Should I take down my pride flag for the Holidays?

do you think he will know what the rainbow symbolizes? we all do, but a lot of straight people have no idea. you could just say you like the colors.

 

Leave it up. Maybe a nuclear meltdown is called for, worst case scenario. Don't hide who you are, babe. Find your own joy in the holidays, without sacrificing your identity.

 

First off, this. If he would not get it, then dont bother.

But lets say he *might* or *will* get what it means.

You may think your "denying" or "closeting" yourself by not leaving it up, betraying your true self, but thats not really the case.

You want to take it down clearly out of respect for your grandpa, family, and the holidays. Thats not a bad thing. I am not telling my grandparents im gay for the simple reason they have enough trouble wrapping there minds around this "Computer" invention, i dont think they need to deal with my sexuality. They will die soon (sigh, sad, but true) and go to their graves thinking one day ill meet a nice girl and pump out babies. Ignorance is bliss, as they say.

If your grandparents are young or very important to you or very involved in your life, i would leave it up and maybe come out to them. Anyone whos important to you deserves to know who you really are. However, if your like me and your grandparents are old, senile, and you only see them every few months, i might let them live thinking your a happy ol' hetero.

But yea - main thing is, your reasons for taking it down would be very justified and noble. Causing a big scene and ruining Christmas for everyone because you refused to take down one little flag would be a large cost for "staying true to yourself" IMO.

 

The better part of valor is discretion.

The question you have to ask you self is asserting your identity worth the confrontation? Are you prepared to handle the confrontation should it arise? Is there the possibility of damaging relationships while there may not be time to repair them?

I can't answer these questions, only you can answer them. What ever you choose it will be the correct action.

 

Well, taking it down would almost defeat the purpose of hanging it up.
But do whatever you think is best. If you feel it wouldn't be worth the drama, it's okay.

 

This reminded me on time (I was helping at the Church around 12'ish), and the guy that was sponsoring a festival type event, put up rainbow flags around the church. I seriously think he had no idea what they symbolize, until a few people drive by a said something about gay "Is this a fagot church? Hahaha, rain bow flags".

Then the priest told him to take it down, since it symbolize homosexuality and some people won't like it and blah blah. And he said it's festive (he's married and has a daughter and I 100% sure he was straight). So he took all of them down, and then he was angry about it.

A year later he didn't participated that much into the annual festival, because he doesn't agree with the priest that much in general. I should had took a picture of it because the church had like 10 rainbow flags all around it.

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Random a bit

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But I don't think the flag defines who you are as a person.

 

I'll preface this with, of course, you must do what you're most comfortable with, and this is strictly opinion based on what I would do.

For me, there's a line I suppose. When I start having to change how I act/what I do/how I decorate, that line is crossed. I likely wouldn't make a coming out statement to this particular grandparent over Christmas dinner, but I wouldnt change the day to day state of my existence either. If he notices, he notices and I deal. If he doesn't, fine enough.

All of that said, I officially consider myself "out to the world" and can most definitely comprehend that that's not the case for everyone, and that confrontation/conflict can be hard to deal with for many.

I've only recently stopped taking down my "boobies make me smile" magnet from my fridge when certain people come to visit.

 

I would take it down but just because I have a bit of a thing with them.

Where I live they are used and abused by people wanting confrontation. I recognise that that is not your intention but the end result could be the same.

 

I would take it down for the holiday. Like Greggers said, sometimes it is better to make allowances for the sake of the people involved. I am not telling my grandparents either, because I don't need to deal with that and neither do they.

 

Keep that sucka up! Be proud. Does the rest of your family know?

 

Leave it. They're guests in your home, so if they don't like the decor, they're free to leave.

 

There are a few racist/sexist/homophobic people in my class who when I started to wear my rainbow bracelet, questioned me about it. I basically said it represents a push for equality for all people. That is partly why I wear it, as I view gay rights as being part of a broader human/civil rights movement. I also wear it because I am taking steps to come out more openly. Friends have asked, and I answer honestly that yes, I am gay. but I am not going to fuel the homophobe group on campus, because there are a group of people on campus that are fairly homophobic. they carry their bibles but couldnt tell you how paul became a christian, because they know shit about christianty when you really get down to it.

 

Sounds like you've got the right idea. Besides, do you really want a bunch of people looking in your business anyway (your open door)?

As an interesting aside, once someone is already looking at you as a vegan hippie, really the hard part's over. You're not going to impact that opinion very much by revealing you're a godless heathen or a socialist or a 9/11 truther or whatever. Generally, once one of the boxes is checked, many people just automatically presume the rest are, as well. Don't take that to mean you should harass the grandparents or anything. It's just an interesting observation I've had. Once people talk with me about anything political, they mentally check off a whole bunch of boxes even without me saying I'm an Atheist or gay or a borderline socialist.

 

Gotta love labels. It's sad some people are close minded. If they opened their mind and didn't judge before they observed or experienced things, then they'd realize this world is a much more beautiful place full of diversity than if they kept the gates locked. (!)

 

I am conflicted between these two points:

 

:roflmao: Sounds like something that you hear about on one of those pharmaceutical commercials.

Do you sympathize with the plight of the working class? Do you believe in health care and free education for everyone. Do you believe that big business is exploiting our country. Then you may suffer from borderline socialist syndrome.

Once monthly Soctrex may be right for you. So ask your doctor if Soctrex is right for you and become that money grubbing Republican that God want us to be.

Warning. You should not use Soctrex if you are pregnant or may become pregnant, or have spleen problems. A simple blood test can determine if you have spleen problems. Side effects include excessive buying of stocks, anal leakage, secret homosexual urges in heterosexuals, and redness of the feet. In rare cases Soctrex has turned communists into homicidal fascist dictators. Should this occur contact your doctor or move to the African continent immediately.

 

I say leave it up. If you feel uncomfortable about it just make sure you have your bedroom door closed. It is your house after all and you should be able to have what you like. Be proud.