I was given permission to post this on our blog.  Please read. This might be a post not many even comment on…sad but true.  Too intense?  Too political?  I don’t know but hope it’s read.

It is very heart warming and humbling to know our blog about everything can influence a person like to this to share their horrific story and then thank us for publicly posting who we are….people are amazing and this is one reason I try to diversify our BLOG.

“Hi Leslie
 
I have been reading your blog now for a while and have really enjoyed it.  I just wanted to share with you how much it means to me and to thank you for the time you have put into it – sharing so much of your life. Also to Cheryl for her work with the It get’s better video. I had seen the video first and then somehow stumbled upon your blog.  It has meant the world to me to see your lives together as normal and healthy – something to be celebrated and lived. In the video I had never heard women speak of their lives and sexuality in such a positive way and it captivated me. Growing up – gay only meant men and it was directly connected with rejection, abuse, isolation and the infliction of pain on the whole family. My uncles are gay and I lived in a world where gay could not be spoken – at all. In my own life at 18, I was identified as a lesbian – this lead to everything I had been taught it meant. My closest friend was removed by her family from university and thrown out of the house – living day to day and meal to meal homeless; I was devastated by that loss and knowing what happened was because of me. I was dealt with by her family circle with rape, attempted gang rape, stalking, death threats and finally being abandoned to die alone. I was forced to move and lost nearly everyone I knew. The only ones I didn’t lose where those who never knew what was going on. I never told anyone what had happened and never reported anything not wanting to lose any more. Its taken many years to finally come to the point of facing things. I suppressed everything – all feeling and refused to acknowledge that part of me. This lead to decades of depression, anxiety issues and a lot of decisions that were not based on who I really am but who I thought I needed to be to survive.  Your blog is in a way like a travel brochure – strange analogy I know but It gives encouragement and hope; a window into what I thought was only a dreamed place. I am not in a position to post this on your blog but still wanted to let you know how much it means to me.”

I hope this person who sent this to me reads how much this email means to us…it’s not always about motorcycles, fun and glory…there are real people out there who struggle with their own lives, living a life that perhaps is not real…we find that truly sad and unfortunate but reality.  Sexuality should be rejoiced and embraced not feared.

I wish we never would receive email like this but….in 2013 some feel that difference, diversity and sexuality is a topic still open for debate, judgements and disgust. We are lucky in that we are able not to care about those who judge us for being gay and living our everyday “normal” lives.  Cheryl and I are fortunate to have a stable foundation, a group of friends and colleagues as well as family who just couldn’t give a shit that we are two women.  There are way too many others things to worry about in life than who we love to be honest.

Thank you to the author of this email and one day I hope you too can be who you are without fear and judgement.  In the meantime if you find our blog and emailing me helpful…please do so…and THANK YOU for taking the time to share your story.