KarMel
Scholarship 2007
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Honorable
Mention: Best
Gay Marriage “Wedding
Band” By Jeannette
Eagan - CA |
Desciption of Submission: “Personal narrative about being an out lesbian and a
public school substitute teacher.” - Jeannette
Why Karen and Melody Liked It: We liked how Jeannete
addressed the common question which the GLBT community are asked: "Are you
married?". It was nice to show how our next generation children thinks how nonsense it is that gay people cannot
get married. We also loved that as a teacher Jeannette is making the next
generation aware about the GLBT marriage as well.
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I wear a wedding band. “Are
you married?” is the question I get asked almost daily. Whether from a
kindergartener or a high schooler, those inquiring minds want to know, “Are
you married?” When I was teaching full time, a picture of my partner was
“out” on my desk and so was I, but as a substitute teacher I am placed into a
fresh scenario every day. Is it safe to be me, an amazing teacher who happens
to be a lesbian? I wear a wedding band. When
students glance at my ring and ask me, “Are you married?” my negative
response confuses them. I continue with, “I’m not allowed to marry the person
I love,” which on every occasion results in, “Why?” When I tell them that
it’s because the person I love is a woman, their eyebrows scrunch together,
their head tilts and then they “get it”. They “get” the nonsense of it. They
“get” the absurdity. They see me as
an individual, a person who deserves love, equity and respect. I tell them
that my partner and I are waiting until it is legal for us to love each
other. The ring is a symbol of hope, that that day will be soon. I wear a wedding band. I
wear this ring and repeat this routine daily to affirm that I am okay and have
a right to “be”, and to remind myself of the struggle for equal rights. By
showing thirty young people a day that lesbians are people, I hope to
accelerate the arrival of that day.
The day when I am asked, “Are you married?” and I can smile and answer,
“Yes!” |