When Kate Stanley came out as a lesbian to her immediate family as a teen, the only notable thing was how unnotable it was – no one batted an eyelid.
The 24-year-old from Columbo, Ohio, said her parents and siblings were ‘amazing’ in their support. Her mum’s side of the family, too, were nothing but encouraging.
However, on her dad’s side, they said nothing. Those who disagreed with her sexuality had made snide comments that felt like ‘paper cuts’.
So when Kate got engaged to her girlfriend, Brook Bishop, 35, she knew she had to break it to her family somehow.
Her choice of medium was Facebook where she subtly but expertly broke the news, using the colour orange.
‘My favorite colour has been orange for as long as I can remember,’ she wrote.
‘Orange like the soft wave of the clouds in a sunrise. Orange like the leaves that cling desperately to the trees during autumn. Orange like the sweater I wore the night you asked me to marry you.’
Kate also shared pictures of the couple, who both work at the Center for Autism Spectrum Disorder at the Nationwide Children’s Hospital.
And the post went viral, amassing more than 122,000 likes on Twitter, where she shared the Facebook post.
My favorite color is no longer orange. Sometimes, it’s green like your eyes in the sunlight. Sometimes, it’s pink like your cheeks after you’ve been smiling endlessly. Sometimes, it’s brown like the constellation of freckles on your body or brown like the waterfall of your hair that falls in your face when you throw your head back and laugh. Sometimes, it’s red like your lips after a glass or two of wine.
‘I wanted to share something I had been writing in my head for Brooke along with the post about getting engaged,’ Kate told Metro.co.uk.
‘Brooke did such an incredible job of creating a beautiful proposal and I wanted to be able to give her something (although small and not nearly as great) as well.
‘My intention of making it public and ensuring that ALL of my family could see it is because I very much advocate the idea that sharing blood does not make someone “family” and to never compromise yourself and your life for the happiness of others.’
Since the post, some family members have been in touch with Kate while others have remained silent.
She added: ‘I’m more fortunate than many others in that I have very supportive family members that balance the less supportive members.
‘My other family members have said nothing. It doesn’t surprise me much that they haven’t had much to say — typically, any disagreements they may have will come in a thinly veiled comment that is supposedly not directed toward anyone but just in general.’
Kate and Brooke haven’t made any wedding plans yet but whatever they choose, they will be unapologetically loud and proud of their love.
‘I will continue to express my love boldly and proudly, regardless of who disagrees. Love is beautiful, pure, and rare. It should always be celebrated.’
Wise words.
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source https://metro.co.uk/2019/12/17/lesbian-woman-fights-homophobic-family-members-with-love-by-announcing-her-engagement-on-facebook-11919169/
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