When Friendship is Thicker Than Blood

but as it wore off, she became close to tears. Dave reached over, took her hand and said, "Sweetie, I don't care how you swing. All that matters to me is that you are and have been, the best friend to both of us."

Since that night our friendship has never faltered. The first time she got into a serious relationship, they were both invited to all the family functions held in our house. Relatives on both sides were introduced to "Lynn's friend." The fury of a woman scorned would have nothing on relatives who realized they had been passed over as guardians of our daughter by what in their opinions were a couple of dykes destined to roast in hell. It soon became apparent that those two were going to be in good company because David and I were going to roast with them for supporting Lynn in her lifestyle of choice.

These days when too much time has passed between visits, I will often tease Lynn by telling her of all the things she has to look forward to in being guardian to not one but now three children, five collies and a temperamental hedgehog if we die. This of course includes all the attitude, foot stomping, eye rolling and under the breath mumbling from our eldest child who is now fourteen. While full of attitude, she along with her brother and sister has been raised to be tolerant of other people. Free of hatred, bigotry and prejudice. When they look at Lynn, they don't see a lesbian, a dyke, a queer, homo or freak. Instead they see their Aunt Lynn, a woman who will stand up and give them more love than most, if not all of their straight, biological relatives.

And when it is all said and done, isn't that what is most important?

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I would like to thank Tenna Perry for writing this excellent article for Lesbian Issues. Tenna is also the contributing editor for the Child Sexual Abuse topic here at Suite 101.

Her work can also be found at the following web locations:

Now blogging at: http://midnightwriter.journalspace.com/

Abuse and safety editor at: http://busyparentsonline.com

Founder/editor of Survivor Haven http://www.angelfire.com/tx4/survivorhav...