My that's a tiny closet you have

I'm an Indigo Girl FANATIC. I really don't think a better band was created - I think there other great bands out there, but the two women who make up the group really rock my world in many ways. So of course I have most of their albums in my car and listen to whichever one strikes my fancy on any given day.

For the drive in today I chose, "Nomads, Indians and Saints" - great album, excellent tunes, and what I've come to love most from the Girls, profound, touching lyrics. One song sang about discrimination and being disliked for being gay, and while the wounds of my little man being picked on yesterday on the bus ride home were still fresh, I got to thinking about my wonderful stepfather and how I can't be out to his side of the family because he would be tormented by his brothers for my sexuality. I had no control over being gay, he certainly had no control over it nor did he contribute to my genetic make-up, so it really hurts me to know that I can't have part of my family close to me because I don't want them to give my stepfather any trouble. I wonder if they even know that they're deliberately being ignored on my part because of this? I wonder if they did know, if they'd change their thinking or make a concerted effort not to harass him. Somehow I doubt it, and I bet if they were to crack a gay joke he'd be right in there with him - and that would hurt us both.

I don't understand why so much hate exists. Why crack any ethnic or religious jokes? It's bound to hurt someone you love whether you know it yet or not.