CCL comepletely shocked me today. In a really good way! In my work group, there are two women (CCL and myself), one boss (we can call him Boss), and three boys (one from Montana, one from North Carolina, and one from Idaho. So we can call them MT, NC, and ID.)
So, NC starts talking about Spongebob. I'm sitting there minding my own business, not really involved in the conversation. He turns to me, and the chatter goes this direction:
NC: Do you like Spongebob?
Me: No, not really, I've never seen an episode that I thought was funny and his laugh really irritates me. Can't stand it.
NC: What, it's really funny! The only thing I don't like about it is that Spongebob is gay.
Me: What's wrong with that? There's nothing the matter with being gay.
NC: You are pro-gay?
Me: Yes. There's no reason to dislike gays for the simple fact that they are gays. They are people just like any other people and deserve equal rights and respect.
NC: Well I just don't think they should be allowed to get married!
Me: Well I just think you're a bigot. (Yes, I did go straight to calling him names right to his face. :-( Not so much my proudest moment.)
NC: What, are you ok with interracial dating too?
Me: ... I'm white. My husband is Native American. What do YOU think?
NC looked really offended and didn't say another word to me all morning. However, at that point CCL jumped into the discussion.
CCL: That is what is WRONG with America! Too much government telling people what they can and can't do! If someone is gay, the government has no right to tell them they can't be! If someone wants an abortion, the government has no right to tell them no!
Me: *flabbergasted silence.* I mean, this is the same very religious woman who doesn't believe in evolution and thinks Noah's Ark was a literal story. SHOCKED.
ID: Yeah, me too, I think people should be able to live how they want to.
Me: Me too! Holy smokes!
ID: Whoa, you believe in abortion?
Me: Yes, but even if I didn't, I still wouldn't think it's my right to tell CCL that SHE can't have an abortion.
CCL: EXACTLY!
ID: YES!
I'm darn near positive it was the only time ID and CCL have agreed on anything. NC was the person who has been goading CCL into religious debates every day. So far since that discussion, he has not spoken to me and has not tried to bother CCL in any way, he's been very polite with her.
I think our work relationships had some improvements today! :o Now, just to figure out a way to let NC know that he's still welcome even if his ideals are different. How do you un-call someone a bigot? :-(
