Derechos de los Homosexuales

While sitting at dinner yesterday my host mother Juana, an apparently evangelical, jovial and strong-willed woman asked Julio (my fellow teacher living with me) and I how we felt about gays adopting children. Julio and I glanced at one another,  acknowledging a collective feeling of “Oh shit.”  and nodded to one in another in agreement that we had to keep it real. I asked her if she was sure she really wanted to know and she smiled and said “Pues, claro (of course).”

I then explained to Juana that I grew in a very inclusive community and was raised with gay friends and even had a friend in high school with two moms. I explained that I know many gay couples that have happy, healthy relationships, relationships that are many times healthier and more functional than those of many of my heterosexual friends. I further made the point that there are so many children that need healthy homes and that there are gay couples out there that can provide those homes.

I paused, bracing myself for the impending rebuttal, the moment of truth. She smiled and said, that makes a lot of sense. VICTORY! She than replied, “I really like gay people. They are so nice, and so BEAUTIFUL, too! I love looking at their nice nails and styled hair.” She then told me that a gay cruise came through La Ceiba (a neighboring beach town) and they all went out to La Ceiba to see them.

Julio and I cringed on the inside and decided to celebrate our small success and just leave it at that. Two steps forward, one step back. I imagine it was for the better that I didn’t explain to her that I performed in a drag show from age 7-15 to raise money for AIDS services foundation.