THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE UGLY
Two years ago I was diagnosed with an autoimmune condition. There is no cure and it affects my mobility from time to time. To someone looking at me, I look ok. I’m also a gay woman, or as I was informed on holiday recently, a “dyke”.
My wife and I had arranged to go on a tour and, owing to my condition, were warmly accommodated at the front of the minibus. Last to be collected were an older British couple who, as they were last, didn’t have pick of the seats. They requested the driver move us. He told them no. They made a fuss before the male of the couple made rude comments, questioned my honesty about my illness and said he “pitied me”. On the return trip, as he was getting off the bus, the man viciously whispered in my ear: “I hope you die a slow painful death soon, you selfish dyke.” Everyone heard and after he’d gone, I broke down. The driver, however, was absolutely amazing. He said: “In life you get the good and the bad and you are the good and you must forget the bad.” I regained my faith in human nature in that instance. Some people are LGBTQ. Get over it.