Then came November 4th<\/sup>. I sat at my computer staring at the results of the voting, shock and confusion casting me adrift in the world I thought I knew. It had really passed? In beautiful, liberal California? How was this possible?<\/p>\n My husband came home and found me that way, and he shook his head sadly. \u201cThere\u2019re a lot of people who still just don\u2019t like gay anything,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n And yeah, I knew that. But this many<\/em> people, here<\/em>? How did I miss that?<\/p>\n Perhaps because I was living in a bubble. A bubble of people who believed the things I did, and being with them for so many hours of the day had skewed my perception. As a newcomer to the state I wasn\u2019t fully aware of the social climate. I\u2019d forgotten to look beyond my immediate field of vision. Doing so isn\u2019t always an easy task\u2014the world can be ugly out there, and it can be painful. But it\u2019s necessary, for me. Necessary that I don\u2019t let myself be blindsided again.<\/p>\n I spoke at a Con once about the dangers of tailoring our lives to our desires. It\u2019s easy enough to do these days, to avoid the things that make us cringe and surround ourselves with our favorites. I can regulate my social media streams and block my triggers and subscribe to my preferred news sources. And that\u2019s not all terrible (certainly less stressful), but I believe I should cast my net wider than just what I want <\/em>to see. For one thing, if I don\u2019t I may miss out on the opportunity to discover something new, to change for the better or to grow. For another, once I am steadfast in a belief, I may not be prepared to face those who are opposed to it\u2014I should know what they are saying, thinking, and doing in order to be ready for the fight.<\/p>\n And that\u2019s why I\u2019m thankful for the pizza fundraiser. It\u2019s big enough news that it breaks through many people\u2019s bubbles and shakes us to the core. It reminds us just how many people still fight against equal rights, just how many people still hold hatred for others disguised as love for themselves in their hearts. Yes, the world is changing, but the battle is not over.<\/p>\n I wasn\u2019t that surprised by the outcome of the pizza fundraiser\u2014my husband and I both predicted it would happen when the 1-star yelp reviews first appeared\u2014but I know many people who were shocked and disgusted. Good. Let\u2019s channel that into forward momentum.<\/p>\n The LGBTQ Push Back Charity Giveaway is in support of LGBTQ teens. Three charities have been set up in response to that pizza parlor one, and authors and publishers are offering 224 prizes to people who donate and\/or share about the fundraiser. I\u2019m including either of my titles and the Social Skills audiobook. Details\/entry can be found here:<\/p>\n http:\/\/diversereader.blogspot.com\/2015\/04\/lgbtq-push-back-charity-giveaway.html<\/a><\/p>\n
![\"LGBTQBannerFB\"](\"http:\/\/saraalva.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/LGBTQBannerFB-300x118.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n