I am an openly gay teacher in a county carried by Trump 58 to 41

[dsc]

and live in a county carried by him 59 to 40. I sing in two gay choruses in much bluer counties 52/43 Harris and 62/36 Harris. I admit to being beyond furious that Joe and Mika are being so cowardly. I don't consider myself brave, I consider myself honest. I can't fathom the planet on which he thinks anyone will trust him ever again.

In fairness, I wasn't always open about myself but I am now and there is no sense in attempting to fool anyone. Those of us who Trump isn't going to like have two choices here. Either stand up and continue doing so, or lose. I am, and will continue to search out places to rest while being my true self. Conversely, I have bought my house and found a career. I am who I am and see no other choice.

I hope the rest of the press doesn't cave. We all deserve better.

[FSogol]

1. K&R. n/t

[underpants]

2. Another K&R

[Scrivener7]

3. Vote with your eyes. Quislings are dangerous. Don't support them. Don't watch them.

As for stand up and be yourself, I totally agree. My Harris stickers and buttons are not coming off my car or my clothes till we get someone decent in the White House.

It's not like you. I think gay people will have a harder time than straight people. But I am with you, I support you, and I'll be doing what I can on my end.

[dsc]

4. I had been watching them in the morning and listening on my trip to work

that is over. I wasn't all that enamoured of them but I did like having some idea of the news and they were easy to get both at home and on sirius. I will be looking for a replacement, for now I am listening to music in the morning on the way to work.

[Scrivener7]

5. Yes. I'm looking for ways to keep my mind

off the situation. I'm preparing for the worst, and beyond that trying to ignore it and hope for the best. Or at least safety for my loved ones.

[dsc]

6. Yea I have been consuming less news anyway

due to just being disgusted but most other ones I just cut back not eliminated like I did Morning Joe.

[Johnny2X2X]

7. Michigan?

You sound familiar.

[dsc]

8. North Carolina

Choruses are Triangle Gay Men's Chorus (Raleigh) and Greater Greenville Queer Chorus (Greenville NC).

[Johnny2X2X]

10. I have a niece who has a similar story

She's a gay music teacher who lives in a red county, probably sings in a couple choirs.

She's horrified about all of this as she knows Republicans don't want gay people to be allowed to be teachers, she's been told that explicitely by people in her town, that she "shouldn't be allowed to teach children."

[dsc]

15. I haven't heard that in a few years

I think the military ending DADT helped in this area (we have a big air force base)

[azureblue]

29. Relay this to her

"OK, the Bible says that being gay is a sin. But the Bible also says that eating pork is a sin, also. So which sin is worse, and who is to judge which is worse? A sin is a sin. So if you then that gay people should not teach, then people who eat pork, should not, either. And what did Jesus say, "judge not?"

[markodochartaigh]

31. Ezekiel 16:49

49 “‘Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy.

[SidDithers]

16. Sounds amazing...

Unfortunately, don't see myself visiting NC anytime soon. Would otherwise love to show my support.

Sid

[Walleye]

9. I am really pissed at the way they are treating our new congresswoman Sarah McBride

The first openly transgender elected to Congress. She is a wonderful person, smart well educated and experienced. It’s like they’re insulting the whole state of Delaware

[dsc]

14. Nancy Mace is an utter disgrace

but I am sure she isn't the only one.

[Skittles]

20. they are insulting every decent person in America

an absolute disgrace

[Walleye]

22. And millions of Americans are supporting them in their hatred

[Skittles]

23. yes they have certainly outed themselves

they literally care more about trans folk in bathrooms than they care about climate change or the war on women

[Walleye]

24. I think it is part of their hatred for women

[Skittles]

25. correct, homophobia and transphobia are rooted in misogyny

very sad indeed

[Permanut]

35. Well said.

[SidDithers]

11. DU Rec...nt

Sid

[obamanut2012]

12. Damn, I thought you lived in Durham or CH for some reason

[dsc]

13. I used to live in Raleigh right by Knightdale

but I live in Snow Hill now and work in Goldsboro.

[enigmania]

21. I'm in

Jones County. It's all MAGA down this way.

[dsc]

26. Yeah it is a very conservative county

looked up your results yikes.

[surfered]

17. Interact with your students' parents and as many people as you can.

MAGA hates groups in general as “they”. If they have a personal connection with you they’re different. The Cheney’s have a gay daughter, so they’re more tolerant.

We have GOP friends that think liberals will destroy the country, but think we’re ok knowing we’re liberal.

So, as said, make as many friends as you can

[dsc]

18. That is true

I have some very conservative friends on staff here but they do respect me. I am more introverted than the typical teacher so it can be hard for me to be 'on' all the time but I think I do some good for the cause so to speak.

[JT45242]

19. FWIW if you are open to moving, there are opportunities in other countries.

I am looking to get out before Project 2025 destroys the education field that I work (was a teacher now work in large scale assessment).

I have given this a lot of thought after watching the last couple of seasons of Finding Your Roots that had a lot of Ashkenazi jews as the subjects. For so many, only a few of the family left early before a purging of the Pale, or the ghettos, or the final solution. So many said they wished their other relatives had tried to get out sooner. No one said, I was disappointed that my family got out too soon.

It may be the cowards way out, but I would rather leave of my own volition than die in a re-education center ala Chinese great leap forward or some soviet style gulag for undesirables like union leaders and democrat donors.

[mnhtnbb]

27. I have a college friend

who has lived all over the world in various countries teaching theater arts. I have another friend who has been teaching in France for about 15 years. He is gay and now has his French passport.

[The Grand Illuminist]

28. Brave are the people that does something about it.....

that actually delivers real results.

[bronxiteforever]

30. So well said.

[Permanut]

32. My Sister was an openly gay teacher..

We lost her in 2021 at age 77, after she worked tirelessly for civil rights and justice for 50 of those years. She got to see Joe Biden elected; I'm glad she has not witnessed the rise of the Fourth Reich.

Regarding the issue of concern about LGBTQ teachers being "around" students, she would be quick to point out that 99% of pedophiles are straight white men.

She was my hero.

[PeaceWave]

33. I have occasionally thought about the teachers I had whom I suspect were closeted.

In those days, no way in hell could a teacher be openly gay. Among the parents, there would have been pandemonium in the streets. As a kid, I knew something was a little different about three teachers in particular. All three were good teachers in whose classes I excelled. One was my male home room teacher in 6th grade down in Los Angeles. For some reason, he suggested that I read a Judy Blume book. I think he could tell that I was a really sheltered kid and was ripe to be made fun of since I didn't know squat about sex. In my 11 year old mind though, that book was the most scandalous incendiary smut imaginable. After finishing the book, I never really trusted that teacher. I knew there were mysteries yet to be discovered and I didn't appreciate someone else choosing which doors I opened and when I did so. Three years later, when I was 14 and living in Central Pennsylvania, in a little town called Bloomsburg, I'm fairly sure that my Spanish and General Science teachers were gay. At the time, I didn't think of it in those terms. I just knew that one seemed a little too meticulously put together and the other one seemed a little over the top in his praise of my test scores. Anyway, looking back, I feel sorry for those three guys (even the one who tried to corrupt me with Judy Blume prose). They should have been able to live their true selves. As kids, I don't think we'd have given a shit. All that mattered back then was whether we had a quarter in our pocket to hit the Galaga machine at the arcade after school. Sucker arcade operators. On a good day, we could make that quarter go a loooooong ways. So, in summation, I would say that (1) all teachers have the potential to rock, regardless of whether they are straight, gay or any shade in between, (2) kids know what's going on, and they see and feel things in a way we no longer can once we grow up and (3) Judy Blume is a temptress who probably owes me some money in therapy bills I've paid over the years.

[Mike 03]

34. Beautiful post. Inspiring even. N/T