We had an exchange student 5 years ago and she's here for a visit. She's now 21 and doesn't know all that has happened in our family in the intervening years. I've noticed her confusion about openly gay/lesbian folks in our lives. So far, I've just made it casual but I know in Russia that being gay and lesbian is very much forbidden. So what do you think I should teach in the week or so of this visit? I've discussed the various relationships of people in our life but I'm wondering if I should take a more proactive teaching role.
3. If you show her a grand time in the Gay community..
...And that its nothing like the evils that overly religious folks make it out to be. Just have fun and help her to relax with it, as long as she is confortable she will get something positive out of it...You might even talk about the atrocities that has happened to Gay men and women and who is responsible for those atrocities, the kind of homophobic idiots that commit them.
6. There are tons of Russian gays and lesbians although there is repression
in many parts (just like there is repression in many parts around here.)
I have many Russian immigrant pals in the lesbian community in NY. GLBT existence isn't a cultural phenomenon-- we exist everywhere. Take her anywhere you'd take anyone else and make her deal with her anti-gay attitudes (if she has any). She'll probably be singing with the drag queens on stage by the end of the night. Don't shield her from reality. Especially nice, harmless realities :)
Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com
Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators
Important Notices: By participating on this discussion
board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules
page. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the
opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent
the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC.