Pretty Colours

There are a few here that know my Mum is not accepting of my gender identity.  Despite this, it was not until just a few years ago that I found she is (unfortunately) also NOT a fan of gay and lesbian people either.  I guess I should have figured that in light of what she apparently thinks of transgender people.  Now that everyone has some background... lemme share what happened just a few days ago.

I took my Mum to an appointment she had last week.  When we got there, we went to the front desk to sign in.  I noticed right away that the reception area was brightly decorated with flag, banners, streamers and fans, all with the colours of the rainbow.  It was the day before the first day of Pride Month.

After checking in, we went into the waiting area and sat down.  I had not realized it at the time, but my Mother was admiring the decorations.  The following transpired.  It's not verbatim, but it's pretty damn close.

Mum:  I wonder where they got all the colourful little flags...they're pretty.  I would like one of them.
Me:  -- silence --
Mum:  Is there a Mexican holiday today?
Me:  No.
Mum:  I wonder what all those little flags are for.
Me:  Nothing you would be interested in.
    NOTE: My Mum has had hearing aids for over 15 years now, but her hearing has degraded greatly in the last year or so
Mum:  You say, 'no?'
Me:  I said, 'nothing you would be interested in.'  You are neither friend nor ally.
Mum:  What?
Me:  I said, 'your are neither friend nor ally.'

At this point, I guess I was becoming exasperated.  I also didn't want her to discover what the decorations were for while there for fear she would make some disparaging remark.  We are talking about a woman who went, "yyyuCK," in a movie theater when during one scene, two men briefly but lovingly kiss each other on the lips.  I think I stopped breathing momentarily, and I was hoping no one heard her while all along wishing the seat would just swallow me up.  And just FYI, she did NOT whisper!

Me:  I'll explain to you after we leave here.
Mum:  Okay.

Honestly, I was quite surprised that she let it drop just like that.  Any other time she would have been asking me why I couldn't just tell her right then.  Thankfully, she didn't.  When her appointment was over, and we left the hospital, she did not bring it up despite the fact that we passed right by all those same decorations on the way out.  I considered letting it go all together, and so, said nothing after we got into my truck.

After we got back to the house, we went to the kitchen to fix a bite to eat - my Mum had not eaten anything since before her early morning appointment, and she was understandably hungry by the time we got back across town.

Shortly after sitting down and beginning our meal, my Mum commented how nice the therapist was, and how gentle and encouraging she was.  I nodded my agreement.  Then the devil crawled up on my shoulder.  I took the opportunity to bring up all those pretty little flags and colourful decorations, knowing full well (and steeling myself) that the topic could cause a disagreement.

Me:  Oh... you mentioned all the flags and decorations at the reception desk there at the hospital, and said you'd like to have one of the little flags - no, you would not.  You are neither friend nor ally.
Mum:  Why?
Me:  They are for Pride Month.
Mum:  What?
Me:  The decorations are for Pride Month - tomorrow starts the first day of Pride Month.
Mum:  What's 'Pride Month?'
Me:  Nothing you are interested in...  you are neither friend nor ally.
Mum:   Why?
Me:  It is the celebration for gay and trans people.
Mum:   Oh.

Her response seemed to almost have a tone of disappointment.  It would have been nice to have picked up on some small sign that her stance on such things is softening.  However, I'm sure it's because she considered trying to find a little rainbow flag because she thought all the colours were so pretty... but now, had to abandon the idea because of what the little flag meant.  She said no more about it.