069 How to Lift and Love LGBTQ Families with Allison Dayton

How can we support and love our LGBTQ+ family members, neighbors, church goers, students etc?   In this episode I chat with Allison Dayton the founder of the organization Lift&Love and the mother of a gay son and a sister of a gay brother about how to love others better.

When we get to know people's hearts, it changes where we focus our energy.  When we see the actual people and don't get caught up in the extremism and political banter it changes our energy and we can focus on that person we know and love.

Be careful who you hate, it could be someone that you love.  Careful what you say about political issues, about pride month, about the LGBTQ+ "agenda" because it could be greatly affecting someone you love who hasn't come out yet.   I promise you they will remember and it may damage them and your relationship...and if they don't remember it, their mama will!

We don't give up anything in our values to just love people. We may have different beliefs and recognize they live differently than we do but we can really want good, loving and awesome things to happen in their life.

We can say things like, "This is a tricky, complicated thing, how can I support you?" Ask how their child is doing in school, how is their mental health? We can speak up and not be silent, we can let people know they are seen and valued.  

When Allison's son came out one of her brothers in law said, "I don't know what supportive means, but I'm going to learn!"

Little acts of kindness make a huge difference for people.  Flying a rainbow flag or wearing a pin is not pushing an agenda, but is acknowledging there are people out there who need to see support, who live differently than we do and we want them to know they are loved and that we are a safe space.  It's no different than tying a yellow ribbon around a tree or flying your college football team flag on a Saturday afternoon.

We all will be touched by someone we love being in the LGBTQ+ community.  It is one of the greatest opportunities of a lifetime to grow in unconditional love for others.