My brother George was gay. When his partner died in 1984, early in the AIDS epidemic, his partner’s parents would not allow my brother to be part of the memorial service, along with other indignities.
I was reminded of this while watching the Winter Olympics, a celebration of human potential. Nick Goepper, a ski slopestyle competitor, was competing as an openly gay athlete. He kissed his boyfriend before his qualifying event. He was unaware that the kiss was caught by a TV camera.
Asked later about it, Goepper said this:
Christian Pondella/Red Bull Content Pool
Nick Goepper
I think that’s amazing. That’s something I wanted at my last Olympics, to share a kiss with my boyfriend at the bottom, and it was something I was too scared to do for myself. And so to be able to do that, to give him a kiss and have that affection broadcast for the world is incredible.
That’s not something I had as a kid. I didn’t see a gay athlete at the Olympics kissing their boyfriend. I think if I did it would have it a lot easier for me.
Johnny Weir and Tara Lipinski, both former competitive figure skaters, were commentators this Olympics. Johnny had 13 suitcases and Tara nine, and they worked together to coordinate their outfits each day they were broadcasting.
Weir is gay. Here’s what he says:
I grew up lower-class in the middle of Pennsylvania. My parents always talked about the importance of being who you are and, if you are different, celebrating that and being as special as you can be.
So when choosing the things I wear or the things I say, it really does come from the heart, because that is all I know. I don’t know how to create an image. I don’t know how to be premeditated.
My brother was completely accepted by my parents and me. We loved him. However, not everyone in the world was comfortable with people who are “different.”
It is so gratifying to see the comments of people like Nick and Johnny in the media. Think of all those people who are trying to figure out how they fit in.
I wish my brother were alive to see how things have changed.
Look for opportunities to work with and for people who are different than you. By accepting people for who they are, you help make the world a better place for all of us.
After all, that is what remodeling is about.