StoryCorps: “You’re a person of value…”
Kristye: I feel like I loved you before our first date, but I didn’t think that was possible. And when I pulled up to meet you, I got out of my car and you got out of your car, and I’ll never forget the look on your face because you … your eyes were real wide, and you just had this huge smile on your face, and just butterflies all around and…
Mel: Oh yeah.
Kristye: … and you know the way you looked at me, I just felt so beautiful.
Mel: I love you.
Kristye: I love you. I mean, I’ve never felt that way so I will never forget it.
Mel: So when was it? Was it about three months? Three or four months later that we moved in together?
Kristye: Let me take you back because first of all both of us were bad-asses, if you recall.
Mel: Um-hmm. Pretend.
Kristye: And by that definition that meant we couldn’t be too emotional, you know. We had to be cool about everything. But you and I were not very bad-ass with each other. We were like a puddle of feelings immediately.
[laughing] Yeah. We made it happen.
Mel: We made some huge strides in the mere three years.
Kristye: I know I am better with you.
Mel: I agree. No, I agree that I’m better with you. I think that’s the hardest part about when people come out is figuring out about having enough respect for yourself to force someone else to respect you. You know, you don’t have to accept my sexuality, but you do have to respect me.
Kristye: Well, you have to be as the person asking for that acceptance. You have to be willing to be without that person in your life and, if you can do that, then the tables are turned. I think that so many times gay people are just sort of begging for acceptance like a beaten-down dog, and I don’t think it should be that way.
Mel: So what would you say to a 15-16-year-old who was going to come out? What would be your best piece of advice?
Kristye: You’re a person of value and don’t forget that. And you’re afraid of others shunning and telling you they don’t want you to be a part of their life, but what if you decided if they needed to be a part of your life. I mean, you have value and you know one of those things you have to never forget. And stay strong. Keep on. Persist. Just persist.
Army Black Hawk helicopter forces two jetliners to abort landings at DCA
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says he will ask Defense Department officials why an Army Black Hawk helicopter violated flight restrictions at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
Opinion: Curse other drivers? So do the pros — but they get fined
Formula 1 racing has a ban on cursing, with fines starting at about 46 thousand dollars. NPR's Scott Simon explains why drivers are darn unhappy with that.
I do think we should be having more TV weddings
As we enter wedding season, culture critic Linda Holmes suggests that we bring back the splashy TV wedding at full power.
Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese heads to a second 3-year term
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will become the first Australian prime minister to win a second consecutive three-year term in 21 years. Opposition leader Peter Dutton conceded defeat.
After paying people to leave, one federal agency is scrambling to fill positions
USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has opened up 73 jobs to internal candidates. They include roles just vacated by people who are receiving full pay and benefits through September.
The most exciting two minutes in sports is a show of ‘Latino excellence’
Latinos, many from outside the U.S. mainland, have risen in prominence in horseracing, from the grooms to some of the winningest jockeys.
