On being gay. From a straight guy.

[The Straight Story]

I was thinking about my wife today. And about a novel I hope to write next year (I can't divulge the details of it, but it did kick me into this train of thought).

Let's say I died, but my soul - instead of floating off to heaven, slid into the body of some woman who was dying. Hers went on, mine took over.

Now I am a woman. I seek out my wife, and convince her I am really me, my soul trapped in someone else's body and there is no changing it.

I still love her. I still want to marry her, raise a family with her. I still want to touch and pleasure her.

But because our sex organs are the same - I would be barred from marrying. Ridiculed by the right and called evil. Raising a family? Frowned upon.

When you love someone, truly deeply love them, does it really matter if your genitals are the same?

To some it does.

Love is stronger then prejudice. It is stronger than hate. It has more beauty than mankind can express in a wonderful temple built of stone and statues.

To my gay friends here and in my personal life I say - Thank you for being strong and standing up for your life and your love. Be proud, be loud, and never be ashamed for loving someone.

Love is above the waistline, lust is below, and hate is the state of an ignorant mind above the neckline.

[DavidDvorkin]

1. That's a Heinlein novel

The title of which escapes me at the moment.

[The Straight Story]

2. Sweeet - if you find it, let me know - would love to read it! (nt)

[Wonk]

6. I will fear no evil

http://www.amazon.com/I-Will-Fear-No-Evil/dp/0441359175

[DavidDvorkin]

10. Right!

Thanks. I could see the cover of the paperback in my mind, but not the title.

[6000eliot]

9. There's also a play about a man whose wife trades souls with an old man

I think it's called "Prelude to a Kiss."

[DavidDvorkin]

11. Which was made into a pretty good movie

[Az]

18. Sounds like All You Zombies Out There

A timecop goes back in time marries himself prior to his getting a sexchange operation (it is in the future so the operation is complete). He has a daughter together with himself... er herself which gets sent back in time due to an accident only to grow up to be its own mother/father.

[DavidDvorkin]

23. Classic story

But isn't the title just "All You Zombies"?

Just Googled. It's also by Heinlein: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%22—All_You_Zombies—%22

It's a real mindbender.

[cboy4]

3. What an ironic message coming from someone with a screen

name such as yours. lol

But what a nice thing to say, and it's appreciated a lot.

Thank you. :)

[The Straight Story]

4. It's from the movie (my screen name) :) (nt)

[cboy4]

8. Yea, I was sorta teasing you. I didn't think you chose your

name because you were a lobbyist for heterosexuality! LOL

[Syncronaut Seven]

5. Read this.

"I Will Fear No Evil" by Robert A. Heinlein.

Alng similar lines. Very good.

[LittleClarkie]

7. Did they make that into a movie?

The actors escape me at the mo' but the lead woman was blond.

[DavidDvorkin]

12. Maybe you're thinking of the movie version of "Prelued to a Kiss"

Which was mentioned above.

The movie starred Meg Ryan.

[LittleClarkie]

15. I'm thinking of a movie where the man was reincarnated as a woman

got pregnant and died on the delivery table, iirc.

[DavidDvorkin]

16. Hmm. I can't place that one.

[LittleClarkie]

17. IMDB is my friend. It's called Switch, with Ellen Barkin

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0103016/

[DavidDvorkin]

22. Oh, yes. Now I remember seeing the trailer

It got bad reviews and didn't hang around for long, as I remember.

[LittleClarkie]

24. Surprising considering it's Blake Edwards

and Ellen Barkin is a pretty good actress.

But if I recall correctly, the problem was it turned out to be two different movies. It didn't know if it wanted to be a comedy, or to be poignant. The mix was awkward.

[cynatnite]

20. Are you thinking of Switch?

Ellen Barkin and Jimmy Smits were in it. Her character died at childbirth.

[LittleClarkie]

21. That's the one

Reminded me of the OP's premise.

[California Griz]

13. Meg Ryan and Alec Baldwin

cute movie. Good cast all the way around.

[Erika]

14. My sweet gay stepson put it this way

He said "My best friend also shares my bed".

That is what you call a true warm relationship.

[Maru Kitteh]

19. That's a Star Trek NG episode

Dr. Krusher falls in love with this alien dude only to find he is only one half of a symbiotic organism. His "host" body is dying and he must seek another host body. After overcoming her moral qualms about the relationship these two species have developed - her lover and the host, she eagerly awaits the return of her love. Her love comes back to her, but in a female body. It's more than she can handle, and she declines.

I think the episode was designed to make people think, if the body is truly only a vessel for the soul, then why are some people so hung up on the mechanics?