Mississippi on LGBTQ+ Rights
I was standing in the line to the canteen on the City of New Orleans train. The news was still fresh: our armed services had lifted their “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. Now official policy would allow LGBTQ+ folks to serve their country without lying about who they were. A sailor wearing his white uniform stood two people ahead of me in line. A middle-aged bearded man was between me and the sailor. The bearded man expressed his regret—condolences, really—to the sailor for the country’s change in policy.
“I’m from south Louisiana,” the sailor replied in full Cajun cadence. “All my life, people have taunted and ridiculed me for my accent. Telling me I was ignorant and stupid. If they’ve got my back when it counts, that’s all that matters to me. I’m a red-blooded, Coon-ass American, and I support their right to serve.”
So if you ask this Mississippi on LGBTQ+ rights, I will respond: I’m a rednecked generational Mississippian ridiculed for my home state, and I support the right of LGBTQ+ folks to serve, marry, adopt children, access the medical care they decide they need, hold any job they desire, publish any book they desire, buy fucking wedding cakes, act as ordained representatives of the body of Christ, baptize those I love, offer me communion, marry me, and, God willing, say grace over my grave when I finally leave this narrow-minded, love-starved world.
If you disagree with my Mississippi on LGBTQ+ rights, don’t tell me about it.
Sit down with your gay friends and, face-to-face, explain their inferiority to them.
All You Need is Love, Christians on LGBTQ+ rights, Gay rights in America today, Mississippi on LGBTQ+ rights, white Christians and LGBTQ+ rights
Julia coggins
Gogi I am learning all about They people. Very enlightening. Such cool people. Good for that sailor. Love your stories. You are an excellent writer. Xo Julia
Ellen Morris Prewitt
Julia, reading your kind words about loving my stories almost makes me tear up. You’re such a prolific reader, you’re praise of my writing really means a lot to me. Particularly since there are only five years of my looooong existence on this earth that you haven’t known me.🙃 Thank you! And we shall all keep learning, n’est-ce pas?
Sharon Pavelda
Thank you for this, and every, post to this blog, Ellen. Like many of them, this one feels like a shot of spiritual calcium to my spine. I am now practicing my own manifesto-in-the-moment statement, and will borrow your last line to use as mine.
Thank you, and as you know, I love you and the words that come out of you. Sharon
Ellen Morris Prewitt
Oh, how I love that: “a shot of spiritual calcium to my spine.” Together, we create the brilliance we want in this world. Thank you, my mentor and friend. ❤️
Joanne Corey
Thank you for your witness, Ellen, from me and all my LGBTQIA+ friends and relations.
Ellen Morris Prewitt
You’re welcome. ❤️