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dsc

(53,024 posts)
Tue Nov 19, 2024, 02:55 PM Nov 2024

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

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.

35 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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I am an openly gay teacher in a county carried by Trump 58 to 41 (Original Post) dsc Nov 2024 OP
K&R. n/t FSogol Nov 2024 #1
Another K&R underpants Nov 2024 #2
Vote with your eyes. Quislings are dangerous. Don't support them. Don't watch them. Scrivener7 Nov 2024 #3
I had been watching them in the morning and listening on my trip to work dsc Nov 2024 #4
Yes. I'm looking for ways to keep my mind Scrivener7 Nov 2024 #5
Yea I have been consuming less news anyway dsc Nov 2024 #6
Michigan? Johnny2X2X Nov 2024 #7
North Carolina dsc Nov 2024 #8
I have a niece who has a similar story Johnny2X2X Nov 2024 #10
I haven't heard that in a few years dsc Nov 2024 #15
Relay this to her azureblue Nov 2024 #29
Ezekiel 16:49 markodochartaigh Nov 2024 #31
Sounds amazing... SidDithers Nov 2024 #16
I am really pissed at the way they are treating our new congresswoman Sarah McBride Walleye Nov 2024 #9
Nancy Mace is an utter disgrace dsc Nov 2024 #14
they are insulting every decent person in America Skittles Nov 2024 #20
And millions of Americans are supporting them in their hatred Walleye Nov 2024 #22
yes they have certainly outed themselves Skittles Nov 2024 #23
I think it is part of their hatred for women Walleye Nov 2024 #24
correct, homophobia and transphobia are rooted in misogyny Skittles Nov 2024 #25
Well said. Permanut Nov 2024 #35
DU Rec...nt SidDithers Nov 2024 #11
Damn, I thought you lived in Durham or CH for some reason obamanut2012 Nov 2024 #12
I used to live in Raleigh right by Knightdale dsc Nov 2024 #13
I'm in enigmania Nov 2024 #21
Yeah it is a very conservative county dsc Nov 2024 #26
Interact with your students' parents and as many people as you can. surfered Nov 2024 #17
That is true dsc Nov 2024 #18
FWIW if you are open to moving, there are opportunities in other countries. JT45242 Nov 2024 #19
I have a college friend mnhtnbb Nov 2024 #27
Brave are the people that does something about it..... The Grand Illuminist Nov 2024 #28
So well said. bronxiteforever Nov 2024 #30
My Sister was an openly gay teacher.. Permanut Nov 2024 #32
I have occasionally thought about the teachers I had whom I suspect were closeted. PeaceWave Nov 2024 #33
Beautiful post. Inspiring even. N/T Mike 03 Nov 2024 #34

Scrivener7

(56,384 posts)
3. Vote with your eyes. Quislings are dangerous. Don't support them. Don't watch them.
Tue Nov 19, 2024, 02:59 PM
Nov 2024

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

(53,024 posts)
4. I had been watching them in the morning and listening on my trip to work
Tue Nov 19, 2024, 03:02 PM
Nov 2024

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

(56,384 posts)
5. Yes. I'm looking for ways to keep my mind
Tue Nov 19, 2024, 03:06 PM
Nov 2024

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

(53,024 posts)
6. Yea I have been consuming less news anyway
Tue Nov 19, 2024, 03:08 PM
Nov 2024

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

dsc

(53,024 posts)
8. North Carolina
Tue Nov 19, 2024, 03:14 PM
Nov 2024

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

Johnny2X2X

(23,063 posts)
10. I have a niece who has a similar story
Tue Nov 19, 2024, 03:18 PM
Nov 2024

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

(53,024 posts)
15. I haven't heard that in a few years
Tue Nov 19, 2024, 03:25 PM
Nov 2024

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

azureblue

(2,490 posts)
29. Relay this to her
Tue Nov 19, 2024, 05:46 PM
Nov 2024

"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

(3,344 posts)
31. Ezekiel 16:49
Tue Nov 19, 2024, 05:57 PM
Nov 2024

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

(44,333 posts)
16. Sounds amazing...
Tue Nov 19, 2024, 03:29 PM
Nov 2024

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

Sid

Walleye

(41,402 posts)
9. I am really pissed at the way they are treating our new congresswoman Sarah McBride
Tue Nov 19, 2024, 03:17 PM
Nov 2024

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

Skittles

(165,988 posts)
23. yes they have certainly outed themselves
Tue Nov 19, 2024, 05:11 PM
Nov 2024

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

dsc

(53,024 posts)
13. I used to live in Raleigh right by Knightdale
Tue Nov 19, 2024, 03:23 PM
Nov 2024

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

surfered

(7,903 posts)
17. Interact with your students' parents and as many people as you can.
Tue Nov 19, 2024, 03:41 PM
Nov 2024

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

(53,024 posts)
18. That is true
Tue Nov 19, 2024, 03:50 PM
Nov 2024

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

(3,481 posts)
19. FWIW if you are open to moving, there are opportunities in other countries.
Tue Nov 19, 2024, 04:52 PM
Nov 2024

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

(32,640 posts)
27. I have a college friend
Tue Nov 19, 2024, 05:33 PM
Nov 2024

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.

Permanut

(7,316 posts)
32. My Sister was an openly gay teacher..
Tue Nov 19, 2024, 06:22 PM
Nov 2024

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

(1,655 posts)
33. I have occasionally thought about the teachers I had whom I suspect were closeted.
Tue Nov 19, 2024, 06:40 PM
Nov 2024

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.

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