Geoffrey Wale
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Planes, trains and automobiles.

2/28/2015

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As I rode in the the taxi to the airport to catch my flight to Toronto with Porter Airlines, I received an email message advising me the flight was delayed. This was late in the morning of February 20, 2015. I was en route to Port Colborne to stay with my sister Kelly and her husband Jeff. My brother and sisters and I gathered to celebrate our mother's 75th birthday. As it turned out the flight was delayed for two hours. I sat and waited at the airport and finally boarded the plane. I arrived in Toronto later that afternoon and made my way to the GO Train station at Union Station. I grabbed a chocolate chip cookie at a Starbucks and used the washroom before boarding the GO Train bound for Burlington. A friendly stranger helped me find my way at the Burlington station to where I connected to the GO Bus bound for St. Catherine's. My sister and my nephew Liam were there to greet me. On the drive to her home in Port Colborne we picked up a pizza for supper. It was after 7:00 pm when we got to her house, had a bite and crashed.

It was five years since I last saw or spoke to my mother and father. We have a troubled history and because of it I decided to go my own way. I agreed to come for the celebration of my mother's 75th birthday, because it would make my mother happy and so I could see my four grand nieces and nephews for the first time. Our extended family met at a Chinese restaurant in Port Colborne and had a great feast to celebrate mother's birthday. I spoke to my mother and father briefly at the restaurant. After the meal we all returned to Jeff and Kelly's house for birthday cake and the opening of gifts for my mother. I spoke with my mother and father more at this reception and everyone had a good time. I declined the invitation to visit my mother and father at their home the next day as my return flight to Ottawa was already booked. I told them if they want to reach me, they can relay any messages through my sister Kelly. The experience was good on the whole, but still left me feeling drained emotionally. It is good to be back home with Mika.
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If someone thinks homosexuality is immoral, they have a right to believe that. -- Marianne Williamson

2/3/2015

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I came across this video on Youtube, published by a young gay man in Texas whose name is Austin Wallis. It is the latest in a series of videos he published, starting in August 2014, through which he came out as gay. He is seventeen years old and in his junior year at high school. At his side is his boyfriend Nicolay. I was startled when I learned he comes from a Christian family and attended a private Christian high school. I realize I should not make assumptions, but from what I understand of the religious culture of the south western United States, homosexuality is generally not tolerated or accepted. However, I was pleasantly surprised in viewing his earlier published videos to find. He and his boyfriend Nicolay look very happy together and are able to withstand the occasional anti-gay slur aimed at them in public spaces. They found acceptance from their families and friends and life continued as normal. That is, until Austin was confronted with the reality of the institutional intolerance of homosexuality at the Christian high school he attended. As he details in this video, he is no longer a student at this high school. He is completing his high school studies at another school. In spite of this, he remains true to his Christian faith.

Apparently, the school was prepared to let him continue his studies, provided he stop publishing videos on his Youtube channel declaring his homosexuality and his relationship with Nicolay. If he refused to do so, the school threatened him with expulsion. That the school would allow a gay student to continue his studies, as long as he kept his silence, smacks of religious hypocrisy to say the least. I sympathize with Austin Wallis; he is experiencing ostracism from his religious community for being true to himself and his faith. In spite of the shameful treatment he received from the school, I hope he continues publishing his videos. Up until now they are a delight to view.



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    Geoffrey

    I enjoy writing and publishing articles and find inspiration for my writings in life with my husband Mika and caring for my dogs, Hera and Stella.

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