I’d like to speak to the manager!!!

Gay Pride Edition!

In the mid 1990’s, I taught high school for three years.

I was teaching lighting, at a performing arts high school, in Cincinnati.

Cincinnati at the time was very conservative. VERY CONSERVATIVE.

I was told before moving there, to keep my sexuality to myself. I did so by buying my one and only rainbow car sticker, to put on the back of my Ford Escort Station Wagon, that my friends called the family car.

I didn’t really get any pushback as had been suggested.

I had a boyfriend soon after moving there, who came to my shows.

I didn’t flaunt it, as they say, but I certainly didn’t hide it.

One day, I’m teaching in the morning, and a student, who was known for pushing the boundaries, raised their hand, and asked what the (hehe) meaning (hehe) of the sticker (hehe) on my car was for (hehe).

She was completely convinced she was going to make me out myself, publically.

Instead, I stretched the truth a bit and said, “Well, it’s a rainbow sticker, that was created to celebrate diversity. Its foundation, was the rainbow coalition, that has been supported by the Reverend Jessie Jackson. Its purpose is to let everyone know, that I think diversity is a good thing. I think, we should include everyone equally in everything we do, and I just want everyone to know that.

There was a pause, she said okay.

And I went back to teaching.

It never came up again.

And I went on to sing in the Cincinnati Men’s Choir. I also designed the lighting for a number of their shows, and my students assisted in hanging and running the shows.