It was a year ago, through participating in Hop Against Homophobia and Transphobia 2013, that I decided to tell my whole family that I write books about gay men. I decided to tell them, despite the fact that they might think it strange for a straight woman to write about gay men, because it felt wrong to hide it. It felt as though it meant I was ashamed of it somehow, and after hearing so many horrific stories about people coming out to their families and the kind of abuse they faced, I felt like a coward for not coming clean.
I'm very lucky that my family is filled with wonderful people, and that I live in the U.K where views on same sex relationships is fairly open, though we still have a long way to go. My family were nothing but proud of me, as I should have expected.
Over the last year it has seemed to me that the world has taken several steps backwards in regards to homophobia and transphobia. It has been made illegal in several other countries to be gay or trans and it seems as though every day on FaceBook I'm seeing more and more acts of violence and hate.
We can't let ourselves get complacent or ever accept things the way they are. Now more than ever we need to keep pushing, keep educating people, or we risk the undoing of all the hard work done by those who have come before us.
"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world."
Nelson Mandela
To celebrate this day I am giving away a copy of my new book, The Happily Ever After Mating Agency Presents: Snovarg Island, out June 5th. Comment and leave your name and email address for a chance to win and a name will be chosen at random on May 27th. Keep hopping to win more prizes.
To learn more go to http:// dayagainsthomophobia.org/
Congratulations Lena Grey on winning a copy of my new book.
Congratulations Lena Grey on winning a copy of my new book.
This is very moving for me. Just lost my sister who was a lesbian. I miss her so much. She and her partner were not allowed to get married in our state which broke my heart. Love is love, that's it plain and simple. No matter what people said to her about being with someone of the same sex she proudly held her head up. She was a great inspiration to all of us. This is a wonderful blog post and hop <3
ReplyDeletekittyissweet@gmail.com
I'm sorry to hear about your sister. It's very sad when people think they have the right to have a say in other people's lives when it doesn't effect them in the slightest.
DeleteThank you for you kind words regarding the post.
Take care,
Jane.
Thanks for joining us this year, Jane. And I'm glad the HAHAT was beneficial to you last year, as well. Hugs.
ReplyDeleteThanks for having me :D
DeleteHugs
Love the post! Thanks for the chance :)
ReplyDeletecrystal_2_18(at)hotmail(dot)com
Thanks Crystal :)
DeleteGreat post & giveaway.
ReplyDeleterockybatt@gmail.com
Thank you Rodney :)
Delete"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world."
ReplyDeleteNelson Mandela
I <3 that!!
leetee2007@hotmail.com
Thanks Lee :)
DeleteA moving post, Jane. I'm so glad you had a supportive family. Nelson had it right. All us straight folk need to open up our hearts and minds to understand it's a big world out there, and we all deserve love and respect. xxx
ReplyDeleteI couldn't have put it better myself Fiona :)
DeleteThanks so much for participating!
ReplyDeletevitajex(At)Aol(Dot)com
Happy to, it's such a good cause :)
DeleteUnfortunately, I belong to such a country that have declared gays as criminals. It's really a sad reality.
ReplyDeleteladyunwritten[AT]gmail[DOT]com
I'm sorry for you Ray, it really is such a shame that people can't just let everyone else be.
DeleteGreat post! I am really enjoying reading all the stories and people's view points on the hop!
ReplyDeleteaegger.echo @ yahoo .com
Thanks Latona :)
DeleteThanks for post and giveaway.
ReplyDeletecvsimpkins@msn.com
Thanks for taking part :)
DeleteHappy your family did not disparage what you write. I live in Canada where same sex couples are not viewed with hatred (mind you there are still those that don't like it). I have enjoyed reading your books and have the Happily Ever After book written on my "to buy" list.
ReplyDeleteDemetra - demetra21@yahoo.com
Thank you Dem. It seemed like Canada was very ahead of the curve with the marriage equality thing. We've had civil unions here fr a while, but actually marriage was only made legal recently.
DeleteThanks for participating! It's sad that the world has gone backwards in some countries, but all we can do is try to do our part to help it go forward. lena.grey.iam@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteWell said Lena. Thanks for commenting :)
DeleteThank you for taking part in the hop!
ReplyDeletehumhumbum AT yahoo DOT com
Thanks for commenting :)
DeleteThanks for participating in this great hop :)
ReplyDeletepenumbrareads(at)gmail(dot)com
Thanks for commenting :)
DeleteThanks for sharing! :)
ReplyDeleteraynman1979(at)yahoo(dot)com
Thanks for taking Part Rissa :)
DeleteGlad last year's hop inspired you. I'm enjoying this year's. caddyauthor(at)gamil(dot)com
ReplyDeleteThanks for the post. Such a great hop.
ReplyDeleteMHupp20032003(at)yahoo(dot)com
Thank you Michaelle :)
DeleteThanks for being part of the hop.
ReplyDeleterojoroaors@yahoo.com
Thanks for commenting :)
DeleteThanks for being part of the hop!!
ReplyDeletered_tigergirl2(at)hotmail(dot)com
Thanks for commenting Sarah :)
DeleteThanks for taking part in the hop!
ReplyDeletekimberlyFDR@yahoo.com
Thanks for commenting Kimberly :)
DeleteYou're right: education IS one of the most powerful weapons we have. That's why I made it one of the thees of my own post.
ReplyDeleteThanks for joining us, Jane.
Thanks for commenting Andrew :)
DeleteThanks for taking part and for the chance to enter! wendynjason04@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteThanks Wendy :)
DeleteI enjoyed your post. Thanks for being part of the hop.
ReplyDeletesstrode at scrtc dot com
Thank you Sherry, I'm glad you enjoyed it :)
DeleteThanks for commenting Caddy :)
ReplyDelete