Comments on: COMING OUT MANIFESTO

By: Reading Pleasure

Reading Pleasure — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 10:51:48 +0000

My friend, I read all the comments and I am so happy that your family has reached out to you. I know it means so much to you. BTW, why do you call yourself queer? is it not derogatory? Is that the accepted word? Just a thought! Stay blessed!

By: ewurabasempe

ewurabasempe — Thu, 31 May 2012 21:10:40 +0000

Lisa dear,
I’m happy you are doing some pondering. Travel does make you face yourself and your fears and we all make choices of what to leave behind in an unfamiliar place.

By: ewurabasempe

ewurabasempe — Thu, 31 May 2012 21:09:44 +0000

Hi coz!
No not as in unique, although I wouldn’t balk at that definition. There is only one of me (and of you) so that makes us unique I guess.
I’m sure by now you have figured out that I don’t mean this definition. I hear your sadness about the abuse situation, but I am doing my healing work around that. Thanks for caring. Miss you!

By: ewurabasempe

ewurabasempe — Thu, 31 May 2012 21:07:04 +0000

Celestine,
Thank you for commenting. I really did wonder if some folks would stop following my blog. It was hard living in Ghana for six months last year and hearing all the hullabaloo about queer people. I felt as if my hands were tied. Your friendship and your own personal experience is what trumps what anyone else spews or mandates. My own not so great example is when I first met, and later became friends with a physically challenged woman. Knowing her changed my views of able and differently-abled people. My experience is not yours, neither was hers mine; but it shouldn’t/didn’t stop me from advocating for a wheelchair ramp at work that summer. It’s in the relationships and personal experiences that we actually know the “other” and learn of the diversity of God’s creation. All the religions of the world have their holy books which say a bunch of things. If we believe what they say about others then we’d never get to practice that radical love that all the prophets call us to. Specifically the bible has a code of ethics for everything from shellfish to lepers; could I choose what works for my lifestyle and ignore the others and still call myself a believer? I hear the biblical take on it and most people think I dismiss it cos I am queer, but that is not the case. I dismiss it on principle that those who condemn and advocate burning queers, rape seven-year olds and still attend church to worship a god who they strongly believe will forgive their act, yet believe this same god “mandates” them to burn abortion clinics and queers. I thank you for reaching out and commenting often and truthfully. I do value this budding friendship.

By: ewurabasempe

ewurabasempe — Thu, 31 May 2012 20:37:38 +0000

Hi coz! Sorry for the delay in writing. I am grateful for the outpouring of support especially from this particular root of the Elliott clan. Means loads to me! We will meet one day, soon I hope. Btw, I’m dating someone from Toronto .

By: ewurabasempe

ewurabasempe — Thu, 31 May 2012 20:36:16 +0000

Thanks Aunty Maame. This trip home was difficult for that very reason. I had been in a loving and caring relationship for a while but I couldn’t tell anyone about it so I played the singles card just to be on the safe side. Miss you and home and the rest of the clan but now you know why I live in San Francisco.

By: ewurabasempe

ewurabasempe — Thu, 31 May 2012 20:34:45 +0000

Believe it or not, you Dorea, Calleen and Saderia were the ones I was most worried about. Thank you. Love you loads, miss you, and think of you as I remember my dad’s 9th anniversary. You are always in my heart.

By: Marissa

Marissa — Thu, 31 May 2012 20:15:37 +0000

I admired you before, and I admire you now!

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Thu, 31 May 2012 19:29:28 +0000

Kukua, my dear niece, well done you are so brave and I am proud of you. so my question is why didnt you say anything when we were trying to hook you up with our friend. I guess y ou were not sure how we would react. Well my dear it is not my place to judge you or anyone for that matter. It is who y ou are and you have to be true to yourself and nobody else. Please feel free to talk to me about it and be happy and do get on with your life. Stay blessed my dear and keep the skirts short. ha ha hahaha Stay blessed. Aunty Maame

By: kaks winful

kaks winful — Thu, 17 May 2012 01:59:53 +0000

I am really glad that u are able to let everyone know who u are! I think its important we are our true self at all times even when people may not necessarily agree or like who we are. Ultimately if u are happy with the life you are living and most importantly u accept who u are then really what others think/do or say is irrelevant! U are brave and I really admire that and though we are family and we haven’t really had the opportunity to meet and connect like u have with my sister I am proud of you for being urself and being open enough to share that part of yourself with us! I just pray we all have the confidence of being ourselves without thinking about what others think of us!