In honor of Pride Month, we are celebrating the diversity of our community by asking different members of the LGBTQA community to share their story, ideas and perspective on Santa Monica. Kathleen Rawson I came out as a lesbian in my early 20s, during my last years of college. I grew up in a small, central Minnesota town and the LGBTQ+ community was very invisible. I didn’t even tell my family until I moved to California. 2)What else can we do to make our City welcoming for LGBTQ people? As you can imagine, it was a significant change from Minnesota. Not only was I in a new town, just out of college and trying to find my way, I was also involved in my first real romantic relationship where I was living with someone, sharing our lives together as a couple. I remember those early days walking down the boardwalk, holding hands and there were plenty of times where that felt unsafe. So you stop holding hands. It was 1988, and I wouldn’t say I was overly comfortable, but certainly more so than in Minnesota. There were plenty of times when we had a conversation at work and the gender of the person I was living with was omitted. I was concerned about how my co-workers would react. People could be hostile. It wasn’t safe. Now, it’s completely different. When my partner and I decided to have our first child, we had no choice but to be true to ourselves and who we are as a couple. It was a conscious decision and the right one. For every job, every scenario, I was definitely out. And, generally speaking, people have always been very open and accepting. It has changed dramatically, as the world has changed. But Santa Monica has always been more accepting than other places I have lived. Leo Garcia 2) What brought you to Santa Monica? 3) What’s your experience in Santa Monica, and how has it changed since you arrived? 4)What else can we do to make our City welcoming for LGBTQ people? Brandy & Emily 2)What else can we do to make our City welcoming for LGBTQ people? from https://www.santamonica.gov/blog/samo-pride-get-to-know-kathleen-rawson-leo-garcia-and-brandy-emily
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About UsSanta Monica Day is an online magazine created and sustained by a community of local writers passionate about sharing what's new and exciting in the beautiful city of Santa Monica. From the latest restaurant and bar openings to the best concerts and events, our team of insiders has the scoop on all the latest happenings. Created for tourists and locals alike, Santa Monica Day is the definitive source for how to navigate the sun-kissed streets of this magical city with style. ArchivesCategories |