I am angry.

Generally speaking, it takes a lot to get me angry. Although I do have the Irish temperment from my mom's side of the family, my specific genetic tendency is to build my anger up until it explodes in a violent burst. Think a bomb instead of fireworks.

So the fact that I am sitting here seething says something to me.

It all goes back to the Fourth of July. Bridgette and I decided to spend our first Fourth ignoring the gloomy weather and braving Miller Park to see the fireworks. Our daughter was out of town for the holiday, so we wanted a cozy, romantic time simply enjoying each other's company.

We didn't get it.

What we got instead was a gaggle of teenagers making comments about us being two women and laughing. We got couples staring at us like we had three heads. It really got to me, this specific occasion, that our simple prescence bothered people so much that they had to make comments. It was inconceivable to me.

Then today, while she was driving home with our daughter from musical rehearsal, some teenagers decided to drive extremely close to her car and make rude comments and gestures about whether she was a boy or a girl. It makes me sick.

When will we as a society wake up and smell the coffee? Homophobia, racism, sexism, agism... it just needs to stop. We're killing each other, hurting each other with words and fists, and for what? Some sort of ethical highground? Some religious imperative? It's absolutely ridiculous. Explain to me how my life directly impacts yours when I'm holding hands with the woman I love. 

I want to feel comfortable in my own town. I can't imagine any parent teaching their kid that teasing is the correct thing to do, but then we have children like the ones driving today who grow into adults who begin to use more than their words to harm. It's a cycle and it needs to stop.

In my humble opinion, the word blog is a horrific, dirty, disgusting word. It's mucoid, sticky... it just does not roll off the tongue in a delicious fashion.

But yet, here I am.

And why? Because I can't stay away. I'm a creative creature, and I crave the outlet that a blog provides.

You may have gotten some sense of who I am from the first few articles I've written, but I hope to use this space not only to satisfy my need to empty my brain on a regular basis but also to provide an example of what your garden variety smallish town "gay" woman is like. I believe visibility is key to being more accepted as a community. 

I'll start by kind of re-introducing myself. I'm Melinda, or Mellie/Melle as my friends call me. I'm 27 years old (and thinking I'm going to stay this age forever - the downturn towards 30 is pretty terrifying to me). I'm living with my "partner (which is a horrible, horrible word by the way)" Bridgette and my seven-year-old daughter that we're raising together in a home in Bloomington.

And, to clear up some misunderstanding, I'm bisexual, although I do often categorize myself as a lesbian simply because it's easier.

I know, I know. It's lazy and can be confusing to people. I should be working more towards fostering communication and education regarding bisexuality which really is the red-headed step-child of the GLBTQ community. However, due to the misconception that most bisexuals are non-monogamous/promiscuous and need to have relationships with both sexes at the same time (which was me at one point; I'll be honest with you), I find it more simple to leave it at "lesbian". I am with a woman and I do not plan on ever being with a man again, so I definitely find the lesbian label the most accurate even though I am still attracted to men (although not nearly as much - 90/10). 

But anyway, tangent aside, I'm here. I'm "blogging." I'm Melle. Nice to meet you...