**Craig Maloney ☕ ✅** @craigmaloney@octodon.social · Jun 14, 2018, 11:47

**Craig Maloney ☕ ✅** @craigmaloney@octodon.social · Jun 14, 2018, 11:47

Craig Maloney ☕ ✅ @craigmaloney@octodon.social

Jun 14, 2018, 11:47

Craig Maloney ☕ ✅ @craigmaloney@octodon.social

hatred, anti-gay Show more

This morning I passed by a gentleman with two signs.

The first and most prominent sign was in bold red letters. "Stop Gay Partner Benefits".

The second sign was a little less visible because of the glare. I think it said something about Religious Freedom.

He was wearing a cowboy hat (they always wear cowboy hats, don't they?) and stood mitionless near the road that leads to city hall.

**Craig Maloney ☕ ✅** @craigmaloney@octodon.social · Jun 14, 2018, 11:50

**Craig Maloney ☕ ✅** @craigmaloney@octodon.social · Jun 14, 2018, 11:50

Jun 14, 2018, 11:50

Craig Maloney ☕ ✅ @craigmaloney@octodon.social

hatred, anti-gay Show more

This is the same street that has a Biggby (a coffee shop). And I had half-a-mind to go in to the Biggby to get him a coffee.

Not that I thought he was doing something right and I wished to reward him.

No, I wanted to show him some kindness. Because it's clear that he doesn't know what that is.

Religious freedom means that you get to practice your religion as you see fit.

But if your religion is one of hatred toward folks just because they need insurance? Sorry, bud.

**Craig Maloney ☕ ✅** @craigmaloney@octodon.social · Jun 14, 2018, 11:53

**Craig Maloney ☕ ✅** @craigmaloney@octodon.social · Jun 14, 2018, 11:53

Jun 14, 2018, 11:53

Craig Maloney ☕ ✅ @craigmaloney@octodon.social

hatred, anti-gay Show more

To me that's a clear sign that your religion isn't what it says on the tin (I'm assuming Christianity).

Perhaps you should stop reading the front-matter of the book (the maps, the begats, the world-building) and read the parts that matter:

You know, the things that Jesus actually said, like Love thy Neighbor as thyself, turn the other cheek, Greatest of these is love, etc.

In the end I chickened out. But I'm wondering what that conversation would look like.

Fin

**zigg** @zigg · 2018-06-14T11:56:14Z

zigg @zigg

hatred, anti-gay Show more

@craigmaloney I’ve been thinking a _lot_ about having these conversations lately. There are many people i meet in my life—all aspects of it—that are clearly uncomfortable with the increasing visibility, acceptance, and celebration of my queer family.

It’s hard to know how to even start a conversation sometimes. I don’t know where it will go or if I’ll leave a good impression or not. It’s really tough.

Jun 14, 2018, 11:56 · Toot! · 0 · 0

**Craig Maloney ☕ ✅** @craigmaloney@octodon.social · Jun 14, 2018, 12:07

**Craig Maloney ☕ ✅** @craigmaloney@octodon.social · Jun 14, 2018, 12:07

Jun 14, 2018, 12:07

Craig Maloney ☕ ✅ @craigmaloney@octodon.social

hatred, anti-gay Show more

@zigg Right, you're in the thick of it and I can't fathom how you're beginning to cope with this.

From an analytical perspective I'd start a conversation like this with kindness and a hope that with kindness one can somehow smooth over the hurt and harmed feelings.

But then again I'm also the guy that drove by so I also understand why you might not want to have that conversation. Being exposed to the bast-furnaces of hate is not something I wish on anyone.