A sad article offered with very limited comment

[dsc]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marissa-higgins/i-want-to-be-safe-in-nyc-_b_3299813.html?utm_hp_ref=gay-voices

Several weeks ago my wife and I wanted a burger. We went into a chain restaurant in Chelsea, ordered, and got a booth. My wife helped a woman with the soda machine -- one of those big light up ones with all of the options. The woman smiled and thanked her. She and her daughter ended up at the booth next to ours -- at least until she saw us kiss on the lips.

It was a small peck, the well-learned art of coming together and slipping apart, but it was all it took. She said nothing, but moved herself and her daughter across the dining area. Her daughter stared at us from across the restaurant until they left soon after. When I walked by to get more ketchup her eyes followed me. I felt nervous and sad and quickened my step. When I turned she smiled a little and I smiled back. Her eyes were big and brown and sad. I'm not a monster, I wanted to say.

She was about 5-years-old.

end of quote much more at article

It is 2013 and she lives in arguably the most gay friendly place east of the Sierra Nevada. Many of us who live in the interior won't hold hands, won't kiss, won't hug in public. We are still either first or second in terms of being victims of hate crimes. Just when will stories like hers stop happening.

[hlthe2b]

1. There are always going to be judgemental and unpleasant people in this world...

and they will always find reasons to discriminate or be generally ugly towards others, sadly. Ask an obese person if they haven't experience similar....sigh...

I think all we can do is try to educate and be as tolerant ourselves as possible.

[kimbutgar]

2. I was in Disneyland a week ago and I saw many gay couples holding hands,

Enjoying the park with their families. I saw no one attacking them nor staring at them. There were quite a few Mormon families ( I spoke to a Mormon mother who was there with her kids because it was school break time). Sierra Nevada is kind of right wing republican so it doesn't surprise me.

[dsc]

3. the incident was in New York

I chose the Sierra Nevada to eliminate San Francisco and West Hollywood from my comments about New York.