2004-06-06 
 

sacred tomato

Went up to Sacramento yesterday for a G family birthday bash. June holds birthdays for his Mother, brother, cousin and - of course - for the both of us. It was a pretty good time. I'd met a lot of his family before, but never all in one place like that. Nerves. I know his parents like me, but I still feel like I need to be on my best behavior around the rest of the family.

I think it's partially a side effect of the gay thing. While I've found that I'm now comfortable being pretty true to myself around his parents when it's just the four of us, I still get the feeling that I need to put on my game face when a larger group gathers. (To be fair to his family, this holds true for any large hetero gathering) It's as if I feel the need to play the part of a posterchild for gaydom in situations like that. Suck them in to liking you first and then the big reveal. "What? He's GAY?...I'll have to rethink my entire position on homosexuals as evil creatures that need some good electroshock therapy now."

The truth is that this 'best foot forward/nod now and then argue gently later' habit of mine has helped open some people's eyes to new horizons on many issues, so I doubt it's something I'll change, but it is pretty exausting after the fact.

All that being said, I guess it's not too different from anyone trying to make their way in the world today. (takes everything you got.)

So today is all about some quality time with G, and perhaps a walk through the Castro to recharge the batteries.

* posted by me at 2:05 PM

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