Executive Summary

Now that I've had some time to think, I've realized that I could not have designed nor planned a sensitivity training that would have been as effective as the ignorant, well-meaning lady in the back of the room yesterday.

As soon as she said that, "I don't agree with THAT lifestyle" statement, the air was immediately sucked out of the room by all the others at the table gasping in surprise. 20 people got to actually experience ignorant innocence in action, not just hear about it. Derek (one of our youth) was with me and told me that everyone in the room's eyes locked on us as soon as those words came out of her mouth. He also said that my silent response was so loud he could barely hear the rest of her sentence, he felt sure that the rest of the room heard it too.

But what I know is that we hear that sort of statement all the time. We have come to accept that someone saying, "I don't agree with that lifestyle, but. . ." is still our friend. We have come to tolerate the person who says, "It's not my personal opinion, but. . ." as one who is on our side of this social debate.

NOT TRUE, I say, NOT TRUE. If it's really not your opinion then why are you projecting in onto me. If it is not your opinion then why didn't you say so in the meeting of people whom you assumed it was. If you don't agree with THAT LIFESTYLE, then don't live it. And just exactly what does that mean? THAT LIFESTYLE?? Bungy jumping and sky diving, that to me is an alternative, high-risk lifestyle - I do not agree with it. People who workout everyday and eat healthy, that is an 'alternate lifestyle' of which many apparently don't subscribe to either, but you don't hear that come up in conversation much.

Many people say they don't 'agree' with homosexuality, is that sort of like 'onions don't agree with me'? Heterosexuality didn't agree with me, so you know what - I'm NOT ONE, and I think people who 'disagree' with homosexuality shouldn't be one either, but what the heck did that have to do with whether or not the chair of the coalition is available to take phone calls during the day???????