Just focus on overcoming the GOP, and it's rhetoric, in November. Don't waste your energy on trying to banish the darkness; just turn on more lamps and make the light shine brighter.
@deathandcats I wish I shared your optimism, but THEM as in the GOP and their puppets have made hate, cruelty, fear, and bigotry their whole identity. So I would argue that it IS THEM.
It's the paradox of intolerance. We should be tolerant of many things, but if we tolerate the intolerant, the intolerant will just run roughshod over everyone.
If my kid told me he was gay, I wouldn’t care. My father was career Navy and if he knew I was bisexual, he wouldn’t care. It’s not what you are that matters. It’s who you are that matters. Once you can wrap your brain around that, none of this crap makes any sense to you. I have straight friends who don’t know I’m not. I have gay friends who don’t know I’m not straight. That’s how little it really matters. You can’t “make” somebody straight or gay. They are or they aren’t. If you try, you’re just going to make them avoid you. If you focus on who, not what, you’ll all be much happier in life. That’s what it all boils down to.
It's not only Americans. You know the US media empire is spreading transphobia all across the English speaking world. And anywhere that has English Second Language. I'm here in Canada and I've had to have many difficult talks with my boomer ass parents about how the neighbour deserves to live and be called by their name.
I have a friend who transitioned recently in her 40's and just completely broke contact with her mom. Her mom is a right winger and recently would not stop posting on Facebook about up how an lgbtq anniversary fell on Easter. It was the final straw and now a mother and her child will never talk again.
Parents are often the last to know. My daughter grew up knowing she had gay family members and knew my best friend was a gay man. She was incredibly private and didn’t come out till her first year at university. I’m so grateful that I don’t have to worry about what I said in the past!❤🇨🇦
My Dad loves to speak about people who should keep to themselves then was baffled when I was afraid to tell him I am bi. Telling him I'm bi was a test to see if it was worth discussing gender identity with him. He failed it by never showing interest in that part of me after spending years hoping I would bring a girl home. He didn't call me "other", but I felt it. We havent spoken in three years now. I have began transitioning since then.
Dr Sapolsky just put a new video out about what is happening with both you and your father. It might help to watch it. Understanding will help you, even if it doesn't repair your relationship. At least you will know it's not really about you, and he may not be able to help it without education.
My uncle, my half sister, my sister in law, my son are all LGBTQ. My granddaughter who turns 17 this month has a best friend that's trans. I was talking about this and at the same time discussing the hate and scorn these poor people have to deal with we both blurted out at the same time "Would you rather have your child/friend dead!!??". I think she'll go far in life ❤🧡💛💚💙💜☮
@@rosesmith6925 just a little clarification, please. I gathered that you and your grand daughter (or her trans friend, that's also not quite clear) said the same thing at the same time to someone else when you were talking about the general subject of hate against LGTBQs. You never mentioned who you were talking to? Who was the person to receive your reaction? I like your story and am trying to picture the situation.
@@mollybloom5681 oh, I was talking to my granddaughter about LGBT issues and I mentioned my granddaughter's best friend who is trans. We (me and GD) both made the comment at the same time.
I wish that weren't true. But I've heard the rhetoric all too often (and left because of it.) I may not be lesbian or trans, but the hatred that far too many preachers/priests/ministers broadcast is so antithetical to what Christ would have wanted us to say that I can't listen to most preachers. (We need more like Rev Ed Trevors! He truly understands what Christ means by "love your neighbor as yourself" and "love others as I have loved you.")
Those parents would not know. Those kids will not tell them but at least here, there are parents that will listen and will offer support. You are correct Beau
I, as a straight guy, was at an LGBTQ+ festival last weekend (they had some great artists, and good music doesn't care about sexuality), and at one point I looked around thinking I was probably the only straight man present (a gay guy at the hostel I was staying at said the next day he saw at least ONE other straight guy). My point (for all homophobes) : I had a great day without being 'contaminated'. So, lighten up, stop telling other people how to live their lives and have some respect for others. They will actually return the favour!
When did being a hatefilled,obnoxious jerk become normal??? I'm bi, and I didn't tell my folks. My mother figurered it out and my father said, "it's your life and your business. I don't understand it, but I love you any way."
I’ve had lots of kids and young adults come out to me, but won’t come out to their parents. It’s called “chosen family.” And no, I won’t tell their parents. That’s up to them.
Fifty-two year old gay man, I grew up in the closet, I had to. There is always a chance parents find out and they simply disown the child. When my adopted sister came out at 15, she was placed into foster care, parents didn't want to deal with her anymore, didn't know how to deal with her being gay. I only came out to my parents when I knew I could be on my own, that I could afford to be on my own. Fortunately, my parents embraced and supported me, but I just didn't know. I heard the slurs and name calling and all the negative crap about gay people, they affect us more then you know. I tried to kill myself three times due to being a homosexual. I often think of all these young kids that kill themselves, a lot of them simply didn't want to come out as gay, so death was the only answer for them. Breaks my heart, the parents may never know why, and how they could have contributed to his/her suicide.
It's not just parents, it's siblings as well. Have always had a very close relationship with my older sister. But she went down the rabbit hole during covid over anti vaccine beliefs and took up the anti LGBTQ cause as well. I have been out to her for years, but now conversations eventually turn to attacks on my community. Needless to say we rarely speak anymore.
The sad truth is there are still parents who would throw their kid out on the street if they found out they were lgbtqia+. They hear it in church or on their right-wing "news" outlet that those people should be discarded. That they would be better off without them in their lives.😢
The "othering". When it is said "those people aren't like us" it begins the dehumanizing. Once enough of the population does not see those persons as equal citizens it becomes possible to enact laws and regulations to control them.
We are having this situation in our family and I can’t tell you how much hurt is happening. My nephew, who has been openly gay for years, is getting married and his father refuses to attend the wedding. The father has been silent for years, but he’s drawn his line in the sand. We’ve been together for holidays, birthdays, etc. and now that is all in jeopardy. I’m crying as I’m typing this…
Oh I feel awful for the kid in this story, as well as the folks who reached out. Unfortunately I know this happens a disgustingly common amount. Blood is not necessarily family, and I wish someone had told me that decades before I finally went no contact with a parent. It was one of the hardest things I'd ever had to do, but it had to be done when it happened.
I do not feel it is right to condemn what anyone does in the privacy of their homes, this is America. As long as it is not illegal, leave people alone.
The conservative supreme court wants to make my marriage illegal. Legality is at the whims of people on our highest court who believe in fairytales from a dusty old book they never read in full. That's being generous because I don't think they worship anything other than wealth and power.
This could have been about two of my current employees, and countless prior. Baffles some of their families why someone would keep touch with a former boss more than them.
My daughter has had gay friends....has gay friends. And she has straight friends. I'm very careful not to talk down about either of her friends. Those kids are sons and daughters of other parents. I will not disrespect someone else's child, because I would want the same for my daughter.
A few days ago, on facebook, someone on a friend's wall spoke about his trans child's right to exist. Another person said that that person's child was mentally ill and so he must be a bad father. When we challenged him on this he doubled down, said that he had studied medicine in college (not in a specialty related to sexuality) and proclaimed with authority that there were only two genders, and that his kids were doing fine because if any of them had ever expressed doubts about sexual identity he would have beaten it out of them. A friend then said that this only meant that no child of his would ever dare confide in him--but what the anti-trans man didn't realize was that this friend of his has XXY chromosomes and had transitioned from having been raised male to now living as a female.
I took stock of my circle of friends and confidonces after this. Proud to say about half are from the LGBTQ+ family. And YES, I said family, because they are❤ I don't have to live the lifestyle, but I do want to know they are safe AND loved/respected. That's the minimum everyone deserves. Happy Pride Month.🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️❤
We are travelling to visit my parents soon. My parents are sweet people but very anti-LGBTQ+. My daughter is queer, and they don't know. And, she doesn't want them to know. Should be an interesting week.
It is hard for me to imagine why you are subjecting your daughter to this. How many things is she going to hear that will stay with her for the rest of her life? What is your plan to protect her while you are there? And how can your parents be sweet people, and also full of hate? I think you have convinced yourself that this will be fine, but you are lying to yourself. Protect your daughter. Please protect your daughter.
@missrobin2088 As much as your daughter is an adult making the decision to see her grandparents, that doesn't stop the pain. From personal experience, it's still hard to spend time with family like that when they have such bigoted views and language towards your own community (even if they don't know you're in it, it's a problem no matter what). So like juresichj was saying, what she'll hear from them will stay with her as she tries to heal from it. I can only imagine since it'll be a lengthy trip. But in any way that you find or that she asks, protect her.
@@lnh2448 Thank you. The hateful things I heard from family are still with me, even though most of them are long since gone, and I am in my 60's. I really hope they protect their daughter.
In the good old days, there were peculiar bachelor farmers and old maid schoolteachers. The labels change, but the characters are still the same. And there was a reason that those folks had to go on cruises and motor coach tours every now and then.
Hey Beau. I'm an American teacher and I live and work in Honduras. I can tell you from 20+ years of experience in the classroom, where the rhetoric is stronger, the lgbt community exists more and more. Here, that whole subject is extremely taboo, yet in each classroom I'd say the statistic is more than 1 in 20. In my experience teaching middle school, 7-9th grade, I always had at least 2 to 4 lgbt, boys and girls, in every group. Once you pick up on the signals, you can spot them even younger than that. I know who they are because I teach health class and when we touch on sexuality and gender, those particular students, who usually aren't interested in anything, all of a sudden their ears perk up. They ask questions. And always, they inevitably ask me what I would do in certain situations or if I would accept an lgbt friend. They ask because those topics are important to them and they live in a society where you have to hide who you are if you have any chance of flourishing in the working world. It is very common here among professionals (doctors, lawyers, engineers, teachers, etc) to get married, have kids, take selfies at church for their facebook profiles, etc, while on the side they have a same sex partner. They are absolute masters at hiding it, because it would spell certain doom for their careers. It's really tragic that people have to live that way, yet they thrive even in this totally intolerant society here. People are fooling themselves if they think they're going to talk, or even legislate that community away.
Grandparents rock! For the most part they've figured out what's important and what to let go of. They see their kids making the same mistakes they did and try to compensate in penance. Maybe.
That story also fits into my family. I had a male family member who's much older and was asking me why he thinks he doesn't get to see his son much. He's worried that he won't see his son before he dies. Unfortunately we're distant enough that it's just not my business, but I do know why. His son is basically waiting for his father to die so that he can live his authentic life. Personally I was told by my mother before she died to never tell my grandmother that I am gay. So I avoided my grandmother till she died, I didn't even go to the funeral. The majority of my family is trumpy so I don't bother to make connections.
I wonder if we will ever simply get tired of hating. It takes so much time and energy to hate. I think about how much further ahead we would be if we used that energy to make our lives better. Such a waste.
Normally never here, but this is why I often refer to my home as; A little commune. I'm not even in the US, but as it turned out, I became somewhat of a replacement adult to rely on over the years, for some LGBTQAI+ young adult friends of my daughter. At the time, it broke my heart that they couldn't talk to their parents. Please parents, love your children and let them know they can always talk to you about anything. Ignore the hate, let love rule!
I am forever thankful that my parents put me first, well ahead of societal/religious norms of the time. I grew up fully supported and loved. Something I wish all LGBTQ+ people could experience. Maybe one day. Some far off day. I no longer believe I will see it. So I am planting seeds to trees whose shade I will never enjoy - as it should be.
One of the things that *finally* got one of my former pastors to change her mind about LGBTQ+ people was looking at the kids coming up for the children's message during worship and understanding that one or more of them could be queer or trans. And could she turn that kid away or tell them they were sinful? Nope. Not everyone can see it that way, though, not even some parents regarding their own children. 💔
I grew up in a hate filled home. The young man who lived closest to us and was closest to my age (my 12 to his 18) when we moved to the city was gay. This was the 90's so think about what was going on in America at that point. He taught me a lot and because of my history of being raised by a heavily SDA family and the abuse I was suffering at home, he gave me A LOT of grace and a lot of correcting. I heard how mom talked about him how his own father talked about him and it was literally a stone in my gut that made me sick. When my daughter's best friend came out and her Trump loving parents kicked her to the curb at 17, I didn't even stop to think twice. She became part of our family and loved as one of us. I explained that if she ever needed to talk at any point in her life with or without her being friends with my daughter she was more than welcomed to. My daughter came out as bi and it didn't even phase me. I brought my kids up in a UU church, they saw older transgendered individuals start the transition. They were babysat almost exclusively by a lesbian couple who had two kids of their own. We went to family friendly pride stuff. That is why when my daughter told me her BFF was kicked out of the house she knew I would slip on the first pair of shoes, grab my purse, and be out the door before her friend could be at the meeting spot. I don't understand how people can still be filled with so much hate, but at the same time they still hate most disabled, ppl from the POC community, and women so hating on the 2lgbtquia+ community wouldn't be a stretch. I hope for their future that they can correct themselves. I have 3 livings siblings, all 4 of us are in no contact with my mom. My kids have a restraining order against her so do the other grand kids. It's going to be awfully lonely for her if it isn't already.
Oh Beau, you do such good service to humanity with your short talks that simply present food for thought that addresses compassion, empathy and kindness for all; especially short sighted family. Thank you 🙏
I'm crying. And I'm sending this to one of my kids, in case they want to use it to help explain things to my parents, who they have become un-close to for reasons.
I find it funny that so many in there late 40's and 50's don't understand that the old folks' home is closer than they think and it's not going to be fun if no one comes visiting or even gives a fuck.
I think if there weren't the attacks, we would find that it's higher than 1 in 20 !!! Too many people are being forced to live a lie out of fear of losing their parents !!!
Sad little men who let their hateful emotions get the better of them. So weak in character they can be easily manipulated by their emotions. Hate is easy, that is why it is a sign of weakness, not strength!
Yesterday the NSW (Australia) Premier spoke in parliament, an incredibly moving and powerful speech, to express a heartfelt "sorry" for the hurt done over the years to the lgbtqi+ community ... as a straight person, I was incredibly proud and bought to tears
My youngest daughter divorced her husband and eventually married her girlfriend. My response has always been, I love you no matter what, will always love you. As a parent I cannot imagine not having space in your heart for your children no matter what.
My stepfather threw my younger sister-his daughter-out of the house when she started dating a woman. My sister is still with the same woman thirty years later. Her father died without ever speaking to her again, and never meeting their son.
Happy pride….keep up what you are doing. As a parent I never understand why you would want the child that started out loving you so unconditionally to not be in your life as an adult.
I was completely dumbfounded by the twist. I feel a bit stupid for not seeing it coming. It just didn't seem possible, what with Beau living in such a rural area.
At 35 years old I was sick and tired of hearing 'jokes' about gays and lesbians in a marriage that I knew was a sham from day one. But, like all 'good girls' I did marry and spent four miserable years trapped in a world that demoralized and beat me down. There was a turning point that does not need to be described. A divorce later and a move to another state gave me back my self respect and the courage to be me. As a 72 year old lesbian who has been in a stable and loving and nurturing same sex relationship for 39 years I still feel the sting of those jokes and remarks. I fear for the youth of today as I see the suicide numbers climbing for LGBTQ+ kids. BE KIND
Thank you for sharing; you are an inspiration and a model of strength to others. Stay safe and well neighbour. 🇨🇦🇺🇸💕
Congratulations on your happiness and being unapologetically yourself. Love is love, and you are loved!
♥️♥️
It may still look pretty grim at times, but now we know how many of us there really are. Perceptions are changing, acceptance is more commonplace. We'll get there one way or another.
"On a long enough timeline, we win regardless."
❤❤❤
💜
What's worse, this rhetoric isn't just to divide, it's to make money.
Well certainly the armaments industry that supports the NRA makes money by making corpses.
Money and power. Some people can't find peace and fulfilment in anything else. I'd pity them if they weren't so dangerous.
The hate machine is the biggest business on the planet. Its called the military industrial complex.
Yep. All of the grifters and those who do woke this and that, it's for clicks and views so they can make money. It's sad how many people buy into it. I'm glad people like Beau exist.
Happy accident. In their minds. Nothing hypocritical about increasing the ol' bank account... by selling your soul.
"I'm homeschooling my daughter cuz all of her friends are going l*sbian!... and I ain't having that sh*t!"
-Actual quote from my wife's brother-in-law.
My response: "We're homeschooling as well and have been for a couple years now... but it was the kids getting sh*t and killed in school... that was our line."
He hung up.
I hate to break it to him, but his daughter is not the only straight girl in a friend group of gay ones.
I’m so curious if the wife’s BIL is OP’s own brother or wife’s sibling’s spouse. Makes no difference but I still want to know 🤦♀️
Homeschooling my 6yo cause I can't do another 12 yrs of gun and b0mb threats at his school. My oldest had at least a dozen threats and one situation. Never again
It's crazy how many homeschooling parents are fundamentalist loons. It's so hard to find sane patents to group with without have bigotry or religion shoved in your face
@stonedsasquatch By far, the most stressful situation we've ever been through in a school setting, and those are just warnings, lockdowns and drills. Never again is right.
If you are in the closet (or out), and you have a parent that won't accept you, I'm your parent now. Mom or dad. I've been both. (Single mom.)
Thank you, Beau. For everything.
Thank you 🖤
You are also not alone. We can co-parent. I'm also a single mom.
Thanks momma! Luckily I have an amazing kind and understand I mother as well.
I'll be a Momma for life to anyone who needs it.
❤️🤍❤️ 🎉
Thank you! The reaction to my spouse’s transition is the reason we’ve seen her mom only once in the last 18 years and will likely never see her aunt again. If you think you don’t know anyone who’s LGBTQ, it’s because they’re afraid to tell you.
Trust isn't a commodity, it's a luxury that many people feel they can't afford. It's especially important in familial relationships for the older generation to show, in no uncertain terms, that those in the later generations can trust them. They may not agree with whatever they may hear, but if they can't show that they are willing to listen and discuss, rather than condemn, then they will lose far more than they know.
@@donaldwert7137 fortunately my mom, who’s older than hers, put family over fear. She made an effort to understand something she was never exposed to before, and adopted my wife as her own.
@@flor9389 Mad respect to your mom. She made the effort to "accept the things I cannot change".
Kindness is never a waste. Don’t expect thanks or reciprocation, just do it because it’s right.
And when you do it, it makes everyone feel better, literally! Highly recommend to brighten your own day
Well said.
Thank you for this comment. We are lacking on this as a nation on a daily basis.
True, oh so true!💥 ☯️🍀☮️
@@johnanthony2545 Agreed. Today, I promise to be consciously kind and think of everyone as "us" (because we are).
Im 51, and grew up in a time when the LGBTQ community was "in the closet ". We used language about that community that was really homophobic, but was "acceptable ". As i got older and interacted with the LGBTQ community, it was pointed out to me the things i said were hurtful. I had never considered it, after reflection, i realized she was correct. Forward 3 years and my daughter is 14 years old. I get a call from her mom. She told me my daughter is lesbian and was afraid to talk to me about it. The moral of the story I lost a few years because of my ignorance. My daughter was killed the following year by a drunk driver. Luckily, i had the conversation that i loved her and supported her no matter who she loved! I really was very lucky to have had the time i had with her. She was amazing , and i miss her terribly!
I am so sorry about the loss of your daughter. 😔
My heart aches for the loss of your daughter 💔
I'm so happy that you get to live without regrets!
My brother loved his daughter fiercely but not enough to change his mind about stupid ethnic differences. They had harsh words before she left to go to work...and never came home again.
My brother died 26 months later at 53. Coroner ruled it a heart attack.
I call it a broken heart.
Regrets are deadly.
Slightly older than you. There is very little that I actually fear in this life, but that loss s the biggest. Peace to you. I'm glad for you that you got to let her know, too.
I'm sorry about your loss. I hope her memory is an eternal blessing.
💜💜
When my wife was expecting, I prayed that our child would be born healthy and would have a happy life. That's all that ever mattered to me. They are now in a loving LGBTQ+ relationship and I cannot be any more happy for them and look forward to seeing them piled, happily sleepy, on the couch next to us when they visit soon.
Kindness is free. Use it liberally and daily.
🌞
Will do, thank you for the kind advice 😊
OMG!!!
You're WOKE!!
s/
@@eileendunn2130 , of course, can’t see the sunshine when you’re asleep 🌞
it is *not* free. we have to recognize it costs energy and effort. if it didn't, conflict simply would never have existed. but it's worth the cost, because we never know when we'll need kindness to come back around.
Listening to Beau is like lancing a boil after all the other toxic crap I'm exposed to daily.
That's not quite a backhanded compliment, and it's accurate.
👍🙂
There is something heartening hearing sanity and common sense. Sad that it's become so uncommon.
Yet... churches are constantly springing up all the time. Hmmmm...
Also, those kids won't always be "kids", pretty soon they'll be voting age adults.
And hopefully these _newly, voting aged adults_ will _🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲_ _VOTE ❗ ❗ ❗_ _🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸_ as if _a planet 🌏 depends_ on their _vote._
If trump wins they will not have a chance to vote. It will be the next Holocaust they will round up LGBTQIA’s and dem or anyone else who they think will be a threat. But nowadays they have much better stuff than gas. Vote for Biden to give them a chance to vote in the future.
@@walterwjr947because it does
@@ankem4329 indeed....
There are none so blind as those who will not see.
There are none so deaf as those who will not hear.
There are none so stupid as he who listens to maga.
Commit random acts of kindness
and senseless beauty.
-- old bumper sticker I just found, need to put on my car.
@@veramae4098that actually comes out of an old country song called a random act of senseless kindness from south sixty five or rather makes me think of this song from my younger years. god knows it really applies today where violence is such a part of the life experiences of our generations
Bravo!.
What? Who's there?!?
I think I'm funny. 🤭
Beau. This was my thinking back in the early 1980s about the AIDS epidemic. My daughter had problems with my mouth because I was a Christian listening to the Right Wing Party bullshit. Needless to say I’ve grown to be a better person since then.
that is beautiful! Nicely dine!
done
Occasionally I'll think back to how I was when I was younger, and to put it simply, extremely closed minded and horribly apathetic towards certain groups of people, and feel so fortunate for both Episcopalian church I belong to as well as the people whom I was blessed with to have come into my life both That time and now that helped me open my eyes and mind to a more accepting and caring view of those I had in my ignorance shut out. And though I still don't understand many things, that is on me, and in no way rge responsibility of others to explain or justify their true self. As for the church I belong to, though not perfect, we are fortunate that both our previous and current dean and priest is one that speaks of Christ's lessons of loving thy neighbor, unity and welcoming of diversity. And finding the holy in the stranger and yourself.
As a Navy veteran, I'd like to ask that y'all remember my brothers that ran on to the Beaches of Normandy so long ago. That is the reason we are able to have the freedoms we have today. Oh yeah and f trump.
My great-grandad didn't hit Normandy, but he was a Coxswain on LCIs at Iwo Jima and Okinawa. We owe a debt to that rapidly dwindling generation.
If anything else is impossible, "don't be an a**hole" should be the default setting. People put way too much identity into hate instead of being a kind person
PREACH!
I still make a point to show common courtesy to the many obvious MAGA types in our area, not because I fear them (I don't) but in spite of my total contempt for them. It's harder than role-modelling for misbehaving children, but that is closer to my motivation. But try to push their talking points on me & they'll get an earful until they walk away. Not having it.
people who claim to be Christians have a tough time with that. mike johnson for instance or Jim Jordan and James Comer . if we want things to change we have to change things . bad news sells good news doesnt. hate and fear is what Faux news sells. why they are allowed a broadcast license is beyond us.
Ah. Wheaton's Law.
As a transwoman. I greatly appreciate your messages .
Thank you Beau
Same
I actually feel sorry for the people holding hate and anger in their hearts. They’re hurting themselves. I wish they knew what they’re missing.
You have to understand them though. ALL Great Apes show an innate "us/them" mentality. It happens in a millisecond. Then you have to understand the different ways that manifests. You have the pity/disgust type (think homeless, or your grandma with dementia) and then you have the type where the people are successful, but different from you (antisemitism is a good example of that). When you understand WHY it happens and that you do it too, you can understand how an uneducated person can think they are kind, and simultaneously engage in the behavior. After all they firmly believe the other person is bad, and deserve it, so they don't see it as unkindness. It's even more complicate than this, but you can see why "just be kind" can't work. I wish it did.
Beau: Your #1 trusted source for news... and morality.
That little baby you held in your arms so tenderly and lovingly - still needs you to hold them in your arms tenderly and lovingly!
AND needs to see the pride and love in your eyes as they step off into their own lives. As long as those lives are spent in the company of accepting, nurturing people who love them for who they are, and they have a good grounding of self-respect and self-worth, the other details don't matter much.
Every so often, Beau puts out a presentation that goes well beyond simply informing and, instead, reaches into the heart and soul of the listener and shakes out some fundamental truth. This is one of them. I hope the people that need to hear this hear this.
Unfortunately they're all watching Fox to get their daily dose of hate.
This is one that *needs* to be shared, even with those friends that don't have an opinion either way 💜
I’m a mother of 8. 6 adult children and two littles. At least 4 of my children identify as LGBTQIA+. Some are too young to know yet. They all told me very early because they knew that I would love them no matter what. And I do! I can’t imagine letting politics get between me and my babies. The brainwashing is real and it’s sad. How can they call themselves the party of family values and then choose politics over family? In this crazy world that is so full of judgement and pain, it should be family over EVERYTHING!
What if the bigots and the hate mongers woke up one morning and realized they were in the minority... Karma can be very nasty.
They'd probably lash out in a panic and isolate themselves further from their families and society in general
I think that is what they are realizing now, thus the increased anger.
They already realize that. They believed it before it was true. It makes them feel special. Why do you think so many churches insist that Christians are an endangered minority even though we're by far the worldwide majority and the USA is in the upper middle range of per capita Christians? It's because they want to feel like they're part of an exclusive club, even though Jesus wanted it inclusive and expansive. Why do you think that they cling to bad Bible translations that enable them to exclude gays and others? The fewer Christians allowed in, the more they feel elite.
"Hate & distrust is easier to sell" and hence why that minority leans into it...and.. unfortunately, our species have always had that weakness..
Because, make no mistake, it is a Weakness... regardless of how anyone tries to frame it otherwise..
They already are. It's just that they make way more noise than the rest of us.
When I was 14 my dad told me “if you ever turn gay I’ll kill you myself.” That was in the late 90s. It was the end of our relationship because I already knew I was bisexual. I told my dad when I was 28 when I was no longer afraid of him. I haven’t spoken to my family in person since.
The difference between us today: I am loved and happy, my partner’s family have practically adopted me into the family and I have a bright future still. My dad is bitter, angry, and lonely.
To the dads like mine: you can do better. You need to do better. Your child needs you to be their example and their leader not their abuser.
To the kids like me back then: it gets better. Family does not require shared blood to be unbreakable, but rather shared bonds.
Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity have always been my dad’s favorite talking heads. Those men and those like them have a special place in hell reserved for them for the damage they have done to untold millions of families.
My dad was similar, after he passed I finally had the courage to live my life and met my future husband a year later at 33. Now I regret not telling him because by keeping to myself I made it MY problem when it was his. I didn’t hate my dad but I have this anger towards him that I can’t release (now that I’m stronger). I’m mad and partially blame him for all those wasted years in my youth.
❤
My brother and relatives are again all up in arms because this is Pride Month, “Pride is a sin,” bla bla bla. I try to explain it doesn’t mean ‘Prideful’ it just means NOT ASHAMED OF WHAT THEY ARE. I could describe their emails but you can just imagine the vitriol. Please know that everyone does not share their views, LGBT people are NOT less human, not less American, not less anything. You are EVERYONES EQUAL, YOU ARE DESERVING, YOU ARE LOVED. 🥰 🏳️🌈
Thank you. Sincerely
Well said!
Misunderstanding the message is par for the course for low information people
That story needs to be on Fox News. Daily.
They wouldn't have the empathy to know what to do with it. Because they are willingly ignorant at this point.
Although I fully understand your sentiment would you trust this story in the hands of those strategic editing vipers?
Disagree. Someone should buy ad space during Fox "News" promoting this story. Fox "News" would twist the story frame it as something bad and/or out the person the story is about. An ad on the other hand would probably be more effective. IIRC John Oliver did something like that with his "catheter cowboy" commercials.
Fox would turn it into a fictional piece with real names (to revenge-out people) just for the clicks)
but they need someone to hate on.
Beau, we have recently started a nonprofit for the LGBTQ+ Community here in rural NY. An open and accepting church has given us space for free.
The pastor told us last night about a trans child who was kicked out of their home. The child is still a minor and is graduating this year. The child has temporary shelter and is safe. We're making contacts with one of the Mama Bears who gave the child shelter to find out what the child needs for college and just general living. We're also looking to see if anyone is throwing the child a graduation party. (Quick aside - The child is accepted by their peers and they play on sports teams together.)
A while back you did a wonderful video on building community. One way to build community is with a shared meal. Another way is to rally around a child or family in distress.
I share all this not to brag. Instead, I write this to let you know how your words ripple on. How what you do and say makes a solid difference to those you may never know. Your words are like a note in a bottle that's tossed into the sea. You never know who will be inspired.
Wishing you all the best.
I love this💚💚💚
I also started volunteering/community outreach a couple of years ago, after discovering Beau.
If you'd have told me 2-3 years ago I would end up raising 100k+ for a woman's shelter I'd have laughed in your face.
It started with watching some well intentioned stranger on TH-cam.
I had no idea where to start, or if I had anything of value to offer. So I just asked.
Turns out, our community doesn't need us to show up as these impeccably competent experts, but rather willing to listen and learn.
I now work almost exclusively in philanthropy and couldn't be more pleased with my career switch.
And it's because of all the inspiring people in this community 😊
Yes, I agree. Beau and his team are treasures.
💙❤💙❤
Yaaaaaaaaaay!!! I am also in upstate NY and it warms my heart to hear of rural communities and churches making room to care for these kids!!!!
1. This needs WAAAAY more upvotes
2. It's upsetting to hear that families can't accept their own without stipulations, that all love is conditional from them.
3. It's beautiful to hear about not only the open-mindedness of the pastor, but the community rallying around the child. I wish you and the community up there all the best!
Please let us know if there's anything we can contribute to help the kid start their new life with a solid foundation; whether it's just a thread of words of encouragement or money for necessities.
It always breaks my heart to hear people hate others because of gender or orientation. Of all the stupid things in this world, that's got to be top of the list of stupid. 🥺
Here I am sitting down trying to put myself back together before going to work. Almost had to cut my parents out…but they insisted they could change… and they’ve actually started to little by little
hugs
Sending love and sincere good wishes for their growth and your comfort. 💝
As long as they continue to try, that is about all you can ask of them. I hope with your guidance, they find a path to complete acceptance.
I hope you’re having a wonderful day at work, and every day after!
(((((HUGS)))))
Grew up in a small, semi-rural catholic town, where I was constantly bombarded by homophobic, transphobic, and misogynistic messages- and worse.
I hid from everyone thinking that I was a monster, including my parents. They never actually hurt me, but at the same time I never felt safe enough with them to come out and talk about who I am and everything I was struggling with.
Finally hatched at 44, and I'm a lucky one. So many of my generation are either still in the closet or worse.
I do talk to my parents occasionally, Christmases, birthdays, that sort of thing. We usually just end up talking about the weather, and my excuses for never going back to that town
I am glad you got out and I hope you continue to thrive.
❤
Thanks, Beau, for speaking truth to the relationship-shattering power of divisive rhetoric.
Big internet hugs to our LGBTQIA friends. Stay strong.
I don't understand haters, unless they hate the GOP. Then it's perfectly rational.
It's not, sorry. Hate the idea, hate what they stand for, but don't hate them, the people. They can get very twisted up inside with the right, or wrong, information, but the hate that drives people like that isn't really *THEM*. With the right information, the right circumstances, they might have turned out to be outstandingly kind.
Just focus on overcoming the GOP, and it's rhetoric, in November. Don't waste your energy on trying to banish the darkness; just turn on more lamps and make the light shine brighter.
@@deathandcats all the worst Americans I've ever known were Republicans..
@deathandcats I wish I shared your optimism, but THEM as in the GOP and their puppets have made hate, cruelty, fear, and bigotry their whole identity. So I would argue that it IS THEM.
It's the paradox of intolerance. We should be tolerant of many things, but if we tolerate the intolerant, the intolerant will just run roughshod over everyone.
Be careful who you hate. It could be someone you love. -- Barbara Rosen, PFLAG
If my kid told me he was gay, I wouldn’t care. My father was career Navy and if he knew I was bisexual, he wouldn’t care.
It’s not what you are that matters. It’s who you are that matters. Once you can wrap your brain around that, none of this crap makes any sense to you.
I have straight friends who don’t know I’m not. I have gay friends who don’t know I’m not straight. That’s how little it really matters. You can’t “make” somebody straight or gay. They are or they aren’t. If you try, you’re just going to make them avoid you.
If you focus on who, not what, you’ll all be much happier in life. That’s what it all boils down to.
That rhetoric ABSOLUTELY divides people. Into the hateful bigots who chose cruelty over love and everyone else.
I gave up my best friend and first love for food and shelter when I was twelve. I still regret it 53 years later. The talking heads DO NOT CARE.
It's not only Americans. You know the US media empire is spreading transphobia all across the English speaking world. And anywhere that has English Second Language. I'm here in Canada and I've had to have many difficult talks with my boomer ass parents about how the neighbour deserves to live and be called by their name.
I have a friend who transitioned recently in her 40's and just completely broke contact with her mom. Her mom is a right winger and recently would not stop posting on Facebook about up how an lgbtq anniversary fell on Easter. It was the final straw and now a mother and her child will never talk again.
Parents are often the last to know. My daughter grew up knowing she had gay family members and knew my best friend was a gay man. She was incredibly private and didn’t come out till her first year at university. I’m so grateful that I don’t have to worry about what I said in the past!❤🇨🇦
My Dad loves to speak about people who should keep to themselves then was baffled when I was afraid to tell him I am bi. Telling him I'm bi was a test to see if it was worth discussing gender identity with him. He failed it by never showing interest in that part of me after spending years hoping I would bring a girl home. He didn't call me "other", but I felt it. We havent spoken in three years now. I have began transitioning since then.
❤
I hope you can create a life that brings you peace and joy. Sending you love.
Dr Sapolsky just put a new video out about what is happening with both you and your father. It might help to watch it. Understanding will help you, even if it doesn't repair your relationship. At least you will know it's not really about you, and he may not be able to help it without education.
My uncle, my half sister, my sister in law, my son are all LGBTQ. My granddaughter who turns 17 this month has a best friend that's trans. I was talking about this and at the same time discussing the hate and scorn these poor people have to deal with we both blurted out at the same time "Would you rather have your child/friend dead!!??". I think she'll go far in life ❤🧡💛💚💙💜☮
who were you talking to?
@@mollybloom5681, huh?
@@rosesmith6925 just a little clarification, please. I gathered that you and your grand daughter (or her trans friend, that's also not quite clear) said the same thing at the same time to someone else when you were talking about the general subject of hate against LGTBQs. You never mentioned who you were talking to? Who was the person to receive your reaction? I like your story and am trying to picture the situation.
@@mollybloom5681 oh, I was talking to my granddaughter about LGBT issues and I mentioned my granddaughter's best friend who is trans. We (me and GD) both made the comment at the same time.
@@rosesmith6925 thank you
Good morning everybody that’s voting Blue💙💙💙
More than likely it wasn't a talking head, but his pastor that convinced him to hate the LGBT community ❗️
Preach.
I wish that weren't true. But I've heard the rhetoric all too often (and left because of it.) I may not be lesbian or trans, but the hatred that far too many preachers/priests/ministers broadcast is so antithetical to what Christ would have wanted us to say that I can't listen to most preachers. (We need more like Rev Ed Trevors! He truly understands what Christ means by "love your neighbor as yourself" and "love others as I have loved you.")
I imagine it could have been both. So sad.
Didn't need to say it twice. 😔
And who convinced the pastor?
Those parents would not know. Those kids will not tell them but at least here, there are parents that will listen and will offer support. You are correct Beau
I, as a straight guy, was at an LGBTQ+ festival last weekend (they had some great artists, and good music doesn't care about sexuality), and at one point I looked around thinking I was probably the only straight man present (a gay guy at the hostel I was staying at said the next day he saw at least ONE other straight guy).
My point (for all homophobes) : I had a great day without being 'contaminated'. So, lighten up, stop telling other people how to live their lives and have some respect for others. They will actually return the favour!
As an orphaned trans kid, thank you for making videos about this.
I’ll adopt you!!! Big internet hugs 🤗
When did being a hatefilled,obnoxious jerk become normal???
I'm bi, and I didn't tell my folks. My mother figurered it out and my father said, "it's your life and your business. I don't understand it, but I love you any way."
I’ve had lots of kids and young adults come out to me, but won’t come out to their parents. It’s called “chosen family.”
And no, I won’t tell their parents. That’s up to them.
Fifty-two year old gay man, I grew up in the closet, I had to. There is always a chance parents find out and they simply disown the child. When my adopted sister came out at 15, she was placed into foster care, parents didn't want to deal with her anymore, didn't know how to deal with her being gay. I only came out to my parents when I knew I could be on my own, that I could afford to be on my own. Fortunately, my parents embraced and supported me, but I just didn't know. I heard the slurs and name calling and all the negative crap about gay people, they affect us more then you know. I tried to kill myself three times due to being a homosexual. I often think of all these young kids that kill themselves, a lot of them simply didn't want to come out as gay, so death was the only answer for them. Breaks my heart, the parents may never know why, and how they could have contributed to his/her suicide.
How many times have we heard of children committing suicide because of their parents beliefs and their rejection of their own children?
Wasn't the usual ending - but it was the correct ending. People out there - think on!
It's not just parents, it's siblings as well. Have always had a very close relationship with my older sister. But she went down the rabbit hole during covid over anti vaccine beliefs and took up the anti LGBTQ cause as well. I have been out to her for years, but now conversations eventually turn to attacks on my community. Needless to say we rarely speak anymore.
The sad truth is there are still parents who would throw their kid out on the street if they found out they were lgbtqia+. They hear it in church or on their right-wing "news" outlet that those people should be discarded. That they would be better off without them in their lives.😢
Sadly a lot of kids don't know that they can sue there "parents" (in my book those people have lost the right to use that term)...
The "othering". When it is said "those people aren't like us" it begins the dehumanizing. Once enough of the population does not see those persons as equal citizens it becomes possible to enact laws and regulations to control them.
If people could get out of their own head and stop trying to stop everything they don't understand, that would be great.
We are having this situation in our family and I can’t tell you how much hurt is happening. My nephew, who has been openly gay for years, is getting married and his father refuses to attend the wedding. The father has been silent for years, but he’s drawn his line in the sand. We’ve been together for holidays, birthdays, etc. and now that is all in jeopardy. I’m crying as I’m typing this…
It's really sad that your nephew's father doesn't realize he will lose so much more than anyone else.
I’m so sorry. All love and light to you and your nephew ❤️🩹
Oh I feel awful for the kid in this story, as well as the folks who reached out. Unfortunately I know this happens a disgustingly common amount.
Blood is not necessarily family, and I wish someone had told me that decades before I finally went no contact with a parent. It was one of the hardest things I'd ever had to do, but it had to be done when it happened.
I do not feel it is right to condemn what anyone does in the privacy of their homes, this is America. As long as it is not illegal, leave people alone.
But the Christofascists are trying to make it illegal.
The conservative supreme court wants to make my marriage illegal.
Legality is at the whims of people on our highest court who believe in fairytales from a dusty old book they never read in full.
That's being generous because I don't think they worship anything other than wealth and power.
This could have been about two of my current employees, and countless prior. Baffles some of their families why someone would keep touch with a former boss more than them.
Im so glad you were there for your employees!
@AoiLucine Me too. Sometimes a good job is the way out of a situation, I've always been happy to provide that for everyone possible.
Happy Pride month to all who celebrate! 🎉
My daughter has had gay friends....has gay friends. And she has straight friends. I'm very careful not to talk down about either of her friends. Those kids are sons and daughters of other parents. I will not disrespect someone else's child, because I would want the same for my daughter.
Good morning fellow travelers
My regular hello, even at work zoom calls, is "Greetings, fellow travelers." Love seeing it from others. 💞
Beau is straight on point, my family has been decimated by the Christo fascist MAGA sadness. :(
A few days ago, on facebook, someone on a friend's wall spoke about his trans child's right to exist. Another person said that that person's child was mentally ill and so he must be a bad father. When we challenged him on this he doubled down, said that he had studied medicine in college (not in a specialty related to sexuality) and proclaimed with authority that there were only two genders, and that his kids were doing fine because if any of them had ever expressed doubts about sexual identity he would have beaten it out of them. A friend then said that this only meant that no child of his would ever dare confide in him--but what the anti-trans man didn't realize was that this friend of his has XXY chromosomes and had transitioned from having been raised male to now living as a female.
This is why I never came out to my mom and regret coming out to my dad.
Sending love and care for your healing ❤️🧡💛💚🩵💙💜
What ever happened to Live and Let Live? I don't care what someone else does in their personal life if it doesn't affect me at all.
Again, Beau & team, thank you for using channel in defense of my friends...💪🏿♥️💪🌈
Y'all deserve the best in life! 🇨🇦 🤝 🇺🇸
As do you! 🍁🧡
I took stock of my circle of friends and confidonces after this. Proud to say about half are from the LGBTQ+ family. And YES, I said family, because they are❤ I don't have to live the lifestyle, but I do want to know they are safe AND loved/respected. That's the minimum everyone deserves. Happy Pride Month.🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️❤
We are travelling to visit my parents soon. My parents are sweet people but very anti-LGBTQ+. My daughter is queer, and they don't know. And, she doesn't want them to know. Should be an interesting week.
It is hard for me to imagine why you are subjecting your daughter to this. How many things is she going to hear that will stay with her for the rest of her life? What is your plan to protect her while you are there? And how can your parents be sweet people, and also full of hate? I think you have convinced yourself that this will be fine, but you are lying to yourself. Protect your daughter. Please protect your daughter.
Blessings to all. May all hearts be open
@@juresichj she is 24 and is choosing to go see her grandparents.
@missrobin2088 As much as your daughter is an adult making the decision to see her grandparents, that doesn't stop the pain. From personal experience, it's still hard to spend time with family like that when they have such bigoted views and language towards your own community (even if they don't know you're in it, it's a problem no matter what). So like juresichj was saying, what she'll hear from them will stay with her as she tries to heal from it. I can only imagine since it'll be a lengthy trip. But in any way that you find or that she asks, protect her.
@@lnh2448 Thank you. The hateful things I heard from family are still with me, even though most of them are long since gone, and I am in my 60's. I really hope they protect their daughter.
In the good old days, there were peculiar bachelor farmers and old maid schoolteachers. The labels change, but the characters are still the same. And there was a reason that those folks had to go on cruises and motor coach tours every now and then.
Hey Beau. I'm an American teacher and I live and work in Honduras. I can tell you from 20+ years of experience in the classroom, where the rhetoric is stronger, the lgbt community exists more and more. Here, that whole subject is extremely taboo, yet in each classroom I'd say the statistic is more than 1 in 20. In my experience teaching middle school, 7-9th grade, I always had at least 2 to 4 lgbt, boys and girls, in every group. Once you pick up on the signals, you can spot them even younger than that. I know who they are because I teach health class and when we touch on sexuality and gender, those particular students, who usually aren't interested in anything, all of a sudden their ears perk up. They ask questions. And always, they inevitably ask me what I would do in certain situations or if I would accept an lgbt friend. They ask because those topics are important to them and they live in a society where you have to hide who you are if you have any chance of flourishing in the working world. It is very common here among professionals (doctors, lawyers, engineers, teachers, etc) to get married, have kids, take selfies at church for their facebook profiles, etc, while on the side they have a same sex partner. They are absolute masters at hiding it, because it would spell certain doom for their careers. It's really tragic that people have to live that way, yet they thrive even in this totally intolerant society here. People are fooling themselves if they think they're going to talk, or even legislate that community away.
"Love your neighbor as yourself" -Some guy, I dunno; probably not important
I have had several grandchildren tell me that they are gay. They know I care about them regardless.❤
Grandparents rock! For the most part they've figured out what's important and what to let go of. They see their kids making the same mistakes they did and try to compensate in penance. Maybe.
It is one of the reasons we don't see my husband's mother very often. Even with a cancer diagnosis. 😢
A Great Conversation for America to be having ! The need for; Honesty, Sensitivity and Tolerance ! Gracias Amigo !😁
That story also fits into my family. I had a male family member who's much older and was asking me why he thinks he doesn't get to see his son much. He's worried that he won't see his son before he dies. Unfortunately we're distant enough that it's just not my business, but I do know why. His son is basically waiting for his father to die so that he can live his authentic life. Personally I was told by my mother before she died to never tell my grandmother that I am gay. So I avoided my grandmother till she died, I didn't even go to the funeral. The majority of my family is trumpy so I don't bother to make connections.
Yeah, something to take stock of as we approach "Father's Day"... 🤔😳🙄😒😮💨
👋
😮😢
Thanks Beau and crew 😊.
Hej
@@Freyja_M4106👋🙂💙💙🙂
Good Morning iQ! 🥇 ☀️
I'm late, hi iq & Beau folks!🌺🌼🌸
👏🎉🥇🎯
I wonder if we will ever simply get tired of hating. It takes so much time and energy to hate. I think about how much further ahead we would be if we used that energy to make our lives better. Such a waste.
Normally never here, but this is why I often refer to my home as; A little commune. I'm not even in the US, but as it turned out, I became somewhat of a replacement adult to rely on over the years, for some LGBTQAI+ young adult friends of my daughter. At the time, it broke my heart that they couldn't talk to their parents. Please parents, love your children and let them know they can always talk to you about anything. Ignore the hate, let love rule!
I am forever thankful that my parents put me first, well ahead of societal/religious norms of the time.
I grew up fully supported and loved.
Something I wish all LGBTQ+ people could experience.
Maybe one day.
Some far off day.
I no longer believe I will see it.
So I am planting seeds to trees whose shade I will never enjoy - as it should be.
One of the things that *finally* got one of my former pastors to change her mind about LGBTQ+ people was looking at the kids coming up for the children's message during worship and understanding that one or more of them could be queer or trans. And could she turn that kid away or tell them they were sinful? Nope. Not everyone can see it that way, though, not even some parents regarding their own children. 💔
I grew up in a hate filled home. The young man who lived closest to us and was closest to my age (my 12 to his 18) when we moved to the city was gay. This was the 90's so think about what was going on in America at that point. He taught me a lot and because of my history of being raised by a heavily SDA family and the abuse I was suffering at home, he gave me A LOT of grace and a lot of correcting. I heard how mom talked about him how his own father talked about him and it was literally a stone in my gut that made me sick.
When my daughter's best friend came out and her Trump loving parents kicked her to the curb at 17, I didn't even stop to think twice. She became part of our family and loved as one of us. I explained that if she ever needed to talk at any point in her life with or without her being friends with my daughter she was more than welcomed to. My daughter came out as bi and it didn't even phase me. I brought my kids up in a UU church, they saw older transgendered individuals start the transition. They were babysat almost exclusively by a lesbian couple who had two kids of their own. We went to family friendly pride stuff. That is why when my daughter told me her BFF was kicked out of the house she knew I would slip on the first pair of shoes, grab my purse, and be out the door before her friend could be at the meeting spot.
I don't understand how people can still be filled with so much hate, but at the same time they still hate most disabled, ppl from the POC community, and women so hating on the 2lgbtquia+ community wouldn't be a stretch. I hope for their future that they can correct themselves. I have 3 livings siblings, all 4 of us are in no contact with my mom. My kids have a restraining order against her so do the other grand kids. It's going to be awfully lonely for her if it isn't already.
thanks for sharing
So true. Hate is a wasted emotion.
It's too much work to hate; tolerance and acceptance are easier and far more rewarding
Thank you Beau
Thank you Beau! ❤❤
So much damage can be done to a child singled out and hated. 💔
Beau IMHO this should be on your main channel as well. Keep fighting the good fight for kindness. Thanks
This message is SO important.
😩😭
One of your best Beau.☺️❤️🇨🇦thank you for saying what I’m thinking as a retired school supervisor.
Oh Beau, you do such good service to humanity with your short talks that simply present food for thought that addresses compassion, empathy and kindness for all; especially short sighted family. Thank you 🙏
I'm crying. And I'm sending this to one of my kids, in case they want to use it to help explain things to my parents, who they have become un-close to for reasons.
I find it funny that so many in there late 40's and 50's don't understand that the old folks' home is closer than they think and it's not going to be fun if no one comes visiting or even gives a fuck.
I think if there weren't the attacks, we would find that it's higher than 1 in 20 !!! Too many people are being forced to live a lie out of fear of losing their parents !!!
Sad little men who let their hateful emotions get the better of them. So weak in character they can be easily manipulated by their emotions. Hate is easy, that is why it is a sign of weakness, not strength!
Yesterday the NSW (Australia) Premier spoke in parliament, an incredibly moving and powerful speech, to express a heartfelt "sorry" for the hurt done over the years to the lgbtqi+ community ... as a straight person, I was incredibly proud and bought to tears
My youngest daughter divorced her husband and eventually married her girlfriend. My response has always been, I love you no matter what, will always love you. As a parent I cannot imagine not having space in your heart for your children no matter what.
My stepfather threw my younger sister-his daughter-out of the house when she started dating a woman. My sister is still with the same woman thirty years later. Her father died without ever speaking to her again, and never meeting their son.
Happy pride….keep up what you are doing. As a parent I never understand why you would want the child that started out loving you so unconditionally to not be in your life as an adult.
I was completely dumbfounded by the twist. I feel a bit stupid for not seeing it coming. It just didn't seem possible, what with Beau living in such a rural area.
I had a feeling I knew the twist. i grew up in a rural area. Some people really are clueless about the people around them.